Transport for London has recently introduced 20mph speed limits within Camden, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Tower Hamlets. The speed limits have been lowered as an essential part of the Mayor’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate death and serious injury from London’s transport network and to encourage more walking and cycling in the city. This is to benefit both the environment and the safety of London's residents and visitors.
London’s walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, said: “Lowering speeds is one of the most important things we can do to reduce road danger and we’ll continue to work with TfL, the Met Police and London’s boroughs to make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle and use public transport, creating a safer, greener London for everyone.”
A reduction in the number of collisions on the roads within the central London Congestion Charging Zone has been apparent since the introduction of the existing 20mph speed limits, according to TfL analysis.
This claim has been proven by the data that the number of collisions fell 25%, between May 1st 2020 and June 30th 2022. The number of collisions recorded that resulted in death or serious injury also fell by 25% during this time period. The biggest positive to take from the introduction of the speed limits, however, was collisions involving people walking – this showed a staggering 63% decrease.
The next step for TfL is the plan to lower the speeds on 88 miles of the roads in London by 2024. This is to coincide with the work that has been started on major new schemes for walking and cycling within the city.
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