Sadiq Khan introduces yet more restrictions on London’s roads: Map reveals another 40 miles of road across eight boroughs in the capital that will become 20mph zones from this month
- Transport bosses say the speed limits are intended to ‘save lives’ in the capital
Sadiq Khan has unveiled his latest raft of restrictions on motorists with a further 40 miles (65km) worth of roads in the capital set to become 20mph zones.
The limits will hit eight London boroughs and come into affect by the end of 2023 – months ahead of the original target of May 2024.
Transport bosses say the measure is intended to ‘save lives’ and help make a large area of the capital ‘safer and more attractive for people to live and work’.
Lower limits will be launched in Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Wandsworth, Merton, Bromley, Lambeth and Kensington and Chelsea from this month.
It is the latest in a wave of 20mph crackdowns as part of Mr Khan’s ‘Vision Zero’ goal that aims to eliminate death and serious injury from the capital’s transport network. Once the new zones are installed, TfL will have delivered 87 miles (140km) of 20mph roads across the capital.
And Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, told MyLondon that speed is a factor in ‘almost half of fatal collisions’.
Ms Mason said: ‘We’re committed to eliminating unsafe speeds across London and our new campaign aims to challenge drivers’ perception of what counts as speeding, as even driving slightly over the speed limit can still has tragic consequences.
‘These new 20mph speed limits will also not only save lives, but make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle and use public transport, creating a safer, greener London for everyone.’
Speaking to the Evening Standard, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman said lowering speeds is one of the most important things that can be done to reduce road danger.
He added: ‘Every death or serious injury on our streets is devastating, bringing heartache and tragedy to all those involved so we will 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.’
Previously, Mr Norman said that people hit by a vehicle at 20mph are about five times less likely to be killed than at 30mph.
TfL say that data collected in London’s congestion zone between 2020 and 2022 showed the number of collisions fell by 25 per cent (from 405 to 304) – when compared to a seasonally matched period before the speed limits were introduced. The authority also said collisions resulting in death or serious injury also fell 24 per cent (from 94 to 71).
However, a study by Queen’s University last year found that while speed limits reduce traffic they do little to stop accidents.
Researchers compared four different years before and after 20mph zones were introduced and showed little change in short or long-term outcomes for crashes, casualties or driver speed.
TfL announced plans to cut speed limits in Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey and Tower Hamlets last November. These came into effect in March.
That followed the implementation of 8.5miles of lower limits that began in February last year, after a 20mph limit was brought in on all TfL roads within the Congestion Charge zone in March 2020.
TfL said the new speed limits would be supported by new signs and road markings, and existing speed cameras would have their enforcement threshold changed to reflect the new speed limit. Banners attached to street lamps in the new 20mph areas would also be put in place.
However, reacting to the proposals earlier this year, RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: ‘Our research also shows drivers are less likely to take notice of 20mph signs if they don’t believe they’re appropriate for the type of road, so we hope TfL has thought carefully about where best to reduce the limit.’
He added: ‘Reducing an urban speed limit to 20mph undoubtedly improves safety for everyone, but a lot depends on how well drivers obey the limit.
‘Without enforcement or traffic-calming measures, compliance is unlikely to be as good as it should be, which unfortunately limits how successful the lower limit will be.’
