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20mph limit for London
Ross Lydall, City Hall Editor18.10.07
The Mayor today prepared the way for 20mph speed limits in every residential street in London.
Ken Livingstone said trials will begin next year using wireless cameras to enforce the lower speed. The new technology is much cheaper and easier to install than conventional wired speed traps.
A number of 20mph zones exist in boroughs such as Camden using a mixture of signs, speed humps, road narrowing and speed cameras. Mr Livingstone said they had been "stunningly successful" in reducing accidents by 57 per cent.
But he said the new zones should only be enforced by cameras rather than "cheap and miserable" road humps. Mr Livingstone told the London Assembly that if the trials were successful "you could roll out camera enforcement of 20mph lanes right the way across London".
He added: "My broad view is that in a residential area, there should be a 20mph limit. That is what is about to be introduced where I live (in Cricklewood) but it's being done with road humps.
"I think if you can say 20mph zones without the road humps there won't be any opposition."
Transport for London, which would carry out the trials, has a £10 million fund available to boroughs this year to introduce low-speed areas.
Jenny Jones, a member of the Green party and the Mayor's road safety adviser, said: "Making 20mph the normal speed limit in London would save lives, save money and give a major boost to cycling. There would be exemptions for some major roads, but all London's residential areas would be covered by the zone.
"The big advantage of having a London wide reduction in the speed limit is that we could reduce speeds without having to put in all the road humps, chicanes and other traffic calming measures that drivers hate. The London Mayor also needs to work closely with borough leaders who want to take a lead on this."
Reader views (9)
I think its a great idea. I live on a dead end road but frequently get young drivers zooming down my road at 40MPH+.
The speed ramps on some roads where they have 3 sections to them DON'T work, as people with wide sports style cars can in fact drive over the middle of them.
I have small kids and am scared to let them out the house unsupervised, so welcome these traffic calming measures.
- Osman Patel, London
Er, so roads are for children to play on, are they? It beggars belief that there are actually people who think this is the function of roads, who think that cars are the lowest priority on the infrastructure that was made for ... cars, and that these people seem to be the ones who are directing policy.
- Ian T, London, UK
It's time we reclaimed the streets for people rather than cars. Kids used to play in the streets when I was young, now parents don't even dare let them walk to school - so the school run just makes the problem worse.
- Bill Linton, London
That's it. If Ken gets back in, or if I find Boris supports this lunacy, I'm getting out of London. Goodbye, and thanks for the memories. You were a great city, once.
- Bob Grahame, Streatham, UK
Kingston upon Thames are about to install 20 MPH limits in Surbiton “river roads”.
Ken has already stated "cheap and miserable speed bumps" don’t work.
So why are you wasting my money installing them in January 2008?
- Steve M, Surbiton, Surrey
Is this being done for safety reasons or to generate revenue?
- Ian, London
This sounds great. I love living in Winchmore Hill except that many use my road as a 'race track/ rat run'. I don't want speed humps crunching all night so cameras sound ideal. I'll be much happier both when my kids are on their bikes and when I'm trying to drive sensibly when others try and burn it up. Good old Ken!
- Gareth, London, UK
I am policy officer for the charity London Play, working to improve play oportunites and facilities for the capital's children. We know that fear of the dangers from road traffic is the number one reason parents are afraid to allow children the freedom older generations took for granted.
This is good news for children and families, who will be more likely to be able to go to school on their own, play outdoors, meet their friends and use sports fields, leisure centres, parks and playgrounds. They will be fitter and healthier and less likely to become obese.
Drivers are a minority, and should pay more respect to the majority of us who walk, bus and cycle around London.
Please let's not have miserable comments about children misbehaving, people my age (50's) took it for granted we could play out, so why shouldn't young people today?
- Alan Sutton, London
I would be suprised if I could get up to 20 mph on London's congested and crowded streets.
- Roger, London, UK
