UK campaign calls for 20mph limit

At the start of the UK’s Road Safety Week, which runs from November 19-25, a national campaign has been launched to encourage drivers to slow down to 20mph (32km/h) around homes, schools and shops and for local authorities to implement 20mph speed limits in these areas.

The ‘GO 20’ campaign has been introduced by a coalition that includes: road safety charity, Brake; Living Streets; Sustrans; the Campaign to Protect Rural England; the National Heart Forum; and the ‘20’s Plenty for Us’ group. The coalition is hoping that slower speeds in towns, cities and villages can help prevent pedestrian and cyclist casualties, which increased in 2011. Many local authorities are already implementing 20mph limits across towns and cities in the UK and the campaign is calling for more authorities to do this and for the government to work towards 20mph limits being the norm in communities, rather than the current default limit of 30mph (48km/h).

The GO 20 campaign has released the results of a survey of more than 8,000 children aged 7-11, which reveals how children are affected by the dangers from traffic. The survey shows that: 70% of the children say they would be able to walk and cycle more if roads in their neighborhood were less dangerous; 77% say drivers need to slow down around their home and school; 43% say they have been hit or nearly hit while walking or cycling; and 54% worry about being hurt by traffic when out and about. The campaign says that various studies show that when 20mph limits replace 30mph restrictions, it means fewer casualties among pedestrians and cyclists and that town and city-wide 20mph limits have resulted in more people walking and cycling.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, commented, “Everyone should be able to walk and cycle in their community without fear or threat: it’s a basic right, and GO 20 is about defending that. The 2012 Games helped us all realize the importance of being able to live active lifestyles. Critical to this is making our streets and communities safe places we can use and enjoy. Anyone who drives can help bring this about: pledge to GO 20 around homes, schools and shops, even where the limit’s still 30: you’ll be helping to protect people around you, and you’ll hardly notice the difference to your journey. We’re also calling on the government and more local authorities to recognize the need for 20mph, and the huge demand for safe walking and cycling, and GO 20.”

For more information
www.localgov.co.uk/news