Extend 20mph speed limits to all residential roads, say Hammersmith and Fulham campaigners. (Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats)

Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats <info@hflibdems.org.uk>

Extend 20mph speed limits to all residential roads, say Hammersmith and Fulham campaigners.

December 13, 2009 10:55 PM

Paul Kennedy campaigning in Fulham

As the British Medical Journal publishes research indicating that 20mph speed limits can nearly halve deaths and serious injuries, Liberal Democrat run Islington Council is about to become the first local authority in London to extend 20 mph speed limits to all non-main roads.

The council had already designated large parts of the borough as 20mph zones but after a consultation exercise , it has decided to extend the lower speed limit to almost all remaining residential roads from early 2010.

Liberal Democrats in Hammersmith and Fulham are calling for the extension of the policy in our borough. Paul Kennedy, H&F Liberal Democrat vice-chair and long-time campaigner in Fulham would like a similar policy in this borough, with existing 20mph zones extended to cover all but the main roads.

"Liberal Democrats have a track record of implementing policies which improve safety and quality of live for everyone, not just car users. We support a London-wide policy of a 20mph limit in all residential roads, but in the first instance we want road in our own Borough made safer".

"Our Councillors in other Boroughs and Towns are leading the way but residents in H&F need protecting too"

The research was carried out by the Department of Public Health and Policy of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. By comparing accident rates in existing 20mph zones and outside them, the research concluded that roads with the lower limit had about 42% fewer casualties than other city roads, and that the figures for serious injuries, and injuries to children were even better, with a decline for most vulnerable groups of over 50% in deaths and serious injuries"