Transport for London (TfL) has announced that proposals to lower speed limits on roads across central London will go ahead.
TfL will introduce 20mph (32km/h) speed limits on all its roads in the Congestion Charge Zone by early 2020 – mirroring the lower speed limits already in place on the majority of borough roads in the central London area.
The lower speed limit will be supported by new 20mph signage and road markings, as well as raised pedestrian crossings in seven locations where a high number of people walk, including near Embankment and Tower Hill Tube stations and outside the Tate Britain.
TfL will recalibrate all speed cameras in central London and use mobile speed cameras to ensure that drivers comply with the new safer speed limit.
The move is a part of London mayor Sadiq Khan’s aim to eliminate death and serious injury from London’s transport network and will see 20mph limits introduced on 8.9km (5.5 miles) of main roads including Millbank, Albert Embankment, Victoria Embankment and Borough High Street.
Khan said: “Every single death on London’s streets is one too many so I’m really pleased that Londoners have backed our plans to introduce a 20mph speed limit on TfL roads within the Congestion Charge Zone and at Aldgate Gyratory.
“By also bringing forward plans to lower speed limits in other parts London, we will help protect more people walking and cycling across our city.”
According to TfL, figures from 2016, 2017 and 2018 suggest 128 people were killed in speed-related collisions on London’s streets. A further 2,256 people were reported as seriously injured in collisions where speed was recorded as a contributory factor.
