Transport for London (TfL) is to introduce new, lower speed limits on five roads across London as part of its Vision Zero commitment to reduce road danger and enable more walking and cycling in the UK capital.
TfL has used a risk-based approach to identify sites to lower speed limits. Four 20mph speed limits will be introduced, including the A10-A503 corridor in Haringey, the A13 Commercial Road in Tower Hamlets, the A23 London Road in Croydon and the A107 corridor in Hackney. In addition, a 30mph speed limit will be introduced on the A10 Great Cambridge Road in Enfield.
The new speed limits will be supported by new signs and road markings, and TfL will work with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that drivers understand and comply with the new lower speed limits.
Specifically, the Metropolitan Police will increase its capacity to enforce up to one million offences by 2024/25, introducing new technology to improve effectiveness of enforcement and rolling out new powers to Police Community Support Officers so that they can stop speeding vehicles and take enforcement action against drivers.
Lilli Matson, chief health, safety and environment officer at TfL, said: “We are determined to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from London’s roads in line with our Vision Zero goal.
“Ensuring the safety of Londoners and visitors is paramount, which is why we are working to lower speed limits on our road network in inner and outer London.
“Millions of walking and cycling journeys are made across London every day and people are much more likely to be killed or seriously injured if hit at 30mph than if a vehicle is travelling at 20mph or less.
“The new 20mph speed limits will not only save lives but will also encourage Londoners in these communities to travel in more active and sustainable ways.”
In March 2020, TfL introduced a 20mph speed limit on all of its roads within the central London Congestion Charging zone as part of its Vision Zero commitment to eliminate death and serious injury on the capital’s roads by 2041, and 80km of its roads are now 20mph.
