As part of Road Safety Week, coordinated by the charity Brake
|
Labour London Assembly Member Fiona Twycross is calling on local residents to identify dangerous junctions and streets in Wandsworth as part of Road Safety Week, coordinated by the charity Brake. The campaign, GO 20, launches today (Monday 19th November). Fiona Twycross AM has joined the campaign’s call to increase safety on local roads for people on foot and bicycle.
The GO 20 campaign is encouraging drivers to slow down to 20mph around homes, schools and shops. In 2009, a London Assembly Transport Committee investigation found that in areas in London where 20 mph has been introduced, there has been a 42 per cent reduction in casualties.
| Key points for 20mph • London has around four hundred 20mph zones, across almost every borough of the city. • Zones have a very positive impact on road safety, reducing fatal and serious casualties by 46%. • The estimated benefit to London from casualty reductions in current 20mph zones has a value of at least £20 million per year. • A variety of methods of enforcement methods can be used in 20mph zones, with average speed cameras a promising new option that should be explored. • Transport for London research suggests 880 new 20mph zones would be justified in London, and boroughs are aiming to implement more zones over the coming years. Transport Committee report Breaking Point April 2009 |
Transport for London (TfL) has recently invited comments for a new Road Safety Action Plan for the capital. Fiona Twycross AM has backed the submission by the charity Living Streets, which focuses on road safety for pedestrians.
Labour Londonwide Assembly Member Fiona Twycross said:
“We need to make sure that all dangerous junctions are identified and made safer. Currently, the junctions between Battersea Bridge Road/Westbridge Road, Battersea Park Road/Latchmere Road, and Battersea Park Road/Nine Elms Lane/Havelock Terrace are being reviewed by TfL. All of these are in the borough of Wandsworth. I’m calling on local residents to let me know which junctions they think are unsafe. They can write to me at fiona.twycross@london.gov.uk or contact me by post to Fiona Twycross AM, City Hall, London SE1 2AA.”
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, the road safety charity, said:
“Everyone in London should be able to walk and cycle without fear or threat, and GO 20 is about bringing that about. The 2012 Games helped us all realise the importance of being able to live active lifestyles. Critical to this is making our streets and neighbourhoods safe places we can use and enjoy.
“Anyone who drives can help bring this about: pledge to GO 20 around homes, schools and shops: you’ll be helping to protect people, and you’ll hardly notice the difference to your journey. We’re also calling on the government and more London boroughs to recognise the benefits of 20mph limits, and the huge demand for safe walking and cycling, and GO 20.”
November 20, 2012