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Transport for London (TfL) has launched a consultation on plans to introduce lower speed limits on all TfL roads in the Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ) by May next year.
The move is a key part of the Mayor’s Vision Zero ambition to eliminate death and serious injury from London’s transport network and would see 20mph limits introduced on 8.9 kilometres of main roads including Millbank, Albert Embankment, Victoria Embankment and Borough High Street. A 20mph limit will also be introduced at Aldgate Gyratory, which is on the boundary of the CCZ.
Lower speeds for central London are vital to protect people walking, cycling and riding motorcycles, TfL has said. If someone walking is hit by a vehicle at 20mph, they are five times less likely to be killed than if they were hit at 30mph.
As well as new 20mph signs and road markings along routes, TfL plans to raise the height of pedestrian crossings in seven ‘high-risk’ locations, including near the Embankment and Tower Hill tube stations and in areas with a high number of pedestrians. The measures, designed to discourage speeding, have been chosen for locations where high numbers of collisions resulting in death or serious injury have previously occurred. Speed cameras on all of TfL’s roads within the CCZ will be amended to 20mph, and mobile speed cameras will also be used to make sure drivers comply with the new limit.
Following the initial implementation, monitoring will be undertaken to determine whether further measures to reduce speeds further are required.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Each year more than 4,000 people are killed or seriously injured on London’s streets. The evidence is clear – lowering speeds on the most dangerous roads saves lives. The proposed 20mph speed limit on TfL roads within the Congestion Charge Zone and at Aldgate Gyratory will protect people walking and cycling and other road users in the busiest part of the capital.”
