SLOW PACED CAPITAL: TfL introduces 65km of new 20mph speed limits across London

Image credit: Transport for London

Transport for London (TfL) will introduce 65km of new 20mph speed limits within the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham, Southwark, Wandsworth, Merton, Bromley and Lambeth.

The new speed limits will be introduced in stages over the last four months of the year, in a bid to make London’s streets safer. Each year in London, more than 1,000 people are injured or killed by drivers exceeding the speed limit and lowering speed limits is a key part of the Mayor's Vision Zero goal to eliminate death and serious injury from London's transport network and to enable more walking and cycling in the capital.

The plan to introduce new speed limits comes as TfL today launches a powerful new road safety campaign to tackle speeding.

The new speed limits will help make a large area of south London safer and more attractive for people in these communities to live and work in, encouraging people out of their cars to walk, cycle and use public transport more often. Enabling more people to use healthier and more sustainable forms of travel will be vital to reducing congestion and air pollution. Once the works on the new speed limits are finalised, TfL will have delivered 140km of 20mph roads, ahead of its target to do this by May 2024.

The speed limits will be supported by new signs and road markings and TfL is working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure that drivers understand and comply with the new lower speed limits. Banners attached to street lamps in the new 20mph areas will also be put in place to increase driver awareness of the new speed limit. Following implementation, TfL plans to carry out monitoring to determine whether further measures to further reduce vehicle speeds are required

Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, said: "Lowering speeds is one of the most important things we can do to reduce road danger and forms a key part of the Mayor's Vision Zero goal to eliminate death and serious injury from London's transport network.

“TfL data shows that 20mph speed limits are reducing the number of collisions on London’s roads, which is why I’m pleased the 20mph programme has been expanded, helping to make a large area of south London safer and more attractive for people to live and work.

“Every death or serious injury on our streets is devastating, bringing heartache and tragedy to all those involved so we will continue to work with TfL, the Met Police and London’s boroughs to make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle and use public transport, creating a safer, greener London for everyone.”