Following the introduction of 20mph speed limits in London, the number of people killed or seriously injured has reduced by one-third.
Figures from Transport for London (TfL) were recently published as part of wider plans to improve road safety.
The first 20mph zones were introduced in London in 1989 and the research analysed 150 zones that were implemented from 1989-2013, looking specifically at the three-year periods around their introduction.
And the biggest findings were that 20mph schemes significantly reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries.
TfL’s research is part of a study into road safety across the city and the impact that various measures and schemes have on keeping drivers and other road users safe.
20mph zones are often used around schools and in residential areas, while Wales made the switch from 30mph to 20mph speed limits in built-up areas in 2023.
Change has been mooted in the rest of the UK since but as of yet, no decision has been made on whether or not they’ll follow suit in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
But with this research in London showing that 20mph zones contribute to improved road safety and fewer fatal accidents, it adds weight to the idea that change could be considered by the government in the near future.
Do you think 20mph speed limits should become the norm? Or would more 20mph zones, rather than an overall limit be a better approach? Let us know…
