West End Forum - Why we must act fast to cut casualties on our roads with 20mph zones
Labour councillors are set to call for urgent action to cut the highest rate of road injuries of any borough across the capital, writes Paul Dimoldenberg
CAN I take this opportunity of wishing all West End Extra readers a very happy and healthy New Year?
And with health in mind, Labour councillors are launching a New Year campaign to cut the number of road deaths and accidents by calling for the introduction of a 20mph speed limit in residential areas in Pimlico, Covent Garden, Marylebone, Maida Vale, Little Venice, St John’s Wood, Bayswater, Lancaster Gate, North Paddington and all across Westminster. You just have to look at the statistics to see why such a move is so vital.
In 2008, 1,604 people were injured in road accidents in Westminster, including 20 people who lost their lives. Overall, 272 people were either killed or seriously injured on the roads in Westminster, of which eight were children. A further 1,332 people were slightly injured.
In all, Westminster had the highest number of pedestrians, pedal cyclists and motorcyclists killed or seriously injured of any London borough. As a result, Westminster also had the highest number of all road users either killed or seriously injured.
In more detail:
• Pedestrians: There were 458 casualties, of which 115 were either killed or seriously injured
• Pedal cyclists: There were 277 casualties, of which 48 were either killed or seriously injured
• Motorcyclists: There were 306 casualties, of which 61 were either killed or seriously injured
• Car users: There were 414 casualties, of which 29 were either killed or seriously injured Of particular concern is the figure for pedestrian casualties which shows a 14 per cent rise on 2007 when 102 people were killed or seriously injured.
Of course, there is a lot of traffic on Westminster’s major roads, but the figures show that Westminster’s accident figures are as bad on residential roads as they are on the major A-roads.
At the council meeting on January 27 we will be putting forward a motion to increase road safety across Westminster by asking the council to introduce 20mph zones in residential areas in Westminster. The evidence that this would cut deaths and serious injuries is overwhelming.
Recent research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that 20mph zones were associated with a 40 per cent reduction in casualties.
In addition, pedestrian injuries were reduced by nearly a third and cycling casualties by 17 per cent. In areas adjacent to 20 mph zones casualties fell by 8 per cent. Reducing road deaths and serious injuries will not only mean less misery and sadness for so many families, but it will also cut the costs to the health service, the police and emergency services generally.
The council has already made a decision not to introduce any more speed humps because it says that this slows down ambulances. So if speed humps are not the answer then isn’t it time to introduce a 20mph speed limit?
This campaign goes way beyond party politics. It is simply the right thing to do.
If you support our 20mph speed limit campaign, please email me at pdimoldenberg@westminster.gov.uk Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg is leader of the Labour Group at Westminster City Council