Councillors in Addiscombe are holding a ward-wide consultation on the introduction of 20mph zones in the area’s residential streets.
The consultation is in response to residents contacting Labour councillors Mark Watson, Sean Fitzsimons and Patricia Hay-Justice. Complaints include commercial vehicles and motorists using residential roads as cut-throughs, causing noise and pollution as well as making the streets less safe for children, cyclists and pets.
“We believe that a simple and cost effective measure would be to introduce 20mph limits on our residential roads,” Watson said. “This has proved popular in other cities and London boroughs and we believe it would suitable for Addiscombe. 20mph zones will also encourage commercial vehicles and non-residents to use the main roads, rather than using our streets as ‘rat runs’ and make the streets more pleasant for cyclists, pedestrians and residents.”
More than half of road deaths and serious injuries occur on roads with 30mph limits. Britain has the highest percentage of pedestrian road fatalities in Europe (22.5 per cent), while having one of the lowest levels of children walking or cycling to school; British parents consistently cite traffic speed as the main reason why their children are not allowed to cycle or walk to school. There is at least one senior school in Croydon where pupils are forbidden from cycling to school because the neighbouring roads are considered too dangerous.
“Lower speeds improve streets both in terms of safety and quality of life,” Watson said. “Evidence also suggests that 20mph zones prove effective that motorists comply without the need for other road calming measures.
“Lowering residential speed limits to 20mph has been found to increase journey times by just 40 seconds, but decreases child pedestrian accidents by up to 70 per cent. We also appreciate that not every road in Addiscombe will be suitable for 20mph, which is why we want to hear from the views from residents,” Watson said.
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