Higher speeds kill more people... slower speeds kill less... you might think this is obvious but many driving commentators and local councillors don't seem to get it.
Yet, a report published by the Department for Transport (DfT) in 2010 'Relationship between Speed and Risk of Fatal Injury: Pedestrians and Car Occupants' clearly highlights that as speeds reduce, your chances of survival if you are hit by a vehicle increase dramatically. (See graph to the left).
If you are hit by a car at 35 mph, your chance of survival is 50%. At 20 mph, your chance of survival leaps to 97%.
20 mph is a much safer speed - a study into 20 mph zones in London found that casualties fell by an average of 42%. Reducing traffic speeds on our streets is the single biggest measure that will make them safer, more vibrant and social places.
20mph should be the standard speed limit for most streets in built-up
areas. Local authorities now have the power to introduce 20 mph limits on streets where we live, work and shop.
So what's happening in Greater Manchester?
Wigan Council are leading the field in Greater Manchester. Wigan Council has pledged to make the borough’s roads safer by
introducing a 20 mph speed limit in more residential areas so that all
residents, particularly children and young people, are able to walk,
cycle and feel safe on our streets. The introduction of a 20 mph speed
limit will improve road safety, saving lives and preventing serious
injuries.
In February 2012, Manchester City Council accepted support a motion which stated that "This Council believes: that the implementation of a city-wide speed limit of 20mph on all non-major residential roads, combined with a public information campaign and innovative
inexpensive traffic calming, would have an immediate beneficial impact on accidents and fatalities in the City." The Council voted to"direct[s] officers to produce a report for the Executive on the feasibility of implementing a city-wide 20mph limit on all residential roads, excluding major routes as appropriate."
Unfortunately, there seems to be little progress to date - but better than many of the other Councils in Greater Manchester. For example, in March 2012, the Trafford Liberal Democrats submitted a motion which requested Trafford Council to:
1. Instruct Officers to initiate a feasibility study to implement more 20mph speed limits within Trafford for residential roads.
2. Recommend that the focus for 20mph speed limits be around schools and shopping areas.
3. Introduce public consultation, to ensure open and transparent public involvement for making decisions on 20mph in Trafford, through the existing democratic structures.
Shamefully, the Conservative led Trafford Council voted to reject this motion.
A 20 mph speed limit can...
- Increase road safety by reducing the risk and severity of collisions
- Get more people walking and cycling, and create more social and liveable streets
- Cut pollution from exhaust fumes
- Smooth traffic-flow by reducing stop-start driving
- Reduce traffic noise.
So what can I do about it?
Why not show your council that you love 20mph. Living Streets have designed a very simple email action to send that message to your council.
Join a local Living Streets or 20s Plenty for Us group that are campaigning for 20mph default speed limits where people live.
No local group near you? Why not invite your neighbours and friends round for tea and start your own local group.
Contact your local councillor or Member of Parliament and ask them what they are doing to support slower speeds in your neighbourhood. Those lovely people at Write to Them make it very easy to contact your local representatives.
