Slower Speeds for Safer Streets (UN Global Road Safety week: 6th - 12th May)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Road Safety Week runs from 6th to 12th May 2013 and is dedicated to pedestrian safety around the world.  One of the key recommendations in UN report on pedestrian safety is for 20mph (30kmh) speed limits in residential areas and those areas with large numbers of vulnerable road users.

The 20's Plenty for Us campaign is urging people across Europe to call on Europe's leading politicians to make 20mph the normal residential speed. 

Please sign the petition and ask your friends, family and neighbours to sign up too.

Let's build a 20,000 strong voice to EU leaders now.

Why this is important.

Thousands of people have died or been injured in avoidable collisions on residential streets. Road crash is the top cause of avoidable death for our 5-30 year olds.  We say “20’s Plenty where people live”.  The European Union could make lower residential speed limits normal and protect us from avoidable danger and suffering.  Road Safety Week spotlights this crisis, making it crucial to sign up now.

Everyone, whatever age or level of health, should be able to walk along their home street without fear.  Up to third of United Kingdom local councils are implementing 20mph limits, or seriously considering it.  

But it’s a postcode lottery. April saw a cross party committee of MPs insist that 20mph limits for residential roads is essential to Get Britain Cycling.  Experts and European politicians are calling for immediate action. Speed is greed when it prevents the vulnerable from getting around. If we build a huge petition now, we can push the European Commission to put our health and environment first before the selfish drivers and road lobby and prevent rat running.

We know our voices count!  Over 11million people in the UK already live in places committed to 20mph limits without humps. We need 20,000 signatures in a week to persuade the EU to help us defend our rights to slower speeds where people live.

Now the issue is coming to a boil. EU politicians are stepping up pressure on the European Commission to push new laws on slower speeds. We can offer them the public support they need against the powerful roads lobby. Sign this urgent petition to Europe’s leaders, then ask your friends, family and neighbours to support this call.
 

PS. Here is a short (68 second) video on the European Citizens Initiative for 20mph urban limits and how you can sign the petition .