Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and Chair of the London Assembly’s Transport Committee, joined campaigners in Croydon on Saturday 16th March, calling for a 20mph speed limit to be introduced on the borough’s residential roads.
Over the past six months, local Liberal Democrats surveyed residents in South Croydon to ask what could be done to improve the area. A majority of residents said they were fed up with motorists using their roads as rat runs, putting children and others at risk.
Croydon Lib Dems are now taking the issue further by conducting a petition on a road-by-road basis. When a majority of residents say they would like to see 20mph speed limits on their road, Lib Dems will represent their views to Croydon Council.
Campaigner John Jefkins said, “Residents are clearly fed up with careless motorists. We hope that Croydon Council will respond when most people on a road agree that a 20mph speed limit is needed.
“There are already 20mph limits in place around schools in the borough. Croydon Council should be extending that increased area of safety to all residents who want it.”
Lib Dems in Croydon, London-wide and nationally, support a move to 20mph limits on residential roads. At a recent conference in Brighton, the Liberal Democrat party voted for a policy urging councils across England to consider introducing maximum 20mph speed limits in all residential roads. There is compelling evidence that this would reduce fatalities and injuries. A child hit by a car travelling at 20mph is likely to survive but not at 30mph.
The Mayor of London’s recent road safety action plan recognised that 20mph speed limits can improve road safety and the liveability of town centres.
Caroline Pidgeon AM said, “Strong measures need to be taken to improve road safety in London. As a half of all pedestrian deaths in London are within 30mph zones, the Mayor and TfL must help Boroughs to introduce more 20mph limits where appropriate as this could significantly reduce the number of pedestrians killed each year.”