Every 17 mins. That’s how continuously somebody is killed or severely injured in a collision on the United Kingdom’s roads. Every this type of injuries brings an insufferable loss: for friends and family left mourning the family members who’ve been cruelly stolen from them, and survivors whose accidents can trade their lives for ever. After we discuss how we make our roads more secure, it’s simple to get distracted by means of bluff and bluster. However, each and every time we do, we lose sight of an important reality: visitors injuries took over 1,600 lives final 12 months, and we’ve got the ability to scale back and save you them.
Take velocity limits. Rigorous new analysis revealed by means of Delivery for London displays the choice of other people killed or severely injured on London borough roads decreased by means of 34% following the implementation of 20mph velocity limits, with the choice of kids killed falling by means of 75% (from 4 to at least one). That implies fewer grieving households and less other people’s lives made a distress. On the similar time, the anticipated downsides for drivers merely haven’t materialised. In spite of what their detractors would possibly declare, 20mph velocity limits haven’t in truth made trips slower as a result of adventure instances are in large part dictated by means of junction delays, now not car velocity. Roads the place 20mph velocity limits practice aren’t simply more secure; they’re quieter, too, encouraging extra other people to stroll or cycle. Those that do power have fewer collisions and pay much less for his or her insurance coverage because of this. It’s no wonder that citizens overwhelmingly again slower velocity limits in their very own communities; greater than 3 out of 4 of them assume that 20mph is the proper velocity for the world they are living in.
Our revel in isn’t remoted. The primary 12 months of a 20mph velocity prohibit scheme in Wales ended in 100 fewer other people being killed or severely injured.
As mayor of the capital, my way to highway protection hasn’t ever been about ideology, trust, or bias; it’s about following the proof and doing what’s easiest. If we wish to save lives, the proof displays that there’s no time to waste. That’s why we’re rolling out 20mph velocity limits on suitable roads. On account of our insurance policies, these days part of London’s streets have 20mph velocity limits. We’ve created greater than 800 “faculty streets” throughout our town, chopping poisonous air air pollution and giving 1000’s of youngsters a more secure, more healthy approach to get to college. On the similar time, we’ve larger the choice of safe cycle routes fivefold, giving extra Londoners the arrogance to change 4 wheels for 2.
Step-by-step, side road by means of side road, we’ve got made the capital a greater position to stroll, cycle and power. Confronted with tricky issues, we had the braveness to get a hold of our personal solutions when the sector presented none.
Once I introduced the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), it used to be the primary of its type anyplace. Others have adopted with an identical schemes, however London’s is the most important on the earth. In 2024, the 12 months when we expanded it, ranges of roadside nitrogen dioxide – the poisonous fuel that exacerbates bronchial asthma and raises the danger of lung most cancers – declined by means of 27%. Since 2019, the 12 months the scheme used to be first presented, air high quality has stepped forward at 99% of tracking websites around the capital. In a town the place air air pollution is related to as much as 4,000 early deaths yearly, the Ulez is saving lives.
It’s now not simply Ulez. We knew that lorries have been 5 instances much more likely to be excited by a collision inflicting a fatality relative to their proportion of visitors. So, in 2021, we become the primary position on the earth to put into effect a direct imaginative and prescient same old for lorries, forcing tens of 1000’s of bad cars to put into effect protection measures and enhance how a lot drivers can see from their cab. Nowadays, that normal is operating; in 2023, the choice of inclined highway customers killed by means of an HGV had declined by means of 62% from the 2017-19 baseline. The EU has since presented a an identical scheme, which it expects to save lots of 1000’s of lives around the continent.
With regards to bettering highway protection, the document in our capital is 2nd to none. However in truth that, in spite of spectacular growth, there are nonetheless too many puts the place upper velocity limits are placing pedestrians in danger. We will be able to and will have to do extra, as a result of now not a unmarried one of the crucial tragedies that happen at the capital’s roads is inevitable. This basic concept – that one casualty on our roads is one too many – underpins my Imaginative and prescient 0 for London. Through enforcing it, we goal to get rid of all deaths and critical accidents on our shipping community by means of 2041. However we will be able to now not prevail until borough councils do their bit.
Lots of the capital’s boroughs have leapt on the likelihood to make our roads more secure; 21 of them now have a default 20mph velocity prohibit. Sadly, regardless that, there are a couple of councils who’ve to this point refused to play their section. In those blocker boroughs, leaders are combating towards decrease velocity limits on their streets. To these councils, my message is obvious: it’s time to step up. As a result of there may be not anything to be received by means of taking part in politics with velocity limits – most effective other people to be injured and lives to be misplaced.
On a daily basis, I meet individuals who inform me they wish to make much more growth to scrub up our air and minimize speeds at the capital’s streets. A few of them are campaigners who’ve devoted their lives to creating the best way we go back and forth more secure and extra sustainable. However the overwhelming majority are peculiar electorate: kids strolling house from faculty; folks biking to paintings; carers using to peer their family. What they would like is unassuming: the liberty to move about their lives within the wisdom that they’re secure from hurt. For his or her sake, the struggle for more secure roads will have to proceed.
