Croydon Council is fulfilling its pledge to make its roads safer and environment cleaner with a consultation to take 20mph zones borough-wide opening this week.
On Wednesday (18 January) Croydon Council will start the statutory consultation process to take 20mph zones to three remaining areas of the borough where they have not already been implemented or are in the process of being implemented.
The plans cover parts of north-west, south-east and south-west Croydon and, if approved, will make Croydon a 20mph borough, with the exception of major through roads and roads where it is impractical.
Extensive 20mph limits reduce the risk and severity of accidents, cut congestion and pollution levels, encourage less car use and discourage rat-running in quieter streets.
The roads included in the new changes will all have 20mph signs, and drivers caught speeding by police can expect fines, points on their licence or even prosecution.
The council will also monitor traffic speeds within the 20mph roads. If speeding remains an issue, options could include traffic-calming measures, as well as police enforcement.
On several roads where 20mph has already been implemented, the council has installed numberplate recognition speed visors and electronic signs that flash up each vehicle’s speed to further encourage motorists to stick within the legal limit.
“I’m really pleased we’re delivering on our 20mph manifesto pledge. Residents have told us they want streets and communities to feel safer and be safer, and reducing speed on the roads is one way we can do this.
“If we can reduce the speeds at which motorists travel, then we reduce the risk of accidents and the risk and severity of injury. We have already seen support from residents for speed limitations in many areas of Croydon and we know that for some it will make a huge difference to the streets where they live.
“Slowing motorists down will also make our roads more accessible for cyclists and pedestrians, encouraging greener methods of transport and helping to cut pollution, which will in turn make our streets cleaner and more enjoyable places to be.”
Councillor Stuart King, cabinet member for transport and environment
Croydon began implementing 20mph zones last year, following a pledge to implement them across the borough by 2018. The council divided the borough into five areas and, following positive consultation and cabinet approval, a 20mph limit was introduced in area 1 in September last year. The plans for area 2 were approved in October and will be implemented by the end of March 2017. In December 2016, the council approved plans for a revised, simpler consultation process and to consult on the three remaining areas together.
The consultation period on areas three, four and five will run from 18 January 2017 till 15 February 2017. The council has written to all properties on the roads affected. For more information or to register an objection to the scheme visit www.croydon.gov.uk/20mph where information on the three areas can be accessed.
The council’s traffic management action committee (TMAC) will consider the responses following the close of the statutory consultation.
ENDS
Research has demonstrated clear benefits from lowering speed limits in residential areas.
Evidence shows that 20mph reduces the risk of road traffic accidents occurring and presents a strong likelihood of avoiding fatal or serious injuries when one does occur. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents a pedestrian struck at 20mph has a 98.5% chance of survival; this falls to 92% at 30mph. Department for Transport research shows that a 1mph reduction in speed levels leads to a 6% reduction in collisions.
