Safer roads planned for Southwark

Southwark is soon to become a safer borough as plans have been approved to reduce speeds on its roads to 20mph. Plans were approved by Councillor Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for Transport, Environment and Recycling, in a bid to make the borough more pedestrian friendly.

Research has shown that road safety is drastically improved by reducing speed limits to 20mph. This means that chances of fatal injury to both drivers and pedestrians as a result of motor vehicle accidents are reduced from 20 per cent with 30mph limits to only 2.5 per cent.

The vast majority of roads throughout the London borough of Southwark have already had their speed limits reduced to 20mph, but the new plans mean that all roads will soon have reduced speeds. All roads will be subject to 20 mph limits by the end of the financial year, so long as statutory approval is granted and there are sufficient funds in the budget.

In order to implement the scheme throughout all Southwark Roads a total of £1.59 million is required. Funding for the north-west and south of the borough has already been provided through Transport for London (TFL), but more is now being requested to complete the implementation.

Councillor Hargrove said: "Southwark is a typical inner London borough with busy roads and lots of pedestrians. High speeds can have tragic consequences, and we want Southwark to be a place where everyone feels safe.

"When we know that 20mph saves lives, I can't think of any reason why we shouldn't make the whole borough stay within this speed. I'm proud to see this work beginning, building on what we have already done in our mission to create safer Southwark streets."

It is hoped that as well as improving safety throughout the area, the reduced speed limit will also lead to better air quality through lower engine emissions. 

Only roads that are operated by Southwark Council are to be covered by the 20mph scheme, while the six per cent of roads that are run by TFL are not under the council's jurisdiction and so will not have the new limits imposed.

Published 14th October, 2013

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