Only 27 per cent opposed a 20mph limit for residential roads. 85 per cent of people also supported the introduction of a 20mph limit outside schools with just 10 per cent opposed.
Jenny Jones, the London Mayor’s Road Safety Ambassador said that:
"Road Safety works in London. It saves lives and it stops people being physically and emotionally destroyed. Less people are dying, or being seriously injured on London’s roads and that is because we have brought in the traffic calming, safety cameras and education campaigns. Local authorities have a choice. They can either act to save lives, or they can listen to the loud minority of drivers who don’t want to slow down and stick within the rules."
"We’ve looked at whether 20mph zones work and the research in London says that they cut casualty rates in half. That is the reason why we need to make 20mph the default speed across London. Of course there will be lots of roads were 30mph remains the most appropriate speed, but we should make these the exception and 20mph the rule."
Spending on road safety in London has nearly trebled in the last four years, as Transport for London tries to maintain the pace of this downward trend in the casualty figures. The MORI poll showed that in terms of measures to reduce traffic speeds, speed cameras and speed bumps had roughly equal support with less support for chicanes.
Notes to Editors
- The MORI poll was conducted between 26 February-8 March 2005 on behalf of the Greater London Authority. Results are based on 1,000 interviews with a representative sample of residents in the Greater London area. Data are weighted by gender, age, work status, ethnicity and Inner versus Outer London to the known profile of Greater London.