Drivers urged to 'go 20mph'
A NATIONAL campaign to get drivers to slow to 20mph around homes, schools and shops has been launched.
To mark Road Safety Week, various organisations have united to launch "GO 20" in an effort to make the roads safer for walkers and cyclists.
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Road safety charity Brake is one of the involved groups who also include sustainable transport body Sustrans and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
The launch coincided with the publication of a survey of more than 8,000 children aged seven to 11 by Brake, Brain Injury Group and Specsavers.
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This showed:
â Seventy per cent of the youngsters said they would be able to walk and cycle more if roads in their neighbourhood were less dangerous;
â Seventy-seven per cent said drivers needed to slow down around their home and school;
â Forty-three per cent said they have been hit or nearly hit while walking or cycling;
â Fifty-four per cent worried about being hurt by traffic when out and about.
Brake deputy chief executive Julie Townsend said: "Everyone should be able to walk and cycle in their community without fear or threat: it's a basic right, and GO 20 is about defending that.
"The 2012 Games helped us all realise the importance of being able to live active lifestyles. Critical to this is making our streets and communities safe places we can use and enjoy. Anyone who drives can help bring this about."
She urged drivers to go at 20mph even in areas where 30mph was the official limit.
Ms Townsend said: "We're also calling on the Government and more local authorities to recognise the need for 20mph limits."
A Department for Transport spokesman said: "We welcome Brake's campaign and the important issues that it raises.
"It is vital that speed limits are suitable for local conditions and councils are best placed to determine what these limits should be, based on local knowledge and the views of the community.
"To help them, we have made it easier for local authorities and communities to put in place 20mph schemes on residential roads, or use common sense measures such as variable speed limits outside schools.
"We are also revising our guidance on speed limits in urban areas with the aim of increasing flexibility for local authorities and have committed to provide an online tool to help councils to assess the full costs and benefits of any proposed schemes."
Comments
by mcspredder
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 3:13PM
“imalady, a further point about dropped kerb obstruction, such as by some moron parents at Dunstone School, is the flouting of Highway Code rule 242 which instructs to not leave a vehicle in a dangerous position. The resulting restriction of visibility to anyone trying to leave a garage when the road is at its busiest with traffic and schoolchildren only affects other people's children, of course.”
by catdaddy1214
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 2:43PM
“Yet more car bashing. How about people think about what they're doing and watch their surroundings taking appropriate action when needed. Speed is harmless, it's the muppets behind the wheel and on pavements not looking where they're going.”
by 147ref
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 12:44PM
“slow down for passing schools yes, but how many kids do walk on pavement or decides that they rather cross the road without looking or not use crossings”
by dweston
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 12:31PM
“It is a case of driving at an appropriate speed. What I find annoying is that roads that are perfectly safe at 30mph have suddenly been redesignated as 20mph roads. Outside a local school that is the case even when the school is not in use. I suggest variable limits are more appropriate, with the limit reduced when the signs flash.
Speed limits have to be acceptable and be sensible - nothing is worse than seeing a clear and empty road without a pedestrian in sight but indicating 20mph. It makes no sense and inevitably drivers will begin to ignore it.”
by imalady
Tuesday, November 20 2012, 11:40AM
“As well as slowing down to 20 around schools hospitals etc etc I also this badly parked cars should be targeted. Yesterday I witnessed 3 cars parked in Larham Lane Plympton all parked on the drop curb. Just because it was raining & the persons wanted to get as close as possible to the school. If someone in a wheel chair or person with pushchair wanted to cross the couldnt.”