OPINION - Talking Point: Do you back the move to reduce speed limits across London?

Transport for London have announced that they will be lowering the speed limit across main roads in five London boroughs to 20mph from Friday in an effort to improve road safety.

Euston Road, Pentonville Road, Mile End Road and Seven Sisters Road will be amongst the main roads to be affected by the changes that will be introduced across Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey and Tower Hamlets.

It is TfL’s vision to reduce the speed limit to 20mph on 140 miles of main roads, representing 37.9% of its Red Route network, by May next year.

Speeding is the leading cause of road deaths in London, with police reporting it as a contributing factor in 37 out of 75 fatal collisions in 2021.

TfL commissioner Andy Lord said that the change would reduce the consequences of road accidents.

Mr Lord said: “If somebody is unfortunately involved in a collision with a vehicle, their chances of survival are so much better if the car is travelling at 20mph or less. We have got to get that message out.”

TfL’s head of healthy streets investment, Penny Rees, hopes that the new limits will help to save lives, saying that the current number of fatalities caused by speeding is “not acceptable”.

Do you back the move to reduce speed limits across London? Let us know in the comments for your chance to be features on the ES website.