RoSPA on 20mph zones: Removing powers from local communities will put lives at risk

• Rishi Sunak today announced plans to block councils imposing 20mph speed limits
• RoSPA: The evidence shows that 20mph zones save lives and stripping local communities of its powers will see more deaths on the road

Steve Cole, Executive Head of Policy, Campaigns, and Public Affairs at RoSPA, said:

“RoSPA is deeply concerned by reports of Sunak’s plans to block councils imposing 20mph speed limits , particularly as only yesterday figures showed that motorist and pedestrian death rates in this country are still too high.

“Local practitioners and their communities know their roads far better than Westminster and should therefore have the powers to make decisions about local speed limits.

“The evidence shows that local decision making about road safety including 20mph zones is both essential and effective in reducing deaths, and we do not believe that local communities should be subject to blanket decision making from Westminster about their needs.

“It’s important that communities feel safe, and as it is estimated that 20mph speed limits can result in 40 per cent fewer collisions and a seven-fold reduction in deaths[1]

“By removing powers from local communities, the Government are putting drivers and pedestrians at risk and should instead be focusing efforts on assessing the evidence and delivering its long-awaited road safety strategy.”

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Commenting on the DfT’s Commenting on yesterday’s Reported Road Casualties Report, Rebecca Guy, Road Safety Manager, England at RoSPA, said:

“The data paints a grim picture of road safety in Great Britain, with 29,742 killed or seriously injured on the roads every year – the equivalent of 1,000 coaches full of people, or 81 people per day, every day of the year.

“RoSPA is deeply concerned that despite car manufacturers making significant efforts to improve vehicle safety, lack of Government strategy and funding means the number of people killed on our roads has reduced by just two per cent since 2012.

“While car occupants accounted for most road casualties in 2022, the highest casualty rates per billion miles travelled were for motorcyclists, indicating that a person is more likely to be injured on the road when travelling by motorcycle.

“The distinct lack of progress in publishing a road safety strategy since 2019 is deeply concerning, and we urge the Government to publish a clear, evidence-based road safety strategy, before more people are killed on the roads.”