Mayor criticised for lack of targets for reducing pedestrian cyclist casualties
The Mayor has issued a consultation document called “Towards a Road Safety Action Plan for London 2020.” The draft Plan suggests a target of a 40% reduction in the number Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) on London’s roads by 2020. No other targets are set.
The previous plan covered the period 2000 – 2010. It achieved a 57% reduction in KSI casualties. Targets were also set for pedestrians, children, cyclists, powered two wheelers and slight casualties.
Jenny Jones said:
“The Mayor needs to recognise that whilst vehicles are getting safer, London’s roads are not. The safety of pedestrians and cyclists is the big challenge in London and that is what the Mayor should be focused upon. The number of people being injured in cars is going down, at the same time as injuries of pedestrians and cyclists are on the rise. Much of the improvement to vehicle safety is because of national and European changes to the design of cars and vans. The Mayor is setting an unambitious target for reducing the total number of killed and seriously injured, and he is setting no target at all for reducing the number of pedestrians and cyclists.”
“I welcome many of the proposals in this draft Action Plan, but new challenges require a new generation of road safety measures. Two easy steps would be to create 20mph borough wide speed limits and to fit speed limiters to all public service vehicles. Both of these measures have been piloted in London and are being held back by a lack of funding and political will. The Mayor needs to reverse the cuts to the road safety budget and focus his efforts on bold efforts to reduce injuries and save lives.”
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