Mayor of London unveils new road safety strategy

Date: 6/6/2013

Boris Johnson has unveiled a Safe Streets for London strategy designed to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the capital's roads by 40 per cent by the end of the decade.

The plan has been formulated in a bid to improve safety for all road users, and was announced at the Waterloo IMAX roundabout - an area where recent improvements have helped to reduce potential dangers.

Indeed, (TfL) Transport for London is also expected to introduce 20mph speed limits at the junction within the next few years.

Commenting on the scheme, the Mayor said: "I want London to be the most liveable capital city in the world and improving the safety of our roads is key to achieving this.

"We've made good progress in recent years, but we must do more. London's population is rapidly increasing and the extra demand that this will place on our road network poses a significant challenge."

The strategy is being implemented based on analysis of how and why people have been injured in collisions on the city's roads - as well as which groups are most likely to be affected.

By collaborating with police and local boroughs, TfL believes it will be in a position to introduce measures capable of achieving a 40 per cent reduction in the numbers killed or seriously injured by 2020.

Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL Leon Daniels explained that the organisation remains committed to improving safety and cutting the number of casualties in the capital.

"Through sustained long-term investment, and by pushing ourselves to develop new and innovative approaches, this plan will help us all work towards our overarching ambition to free the Capital's roads from death and serious injury," he said.

TfL has outlined 56 key steps it will take in order to reach its goal, including the creation of a London Vehicle Innovation Task Force which will identify and trial new systems specifically designed to improve safety.

Additionally, a programme of best practice sharing and training will be rolled-out across road safety teams in London's various boroughs.

Posted by Sarah Bailey

Transport Research News and Vehicle Safety News