New London road safety measures proposed

Date: 1/8/2012

Proposals have been put forward by (TfL) Transport for London to implement a number of new road safety measures in the capital.

It comes as Mayor of London Boris Johnson aims to cut the number of deaths and injuries by 40 per cent by the year 2020.

He said: "The safety of roads in our great city is an absolute priority. I am pleased that we have met national road safety targets years ahead of schedule, and the number of people killed or seriously injured in London has fallen to a record low."

The plan is centred around the perception of road safety in London and would include measures such as removing ineffective street furniture, such as pedestrian guardrails.

Further to this pedestrian countdowns at crossings would be introduced across a number of locations.

Cyclists are particularly vulnerable road users and putting mirrors at the side of the road on cycle superhighways and other key roads in the capital are being considered as a way to cut down incidents involving them.

These are just some of the 70 measures outlined in the proposals, which are still at the consultation stages.

Mr Johnson said: "There is plenty more to be done and there are significant challenges ahead as our population increases and demands on the road network rise."

He went on to say that it is the responsibility of a number of different groups of people to improve the safety of roads in London.

They include those who use the roads, whether they be drivers, cyclists or pedestrians, road authorities and transport providers.

He has urged all of these groups to work together in partnership and believes that the new proposals foster such an approach.

Leon Daniels, Managing Director of Surface Transport at TfL, said: "I urge all stakeholder groups and Londoners with an interest in this area to respond to the consultation and give us their ideas for what more we could do in this area."

Posted by Sarah Bailey

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