20's Plenty for Brighton & Hove

In 2008-9 141 people were killed or seriously injured on roads in the city. Thirteen of these were children.

It is now widely recognised that the most effective measure that can be taken to lower the number of serious road casualties is to reduce traffic speed [1]

Many towns and cities across the country have already decided to set speed limits at 20mph across large urban areas. These include: Glasgow, Portsmouth, Leicester, Norwich and Bristol.

Many residents and community groups throughout the city have called for traffic speed reductions on their local roads. Alas their calls usually go unanswered unless there is a history of casualties at the site. Too often a case of too little too late.

Additional benefits of reduced traffic speed include:
1. Reduced emissions and improved traffic flow – as proven by research in Germany where 30kph (19mph) speed limits have long been commonplace. [2]
2. Improved sociability - recent research in Bristol found that relationships between residents increased and improved on streets with lower traffic speed. [3].
3. Safer conditions for walking and cycling

On-line resources:
http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/
http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/

Notes
[1] someone struck by a car at 35mph has a 50% chance of survival. At 20mph this increase to 97%. www.rospa.com/roadsafety/advice/driving/speed_policy.htm
[2] Dr Carmen Hass-Klau. An illustrated Guide to Traffic Calming p3.
[3] Joshua Hart (2008). Driven to Excess. www.driventoexcess.org
[4] As defined in the Road Traffic Regulation Act (1984) as streets with streetlamps no more than 183 metres apart.