News / Transport
Bristol Tories call for halt to 20mph limits
Party’s deputy leader called on George Ferguson to “urgently assess” how effective lower speed limits have been before progressing with more areas
Tory councillors in Bristol have called for a halt to the rollout of 20mph speed limits across the city.
The party’s deputy leader at City Hall has today called on the mayor George Ferguson to “urgently stop and assess” how effective the introduction of lower speed limits in Bristol has been before progressing with more areas.
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Drivers in Bishopston, Cabot, Cotham, Clifton, Clifton East and Redland became subject to the new speed limit in January, with the mayor saying it would improve safety for pedestrians, particularly children.
He cited research from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents which showed that while there is a 20% chance of fatal injury when someone is hit by a car travelling at 30mph this reduces to 2.5% if the car is travelling at 20mph.
But critics claim that in Portsmouth, where lower speed limits were introduced, there was an increase in deaths or serious injuries.
Councillor Lesley Alexander said this morning: “In light of recent experience, the Mayor would be truly mad to simply press on with a blanket ban whilst evidence is mounting that this policy is causing more problems than it purports to solve.”
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