By Gareth Roberts, leader of Richmond Council. 12/06/2025
https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/25227867.richmonds-20mph-policy-vindicated-new-tfl-data/

A recent review by Transport for London about 20mph speed limits in the capital underlines what many of us have known for years: slower speeds save lives.

In Richmond upon Thames, we were a trailblazer in this field when, in 2018, we started making good on our manifesto pledge to introduce a blanket 20mph limit on the roads we controlled; a pledge, which, with a couple of exceptions, we delivered in full just a couple of years later.

Roads which were 30mph became 20mph, and the handful with a 40mph limit became 30mph.

We faced considerable backlash, but we stuck to our guns.

Why?

Because making our streets safer for our residents was the right thing to do.

And when I say our residents, I include car drivers as well as cyclists and pedestrians.

We were told journeys would be 50% longer at lower speeds, even though nobody drives at a constant speed of 30mph once you factor in corners being taken, space being made for buses, pockets of congestion, and pedestrian crossings being encountered.

We were told that air pollution would increase even though studies from Imperial College suggested driving at 20mph had no significant impact on air pollution, and was actually beneficial as the pollution caused from brake and tyre wear is reduced at lower speeds.

We were told congestion would increase, even though it’s the number of cars on the road that causes congestion, not the speed they travel at.

In fact, the one set of comprehensive data we lacked was the figures published recently by TfL, which prove beyond doubt the safety impact of 20mph limits across the capital.

TfL’s data emphatically vindicates Richmond’s decision to be a London leader on road safety.

The question for those who still oppose 20mph is now clear.

What more evidence is needed?

34% fewer people are killed or seriously injured in London, as a result of an accident.
40% fewer people were killed.
75% fewer children were killed.

These are facts that can’t be ignored.

And the starkest question is for those who would ignore the speed limits.

Why should your personal desire to drive at 30mph, just because you want to, be anywhere near as important as whether a child gets home from school safely without being hit by a car travelling at speed, assuming that child gets home from school at all.

The TfL report is clear, 20mph reduces collisions, reduces serious accidents, and ultimately saves lives.