Safer Streets Coming Near You - Star Letter

[Simon Geller]

Mike Wilson (Your Say, 1st November) raises some issues about 20mph zones that I would like to respond to. 

He asks how the 20mph limits are to be enforced. I would lkke to ask him how the current 30mph limits are enforced? The very same measures are available to the police for 20mph and if residents are concerned that motorists are driving too fast they can report them via 101 or the police non-emergency reporting form, https://www.reportingcrime.uk/SYPincidentreport/  The 20mph limits are here to stay and over time people will get used to them and reduce their speeds. 

20mph zones make miniscule differences to overall journey times so in themselves will not lead to fewer car journey into town or elsewhere. If however, by making the streets safer people find  themselves more able to walk, cycle or take public transport into town or around their area, so much the better. 

Lastly, 20 mph zones aren't primarily about  pollution - they are about road safety. You are 7-10 times more lilely to survive a collision with a road vehicle at 20mph than you are at 30mph, depending on your age. Pollution savings, again, are likely to come from people having the confidence to walk, cycle or use public transport and leave their cars at home. 

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Simon Geller

20s Plenty for Sheffield