TfL urges Londoners to drive safely and watch out for new road layouts

Coronavirus: London has seen 6 road deaths since 20 March and speeds of more than 130 mph during lockdown

Drivers in London are being reminded to watch out for changes, drive carefully and obey the speed limit at all times as TfL reports 16 road deaths since 20 March and speeds of more than 130 mph during lockdown.

Transport for London (TfL) is advising Londoners to drive safely as large numbers of people are walking and cycling, and significant temporary infrastructure changes are being made across London to protect them.

Changes are being rolled out at pace through TfL and the Mayor's Streetspace for London plan. Footways and bus platforms have been extended across the capital, creating an additional 19,000m² of space for people walking and cycling in the past month.

In total, 21 Streetspace schemes have now been completed, including expanded footways outside busy commuter hubs such as London Bridge, Victoria and Waterloo stations and a new cycle lane on Park Lane. The speed limit on Park Lane has been reduced from 40mph to 20mph to reduce road danger further, and TfL plans to introduce 20mph speed limits on more main roads across the capital as part of the Streetspace plans.

Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, said: “It is vital that all Londoners walk and cycle for as many journeys as possible which is why our Streetspace plans are rapidly rolling out more space to enable people to safely do so. If you must drive, you must do so carefully, and be aware that road layouts may have changed. It is more important than ever that you don't speed, including where there are new or existing 20mph limits, to help protect the increased numbers of people walking and cycling, and avoid putting additional pressure on the NHS."

Lower speed limits were introduced across the central London TfL road network in March and an urgent review is underway to identify how these limits can be expanded to further streets across central London - including next to cycle lanes - to offer further protection to vulnerable road users. This could include reducing speed limits to 20mph in areas where TfL is making temporary changes to road layouts, including on the A503 between Camden and Finsbury Park, and on the A3 between Elephant and Castle and Colliers Wood. In addition, from Sunday 14 June the speed limit on the elevated section of the A40 Westway will be lowered from 40 to 30mph, which will make the road safer.

Plans to boost walking and cycling are helping to ensure London can re-open carefully, safely and sustainably as more people return to work from 15 June. The Mayor of London and the UK government are encouraging everyone who can to walk or cycle for all or part of their journeys as lockdown measures are eased. With more people across London choosing to walk and cycle, including young schoolchildren, drivers are reminded to slow down, to obey the rules of the road and to be extra vigilant for other road users.

Siwan Hayward, TfL's Director of Compliance and Policing, said: “We’re working closely with the Mayor and local boroughs to provide a huge range of new walking and cycling facilities, ensuring Londoners can get around safely as lockdown measures are eased. Drivers are reminded that a number of road layouts may have changed and with more people walking and cycling, it is more critical than ever to slow down, drive carefully and within the speed limit.”

Since 20 March, 16 people have died on London's roads, including 10 motorcyclists. At the peak of the lockdown at the end of March, traffic was at 50% of normal levels. By mid-May, traffic was at 68% of normal levels and today and by the start of June, traffic was at 78% of normal levels.

TfL said it is taking action to tackle unsafe behaviour and speeding to make London's roads safe. TfL funds the Metropolitan Police Service's Roads and Transport Policing Command (RTPC), which is the largest police command in the UK. The RTPC is made up of more than 2,000 officers who are dedicated to policing London’s streets, focusing on the most dangerous drivers and carrying out widespread high visibility roadside operations and patrols, with intensified patrols on roads with 20 and 30mph speed limits.

Superintendent Andy Cox, from the Met's Roads and Traffic Policing Command, said: “We recognise the anticipated increase in walking and cycling across London and have intensified roads policing patrols on roads with 20 and 30mph limits. Speeding remains the biggest risk to road safety and it is our number one focus for traffic enforcement. Day and night, each and every day, our roads policing officers are patrolling priority roads across London.”

Acting Inspector Myles Hilbery, of the City of London Police's Roads Policing Unit, said: “The City of London Police is committed to keeping people in the Square Mile safe. Anyone caught speeding in the City could face a speed awareness course, fine, points on their licence or disqualification from driving. Even a few miles over the limit can have life changing consequences in the case of a collision, so by adhering to the speed limit, drivers can help keep themselves safe, as well as pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.”

While the majority of Londoners are driving safely, there has been an increase in speeding, resulting in a number of road fatalities and injuries. Since 20 March when the lockdown began, 16 people have died on London's roads, despite an average reduction of 35% in traffic levels. The latest statistics show that while eight fewer people have died during lockdown compared with the same period last year, the number of people riding motorcycles and cycling killed in road traffic collisions has risen. During this time, there have been ten motorcyclists killed on London's roads, with two people walking and two cycling.

Unsafe driving puts additional strain on the NHS at this time of national emergency. As part of their joint Vision Zero commitment to eliminate death and serious injury from London's roads, the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police continue to target speeding and other unsafe driving across London’s roads every day. Police have recorded speeds of over 130mph during speed enforcement activity across the capital. Even a relatively small increase in speed, however, is known to raise risks to drivers and vulnerable road users such as people walking, cycling and riding motorcycles.

TfL is working with London's boroughs?to identify places where further temporary changes are needed to support social distancing and are requesting feedback from the public. Londoners are now encouraged to report any pavement crowding on TfL roads (TLRN) using TfL's online tool, Streetcare, at www.streetcare.tfl.gov.uk

Feedback will be analysed to create changes where they are needed most.  This work as part of Streetspace enables safe social distancing on the capital's streets and on public transport as lockdown restrictions are eased. The plan will also ensure improvements to the city's air quality are maintained after lockdown.                                                                    

Reaction:

• Joshua Harris, Director of Campaigns at Brake, the road safety charity, said: “Seeing more people choosing to walk or cycle to get around has been one of the few glimmers of hope in recent months. We must do all we can to protect them from harm, and harness this momentum for change. Dedicated infrastructure for walking and cycling is key to a healthier, safer future in our cities and so it's great to see wide-scale changes rolling out across London. We urge all drivers to stay within speed limits at all times and to be aware of changes to road layouts and an increase in other, more vulnerable, people using the roads. When you’re sat in the relative safety of your car it can be easy to forget how vulnerable someone walking and cycling is and the impact of your vehicle being too close or moving past at a high speed. Every death and serious injury on the roads is preventable and we can all play a part in eliminating these tragedies for good.”
• James Austin, London Director for the cycling and walking charity Sustrans, said: “The much-needed street changes TfL and boroughs are making will start to give Londoners space to move and help our incredible city to bounce back. As we slowly start returning to shops, leisure activities and workplaces, millions more people will be walking and cycling instead of taking public transport. And there will be even more young children walking, scooting and pedalling to school. News of the increase in reckless speeding and road traffic deaths is appalling. Drivers who speed or take risks shatter lives and devastate families.”
• Katrina Phillips, Chief Executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust said: “With many more families now walking and cycling, and people sometimes needing to step off the pavement to maintain safe social distancing, it's really important for drivers to watch out for children on our roads and keep an eye on their speed. The difference between 20mph and 40mph can mean the difference between life and death for a child out walking or on their bike."

Streetspace for London
Full information about TfL's Streetspace for London plan is available online at https://tfl.gov.uk/travel-information/improvements-and-projects/streetspace-for-london.