Location and dates of promised "Warning Banners" on lamp columns to adequately inform drivers of new 20mph speed limits set by TfL
Request ID: FOI-0797-2425 Date published: 01 July 2024
You asked
TfL under chairman Sadiq Khan introduced blanket 20mph speed limits for Central London that are well below National Speed Limits of 30mph. In doing so, TfL recognised the need to adequately inform drivers of this abnormally low speed limit by promising to erect lamp column mounted banners warning drivers of the new 20mph speed limits.
The "Progress and Plans" section on TfL's webpage here (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/road-safety/safe-speeds) states:
"Warning banners. Lamp column mounted banners will soon be installed across these corridors to help raise driver awareness of the new 20mph speed limits."
Please provide me with the list of locations and dates of any such warning banners and lamp column mounted banners warning drivers of the new 20mph speed limits.
The TfL website also states: "We have supported these changes with radio and digital advertising." Please provide the dates and radio stations of any such advertising warning drivers of TfL's new 20mph speed limits.
We answered
Our Ref: FOI-0797-2425
Thank you for your request received on 10 June 2024 asking for information about the proposed 20mph “warning banners”.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we do hold the information you require.
Each year in London, more than 1000 people are injured or killed by drivers exceeding the speed limit and lowering speed limits is a key part of the Mayor's Vision Zero goal to eliminate death and serious injury from London's transport network by 2041. Collision data from around the world shows that the speed at which people are driving or riding is the single most important factor in whether a collision takes place and how severely people are injured. Around half of the 2023 fatal collisions in London (47 out of 94) reported speed as a contributory factor.
The methodology for identifying sites took into account a risk-based approach to identifying where to deliver lower speed limits on the inner ring road and the TLRN in town centres and other high risk locations across London. This included: • KSI risk per km walked / cycled / travelled • Exposure level of road users • Likely scope for collision reduction The output was then reviewed by TfL Investment Planning to ensure that the minimum lengths of road for a speed limit reduction met DfT requirements and as far as possible, consistent speed limits were applied across corridors.
You asked:
1. The "Progress and Plans" section on TfL's webpage here (https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/road-safety/safe-speeds) states: "Warning banners. Lamp column mounted banners will soon be installed across these corridors to help raise driver awareness of the new 20mph speed limits." Please provide me with the list of locations and dates of any such warning banners and lamp column mounted banners warning drivers of the new 20mph speed limits.
High level banners highlighting the 20mph speed limit are installed on lamp columns to raise road user awareness of the new speed limit and are considered to be very effective in embedding and encouraging road users to travel at lower speeds.
Attached is the programme and list of the installation dates as provided by our two suppliers across two Phases of the Lowering Speed Limits programme. Phase 1 refers to the introduction of a 20mph speed limit in the central London Congestion Charging Zone in March 2020. Phase 2 refers to the lowering the speed limit on over 140km of TfL roads by March 2024. Please note that Phase 2 includes other speed limit reductions, from 50mph to 40mph and 40mph to 30mph, but these banners apply only to 20mph roads under this Phase of the programme. Maps of the banner locations are also attached:
2. The TfL website also states: "We have supported these changes with radio and digital advertising." Please provide the dates and radio stations of any such advertising warning drivers of TfL's new 20mph speed limits.
Communications informing Londoners about changes to speed limits in their local area ran on digital radio and display advertising, and took place in April-May 2022, March-April 2023, Sept-Dec 2023 and Jan-March 2024. These communications were targeted at Londoners in specific boroughs affected by localised speed limit changes. Digital audio advertising messages were distributed by Bauer and Global via their digital audio platforms Octave and DAX. Digital radio stations may have included, but were not limited to, Absolute Radio, Hits Radio, Jazz FM, Kiss, Magic, Scala, Classic FM, Gold, Heart, Joy FM, and Smooth.
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal. Yours sincerely
Gemma Jacob Senior FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
