Request ID: FOI-2887-2324 Date published: 30 November 2023
You asked
Dear Sir / Madam
I am currently undertaking a research project on the how the management of London's road impact upon the safety of these roads, pollution levels and if there is evidence of bias or discrimination.
I would therefore request for the following information
1. Evidence that the 20 mile an hour speed limit materially improves road safety. Whilst the introduction of the 20 mile an hour speed limit was claimed to improve road safety I have been unable to obtain any supporting evidence supporting this clam. The fact that deaths on London roads have increased substantially in the last 12 would no seem to support the safety claim . In addition there are claims that the number of collison occurring on london roads has reduced substantially but once again I have not been able to obtain supporting evidence of these claims. I am therefore requesting to be provided with the supporting evidence that the 20 mile an hour speed limit has improved road safety.
2. Impact of the 20 mile an hour speed limit on bus routes
The substantial increase in the number of roads that the 20 mile an hour speed limit now is enforce must have required for a number of bus routes where this speed limit is enforce to be altered to reflect longer journey times. I am therefore requesting the number of bus routes that have been adjusted to reflect the new 20 mile limit.
3. Information on causes of pollution levels in London
Once again the claim is constantly being made that the main cause of pollution in london is the result of the private motorist or the transport sector. Please provide the supporting evidence that has lead to this conclusion.
We answered
TfL Ref: 2887-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 10 November 2023 asking for information about pollution levels on London’s roads.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Environmental Information Regulations and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked: I am currently undertaking a research project on the how the management of London’s road impact upon the safety of these roads, pollution levels and if there is evidence of bias or discrimination .
I would therefore request for the following information:
1. Evidence that the 20 mile an hour speed limit materially improves road safety. Whilst the introduction of the 20 mile an hour speed limit was claimed to improve road safety I have been unable to obtain any supporting evidence supporting this clam. The fact that deaths on London roads have increased substantially in the last 12 would no seem to support the safety claim . In addition there are claims that the number of collision occurring on London roads has reduced substantially but once again I have not been able to obtain supporting evidence of these claims. I am therefore requesting to be provided with the supporting evidence that the 20 mile an hour speed limit has improved road safety.
2. Impact of the 20 mile an hour speed limit on bus routes The substantial increase in the number of roads that the 20 mile an hour speed limit now is enforce must have required for a number of bus routes where this speed limit is enforce to be altered to reflect longer journey times. I am therefore requesting the number of bus routes that have been adjusted to reflect the new 20 mile limit.
3. Information on causes of pollution levels in London Once again the claim is constantly being made that the main cause of pollution in london is the result of the private motorist or the transport sector. Please provide the supporting evidence that has lead to this conclusion
1.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 2022 fatal collisions in London (48 out of 99) reported speed as a contributory factor.
TfL’s Lowering Speed Limits programme was launched in July 2018 as part of our Vision Zero Action Plan and set a target to introduce a new 20mph speed limit in central London by May 2020 and on a further 140km of TfL roads by May 2024. In February this year, we published indicative findings from analysis of the pre- and post-implementation personal injury collision records. This shows a significant reduction in the number of collisions since the 20mph speed limit was introduced on our roads within the central London Congestion Charging Zone, including:
25% reduction in collisions of all severities 24% reduction in collisions resulting in fatal or serious injury
These results should be seen in the context of a London-wide reduction in collisions resulting in death or serious injury of around 10% over the same period.
2.We consistently review schedules with bus operators to ensure that they are both resilient and provide contractually stipulated levels of reliability. As average bus speeds are substantially below 20mph we do not expect a material change to the current schedules but any change in road conditions will be picked up as part of the usual scheduled reliability reviews. This includes night routes which tend to be scheduled at higher speeds. Please see the following link to a published response on a similar topic for further information: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/transparency/freedom-of-information/foi-request-detail?referenceId=FOI-2086-2324
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 as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Sara Thomas FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
