Sadiq Khan introduces yet more restrictions on London’s roads: Map reveals another 40 miles of road across eight boroughs in the capital that will become 20mph zones from this month

Sadiq Khan has unveiled his latest raft of restrictions on motorists with a further 40 miles (65km) worth of roads in the capital set to become 20mph zones.

The limits will hit eight London boroughs and come into affect by the end of 2023 – months ahead of the original target of May 2024.

Transport for London bosses say the measure is intended to ‘save lives’ and help make a large area of the capital ‘safer and more attractive for people to live and work’.

Lower limits will be launched in Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Wandsworth, Merton, Bromley, Lambeth and Kensington and Chelsea from this month.

It is the latest in a wave of 20mph crackdowns as part of Mr Khan’s ‘Vision Zero’ goal that aims to eliminate death and serious injury from the capital’s transport network. Once the new zones are installed, TfL will have delivered 87 miles (140km) of 20mph roads across the capital.

Lower limits will be launched in Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Wandsworth, Merton, Bromley, Lambeth and Kensington and Chelsea

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in Catford, south east London, on the first day of the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) to include the whole of London

TfL say that data collected in London’s congestion zone between 2020 and 2022 showed the number of collisions fell by 25 per cent (from 405 to 304) – when compared to a seasonally matched period before the speed limits were introduced. 

The authority also said collisions resulting in death or serious injury also fell 24 per cent (from 94 to 71). 

However, a study by Queen’s University last year found that while speed limits reduce traffic they do little to stop accidents. 

Researchers compared four different years before and after 20mph zones were introduced and showed little change in short or long-term outcomes for crashes, casualties or driver speed. 

TfL announced plans to cut speed limits in Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey and Tower Hamlets last November. These came into effect in March.

The new limits in these boroughs cover 17 miles of roads including major routes such as Euston Road, Pentonville Road, Mile End Road and Seven Sisters Road. 

That followed the implementation of 8.5miles of lower limits that began in February last year, after a 20mph limit was brought in on all TfL roads within the Congestion Charge zone in March 2020.

TfL said the new speed limits would be supported by new signs and road markings, and existing speed cameras would have their enforcement threshold changed to reflect the new speed limit. 

Banners attached to street lamps in the new 20mph areas would also be put in place.

However, reacting to the proposals earlier this year, RAC road safety spokesman Simon Williams said: ‘Our research also shows drivers are less likely to take notice of 20mph signs if they don’t believe they’re appropriate for the type of road, so we hope TfL has thought carefully about where best to reduce the limit.’ 

He added: ‘Reducing an urban speed limit to 20mph undoubtedly improves safety for everyone, but a lot depends on how well drivers obey the limit.

‘Without enforcement or traffic-calming measures, compliance is unlikely to be as good as it should be, which unfortunately limits how successful the lower limit will be.’

Traffic on Millbank in Westminster passes by a 20mph sign after the limit was imposed in 2020 on all roads within the Congestion Charge area which are managed by Transport for London

TfL announced plans to cut speed limits in Camden, Islington, Hackney, Haringey and Tower Hamlets last November. These came into effect in March. 

And Lilli Matson, TfL’s Chief Safety, Health and Environment Officer, told MyLondon that speed is a factor in ‘almost half of fatal collisions’.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman said lowering speeds is one of the most important things that can be done to reduce road danger. 

Previously, Mr Norman said that people hit by a vehicle at 20mph are about five times less likely to be killed than at 30mph. 

TfL said it was working with the Metropolitan Police to increase speed enforcement, with the aim of being able to enforce up to one million speeding offences per year by 2024/2025.

It said that this year, the police will enforce around 650,000 speeding offences, which is a rise of around 30 per cent on the previous year.

In 2021/22, the Met enforced 476,685 speeding offences, which was itself an increase of 72 per cent compared with the year before.

It comes amid a backdrop of criticism over Mr Khan’s ‘war on motorists’ which has also focused on the expansion of the ultra-low emission zone (Ulez), constant roadworks, low-traffic neighbourhoods and cycle lanes. Mr Khan has denied such a war exists and insists he has a duty to tackle ‘poisonous air’. 

Khan’s hated Ulez explanison, which came into affect on August 29, involves a daily charge of £12.50 on certain vehicles entering the expanded ultra low emission zone which now covers all of Greater London. 

Mr Khan has resisted pressure from charities, Labour-supporting union bosses, and even Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer to delay or ditch altogether the expansion during the cost of living crisis.

He has steamed ahead despite an independent report commissioned by City Hall claiming the larger zone would have only a ‘negligible’ effect on reducing carbon emissions this year.

And in June it was revealed motorists across London would face £130 fines for placing a wheel in a cycle lane or edging into a box junction while in traffic. 

Pop-up cycle lanes were brought in during lockdown to encourage people to walk or cycle during the pandemic, along with the widening of pavements and road closures.

The measures were rolled out under ‘low-traffic neighbourhood’ schemes but were criticised for causing gridlock with one in Kensington removed after an outcry.

Critics said the measures also blocked emergency response vehicles and caused problems for local businesses in towns and cities across the UK.

And in January 2021, the High Court ruled that guidance issued by the Mayor to promote the expansion of schemes was ‘irrational’ and unlawful because it failed to safeguard road access for taxis and disabled people.