Introduction

According to police accident reports, at least one third of all road crashes are caused by speeding. This is likely to be an under estimate. In a sense, any collision where a driver or rider has insufficient time to react to an unexpected event has speed as a contributory factor. For this reason, there are many circumstances where a driver would drive well below the legal speed limit.

Government figures show that a pedestrian hit by a car travelling at 20mph would have a 90% chance of survival, while at 40mph most would be killed. Experience also shows that a reduction in average speeds of 1mph would result in a 5% reduction in casualties.

Public surveys have shown that traffic speeds are a major reason why parents restrict the freedom of their children to travel independently and deter many people from cycling.

Demands for traffic calming are one of the most frequent requests received by traffic engineers and local councillors. The resources required to meet this demand would be beyond the resources of even the most affluent local authorities. The only realistic solution is to make speeding as socially unacceptable as drinking and driving.

In its road safety strategy document: 'Tomorrow's Roads, Safer for Everyone', the government emphasises the need to control speed to reduce danger and casualties. Experience elsewhere in Europe shows that slower speeds lead to  lower levels of noise and air pollution - partly through making walking and cycling safer - and result in greater freedom for children.

Our aim is to reduce the threat posed by the speed and volume of motor vehicles on our roads. If we can make the road environment safer for the most vulnerable - pedestrians, cyclists, children and the elderly, then all road users will benefit.