Could Portsmouth's 20mph approach work on London's roads?

10.47.00am GMT Thu 20th Nov 2008

Caroline Pidgeon AM with Lib Dem Councillor Lynne Stagg, Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation in Portsmouth , looking at the city's 20mph zone.

Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem transport spokesperson travelled with the London Assembly's Transport Committee to Portsmouth to assess how effectively the 20mph limit introduced on all residential streets is improving road safety in the seaside city on Tuesday 18 November.

The visit was the chance to gather evidence from Portsmouth City Council for the Transport Committee's investigation into 20mph zones in London. To date, London boroughs and Transport for London (TfL) have introduced almost 400 specific 20mph zones in the capital. Portsmouth has gone a step further - introducing a default 20mph speed limit on all residential streets.

"We are currently looking at the impact 20mph zones have had on road safety in London - and whether a default limit similar to Portsmouth's would be more effective. Last year there were 28,000 casualties and 222 deaths on London's roads. Of those deaths, 109 were pedestrians and 15 were cyclists " said Lib Dem Transport Spokesperson Caroline Pidgeon AM .

"It was good to visit a Lib Dem run Borough and to hear how they have put such an interesting approach to tackle road safety into practice with the support of the local population" added Caroline.