Paediatricians have called for the speed limit to drop to 20mph in built up areas to tackle the UK’s child mortality rate, deemed to be the second worst in Europe.
The call from the national Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) also highlights how lower speed limits would improve children’s health through better air quality and becoming more active.
This comes after figures from the first phase of 20mph speed limits in Brighton & Hove have shown both a drop in the number of collisions – a 20% fall in serious casualties – and also a drop in the severity of the casualties.
The president of the RCPCH is reported as saying: “It’s an evidence-based recommendation. The risk has been shown and we do know that the chance of a child being seriously injured or killed increases exponentially as your speed goes up.”
Cllr Ian Davey, the Lead Member for Transport echoed this:
“Time and time again the evidence shows that slower speeds are safer for everyone on our streets. But the effects of speeding traffic often fall upon the most vulnerable in our society – older people, and young children.
“Indicative figures from Brighton & Hove show that city centre 20mph speed limits make our streets safer and reducing the number and severity of collisions.
“Doctors have added their voices to the ever-growing body of evidence – slower speeds save lives.”
Notes
More information on the RCPCH position here: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/nov/18/children-doctors-20mph-speed-limit
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health manifesto: A vision for 2015
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