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Greens object to delay on road safety

Sheffield Green Party have submitted a Motion to the Council Meeting on February 2nd calling for the implementation of a 20mph speed limit on residential streets (excluding main roads). They say the current administration are delaying decisions, a delay which is costing the health and lives of Sheffield residents.  This follows the publication of a report by NHS directors of public health in the North West which outlined that more than 80% of child casualties are on roads with 30mph speed limits.

Green Cllr Rob Murphy comments, “It’s simply not necessary to travel at 30mph on most of the streets where we live.  We know 20mph speed limits reduce accidents and save lives and it’s time for the Council to stop dragging it’s heels on this issue.  Last year £300 000 was cut from the budget for 20mph zones but Community Assemblies are not capable of taking the strategic decisions necessary for a widespread 20mph limit on residential streets.  It’s time for transport money to be spent sensibly.”

NOTES :

1. The motion to be submitted to the Sheffield City Council meeting on February 2 is worded :

This Council:

a. Notes Sheffield suffers annually from over 200 serious road accident casualties.
b. Notes many areas of Sheffield suffer air pollution in excess of EU limits which is believed to contribute to the premature deaths of around 500 residents per year.
c. Notes 20mph zones have been shown to produce a significant fall in the number of casualties when implemented in an area.
d. Notes because of the reduction in acceleration and braking in 20mph limit areas vehicles use approximately 10% less fuel.
e. Notes last years transport budget reduced the spending on 20mph zones from £500 000 to £200 000.
f. Believes the current administration’s decision to split transport spending equally amongst separate Community Assemblies obstructs any strategic moves towards a safe speed limit for residential roads in the city.
g. Believes implementing 20mph speed limit areas on a piecemeal basis is costly, inefficient and less effective.
h. Calls for the Administration to bring forward plans for citywide 20mph limits on residential roads (excluding main roads).

2. The report, Road Traffic Collisions and Casualties in the North West of England, was produced by the North West Public Health Observatory in conjunction with NHS North West, the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University, the Child and Maternal Health Observatory and the Trauma and Injury Intelligence Group. See :
http://www.nwph.net/nwpho/Publications/Forms/rta.html

Topics: City Wide, Health, Rob Murphy, Transport