20mph limits in London 'reduce road casualties by a third' says TfL
The study, which examined more than 150 speed limit schemes implemented between 1989 and 2013, found a 34 per cent reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on borough roads.
This research is part of TfL's efforts to achieve the Mayor's Vision Zero goal, which aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries from London's transport network.
The analysis also showed a 40 per cent reduction in the number of people killed, a 75 per cent reduction in the number of children killed, and a 35 per cent reduction in collisions on borough roads.
TfL's chief safety health and environment officer, Lilli Matson, said: "It is brilliant to see the long-term analysis in this report.
"It contains hugely important findings which show the difference that 20mph speed limits have made to road safety in London, and we are able to fully understand the impact of road safety measures across the city over a longer time span.
"Lower speed limits save lives.
"We're committed to eliminating unsafe speeds across London, and the analysis in this report reinforces our approach.
"No death or serious injury on London's streets is acceptable or inevitable, and we are determined that London continues to be at the forefront of making real and lasting change."
The report acknowledges other road safety improvement measures implemented between 1989 and 2013, but provides compelling evidence that 20mph schemes reduce the number of casualties regardless of all other road improvements.
TfL's research also suggests that lower speed limits have not increased congestion.
Walking and cycling commissioner, Will Norman, said: "This compelling new analysis shows clearly that lowering speeds is saving lives.
"Every death or serious injury on our roads is one too many.
"Slower speeds not only protect the most vulnerable, they also help create safer, more welcoming streets, and are a vital part of building a safer London for everyone.
"The Mayor and I are proud that London is leading the way with bold, evidence-led action to reduce danger on our roads, and we will continue working to eliminate death and serious injury on the transport network as part of our Vision Zero goal."
Since 2018, TfL has introduced more than 264km of 20mph speed limits, and over half of London's roads now have 20mph speed limits.
TfL is committed to lowering speed limits across London, with plans to continue to roll out 20mph on its road network next year.
Jeremy Leach from 20's Plenty for Us said: "Over the past 30 years, London's boroughs have pioneered the widespread use of 20mph speed limits, making streets feel safer and be safer for residents and visitors alike.
"This latest research from TfL backs up other studies that show streets are safer with 20mph speed limits and more people able to walk, wheel and cycle and to be active.
"We hope that the small number of London's boroughs that have yet to make widespread use of lower speed limits will not miss this chance to bring in 20mph limits on many of their streets and roads."
Newham councillor Sarah Ruiz, cabinet member for environment, sustainable transport, children's services and education, said: "Reducing the speed of traffic on our roads is essential for making the borough safer for all our residents and encourages our residents to take up the many advantages of switching from cars to sustainable transport, like cycling or walking.
"The statistics are clear, the 20 mile an hour limits are saving lives and serious injury and make it safer and more attractive to get about the borough."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Buzz Feed
Chris Pratt Defends RFK Jr. In Interview
Chris Pratt shared his thoughts on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Prior to the 2024 election, Chris penned an essay where he declined to endorse Kamala Harris or Donald Trump: "So, be a good sport. We need you. Our country needs you. Team Red, Team Blue, and Team 'Didn't Even Vote,' too. Your civic duty can be uniquely exercised on November 5th, but there is an even bigger civic duty required the next day: which is to accept the results and focus instead on showing up for each other." The Guardians of the Galaxy alum recently appeared on Bill Maher's podcast Club Random, where he was asked about his relationship with RFK. Why? Because RFK is related to Chris's mother-in-law, Maria Shriver. Incidentally, Maria previously supported her cousin Caroline Kennedy after she wrote a scathing letter against RFK. Bill began his question by saying, "I love [RFK]. I don't agree with everything," adding that some of the specifics of the HSS' beliefs could get "nutty." In response, Chris said, "I kinda feel the same way that you do. I've spent a number of occasions hanging with him, just in a strictly family dinner kind of vibe. And I really got along with him well. I think he's great. I think he's funny. I like him. I love him." Agreeing with Bill that RFK's steadfastness over his oft-disproven beliefs is a "virtue," Chris said, "Politics, it's a nasty business. When you jump in — I'm not in politics obviously, but there's a certain as level to this in Hollywood, because Hollywood in itself is a political institution — and I've seen how the person you are can be such a contrast to the person that people are being told that you are. And you can go, 'Wow, that is, that is pure fiction.'" Chris then alluded to his own controversies and social media rumors, saying, "I'm not there to defend myself. Nor am I gonna jump in and, and be mired in this story." He then brought up Proverb 26:20: "For lack of wood the fire goes out." "In politics, you inherit enemies. When you jump on the bandwagon with the most divisive president ever, it makes sense that you're going to be made to look terrible. I don't know what to believe. It's not like I sit with Bobby and I go, 'So, hey, let's talk about this,'" he added. "We're just playing cards or playing mafia or having fun or having dinner. I'm not gonna pick his brain to find out exactly which of those things are true. I just kind of assume that none of them are, and for the most part, I wish him well, man." "There's certain things that he oversees that seem to be supported in a bipartisan way, like getting terrible, toxic stuff out of our kids' food," he continued. "I'd hate to be so mired in hatred for the president that any success from his administration is something I'd have an allergic reaction to. Like, 'Oh, well, if they do it, I don't want it to happen. I put Clorox in my children's cereal myself.'" A few days ago, AP News reported, "A report that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promised will improve the health of America's children does not call on the government to make significant changes to its food or farming policies, according to a draft document obtained by The Associated Press." Most recently in his tenure, the Health Secretary has cut $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccines being developed to fight things like the flu and COVID. Charming stuff!
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Newsweek
China To Reveal New Weapons To Sink US Ships
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China is expected to officially reveal four new missiles designed to sink enemy warships during an upcoming military parade, as part of its efforts to challenge United States naval dominance. Newsweek has contacted the Pentagon and China's Foreign Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters The military parade is scheduled for September 3 in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of what China calls the "victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War," its term for World War II. China, undergoing a rapid military buildup and modernization, has built a large long-range missile arsenal capable of targeting U.S. forces and bases across the Western Pacific region. Missiles are central to China's anti-access and area denial strategy, which seeks to prevent or restrict an enemy from entering and operating in a given area, serving as a countermeasure against possible U.S. intervention in a potential conflict over Taiwan or the South China Sea. What To Know The second "comprehensive rehearsal" for the upcoming Chinese military parade—expected to reveal new weapons—was held from Saturday evening to early Sunday morning local time, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, and involved about 40,000 participants. Photos circulated on social media show new missiles marked YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 being carried by vehicles during the rehearsal. "YJ" is the abbreviation of Ying Ji, meaning "Eagle Strike" in Chinese, and is used for a range of Chinese anti-ship missiles, which can be launched from ships or aircraft. Various new missiles (ship UVLS launch?) confirmed, my 2c on roles: - YJ-15, ramjet compact supersonic? - YJ-17, waverider hypersonic glide? - YJ-19, ?maybe scramjet hypersonic? - YJ-20, biconical hypersonic/aeroballistic? Possibly seen before from 055.. Via REautomaton, SDF — Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) August 17, 2025 Rick Joe, a longtime observer of Chinese military developments, suggested that the YJ-15 could be a supersonic missile, flying faster than the speed of sound—768 miles per hour. The YJ-17 and YJ-19 could be hypersonic missiles, capable of flying over five times the speed of sound and maneuvering in flight, making them difficult to intercept. Joe suggested the YJ-20 could be a highly maneuverable aeroballistic missile. According to the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, this type of hypersonic missile can be launched from different platforms and combines aerodynamic maneuvers with ballistic loft phases to extend its range. In addition to their supposed ship-sinking role, these missiles could plausibly serve a dual role in both anti-ship and land-attack strikes, Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck noted. Threats To US Navy The reveal of the new Chinese anti-ship missiles will come after the U.S. used a significant portion of its missile interceptors defending Israel against Iran's missile attacks in June, as well as during earlier Red Sea operations against Yemen's Houthi attacks on vessels. "American operations in the Red Sea and elsewhere have shown good intercept capability against threats presented," Luck told Newsweek. "However, the Chinese capabilities may be both more sophisticated and draw on deeper stockpiles [of U.S. missile interceptors]." Chinese military vehicles carry YJ anti-ship cruise missiles during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on September 3, 2015. Chinese military vehicles carry YJ anti-ship cruise missiles during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on September 3, 2015. Ng Han Guan/AP Photo According to Luck, China already operates a wide range of anti-ship missiles, deployed on smaller vessels like missile boats, corvettes, and frigates, as well as larger, newer destroyers. It therefore makes sense to develop successor designs to replace various legacy weapons. Meanwhile, developing different types of missiles can enhance China's threat posture against enemy warships by overwhelming and complicating their anti-missile defenses, allowing what he described as "leakers" to get through and hit their targets, such as aircraft carriers. A Chinese military observer, who requested anonymity because of the topic's sensitivity, told Newsweek that the new missiles reflect China's view of U.S. defense capabilities, suggesting it has moved away from relying on low-observable technology for penetration. Low-observable technology, also known as stealth, is used to make missiles harder to detect. The observer said the U.S. Navy has equipped its warships with advanced air defense sensors capable of detecting slow-flying, low-observable missiles, enabling interceptions. In comparison, supersonic and hypersonic missiles are preferred by China for penetrating American ship-based defense systems, as they are difficult to intercept even if detected. The United States Navy destroyer USS Bulkeley launches a Standard Missile-3 interceptor to intercept a ballistic missile target in the North Atlantic Ocean on May 20, 2025. The United States Navy destroyer USS Bulkeley launches a Standard Missile-3 interceptor to intercept a ballistic missile target in the North Atlantic Ocean on May 20, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Nye/U.S. Navy What People Are Saying Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck told Newsweek: "The [Chinese] missile threat is comprehensive and long-established. The [U.S. Navy] takes this threat very seriously, and is in the process of addressing it through a variety of means, both in terms of missile defense, but also intercepting or neutralizing carrier platforms and launchers by offensive means." Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Newsweek: "While we know very little about what in this case looks like a new series of air-launched air-to-surface missiles, it could be that China is developing this suite of air-to-surface missiles at least in part to go with its growing fleet of aircraft carriers." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether Chinese authorities will reveal details of the new anti-ship missiles during the military parade, including payload, speed, range and launch platforms.
Bloomberg
12-08-2025
- Bloomberg
China Urges Firms Not to Use Nvidia H20 Chips, as Trump Extends Trade Truce
Beijing urges local companies to avoid using Nvidia's H-20 processors, complicating the chipmaker's attempts to get back billions in lost China revenue. It comes after the company agreed to an unusual arrangement with the Trump administration to give the US government a 15% cut of the related revenue. The new guidance came just hours after President Trump signed an executive order extending the tariff truce with China for another 90 days. EU leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plan to hold a call with US President Donald Trump, who is downplaying the chances of a breakthrough with Vladimir Putin at their upcoming summit. Today's guests: Mohit Kumar, Chief Europe Economist at Jefferies, Yu Jie, Fellow at Chatham House, Aldo Spanjer, Head of Energy Strategy at BNP Paribas Markets 360. (Source: Bloomberg)
