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20’s Plenty for Cambridgeshire campaigners call for 20mph speed limits where people live, work and play




Campaigners are rallying support for 20mph speed limits to be introduced where people live, work and play.

The 20’s Plenty campaign says that lower vehicle speeds reduce casualties, encourage walking and cycling, and make neighbourhoods quieter, cleaner and more liveable.

20's Plenty campaigner Diane Fitzmaurice on Montague Road in Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell
20's Plenty campaigner Diane Fitzmaurice on Montague Road in Cambridge. Picture: Keith Heppell

Diane Fitzmaurice, coordinator of 20s Plenty Cambridgeshire, said: “20’s Plenty for Cambridgeshire is working to spread the message of how 20mph can solve politicians’ and people’s problems such as facilitating a shift to active travel, less pollution, better safety, less noisy streets, increased community cohesion, and health equality.

“30mph will never encourage active travel and isn’t fit for purpose where there’s insufficient walking or cycling infrastructure. 30mph can never be safe for children, disabled or elderly people.

“We’re campaigning to make a real and lasting difference to raise the quality of life of people in Cambridgeshire so it is healthier, safer and cleaner.”

20’s Plenty is a national campaign that supports the United Nations and World Health Organisation’s call for 20mph speed limits as default, with higher limits as an exception if road users are protected.

Campaigners have been in touch with county and city councillors and say the response they’ve received has been positive.

Department for Transport data shows the number of casualties on 30mph roads in Cambridgeshire in 2019 was 648, including one death, 125 serious injuries and 522 slight injuries.

The cost of emergency services attending these incidents was £39.7m, of which £2.7m was the cost of ambulance and medical treatment. Police registered 559 reported collisions in 2019.

The group says the cost of introducing 20mph limits on 80 per cent of the roads in Cambridgeshire would be £2.6m. But with a reduction of 104 casualties, savings of £6.4m annually could be achieved.

Speed plays a big part in road casualties. People hit by a vehicle travelling at 30mph are four times more likely to die than those hit at 20mph, according to the campaign.

People can get in touch with 20’s Plenty for Cambridgeshire at cambridgeshire@20splentyforus.org.uk.

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