MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by:
Councillor
Jean Quinn
Date of Issue: February 24th 2010
Contact numbers:
07792 002972
Lib Dem office:
0151 691 8544
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MEDIA RELEASE |
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LIBERAL DEMOCRATS: INVESTING IN ROAD SAFETY Wirral Liberal Democrats have demonstrated their strong commitment to improving road safety in the Borough, through their proposals in this year's Council Budget for a comprehensive new road safety policy to introduce 20 mph zones in all residential areas. The Budget makes a provision for £275,000 to be allocated this year as part of a £1.1m rolling four year programme to reduce traffic speeds. The funding is for introduction of a statutory 20mph speed limit on non major routes in all residential areas and for variable speed signs for schools on major routes, where there are higher numbers of vulnerable road users like pedestrians and cyclists. The new policy will be phased in over four years, with priority given to schools and their surrounding areas. Each stage will be subject to consultation with local residents. Councillor Jean Quinn Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transport said, “Following the success and popularity of our voluntary Accidents Down 2 Zero campaign, which has reduced average traffic speeds in the trial areas, I am very pleased that we have been able to give funding priority to road safety by introducing 20 mph zones across Wirral following a previous commitment by Council to looking at the feasibility of this idea. “In recent years, Wirral Council has made excellent progress in reducing road traffic accidents but there is always more that can be done. Speed is one of the key factors in reducing both the number and severity of road traffic accidents. A pedestrian, if struck by a vehicle driving at 20mph, is likely to suffer slight injuries; at 30mph they would be severely hurt and at 40mph or above, they are likely to be killed. “This is why it is so important that we do all that we can to protect pedestrians and reduce the speed at which traffic moves around the Borough in locations where these vulnerable road users are most likely to be. “We can achieve all of this very simply by the use of signs at the start and end of the 20 mph zones with small repeater signs along the 20 mph routes. Additional physical measures such as speed humps will not be needed. To ensure that child pedestrians and other vulnerable road users are protected on their routes to and from school, where schools are located on major roads, we will also implement (following agreement from the Department of Transport) ‘variable time specific' 20mph speed signs to operate only at key times in the school day to enable traffic to move freely throughout the rest of the day. “I strongly believe that by introducing 20mph zones in this way it will make our roads safer for everybody.” Note:
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