Lib Dems Say "Twenty's Plenty"

3.55.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Aug 2006

John Leech, MP for Manchester Withington and Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson, is calling on the Government to introduce a default 20mph speed limit on residential streets in built-up areas, in areas such as South Manchester. This would improve road safety for residents, pedestrians and cyclists, and would also reduce the number of people killed or injured in road traffic accidents.

The Road Safety Bill will come before Parliament in the next session, and John Leech MP and the Liberal Democrats will be tabling amendments to try and achieve this.

John Leech MP said:

"We cannot afford to be complacent about child pedestrian safety."

"A 20mph speed limit in built-up areas would make a dramatic difference. It would not only reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries, but it would also help our streets to become living streets again."

"Research has shown that the chances of being killed as a pedestrian when hit by a vehicle double between 30 and 35mph. Under Liberal Democrat proposals 20mph would be the norm, not the exception."

Burnage Lib Dem Councillor Iain Donaldson added:

"Concerns about road traffic safety are one of the main issues that residents of Burnage contact us about. We welcome individual schemes which make some roads near schools 20mph, but we would like this to be extended to all residential streets in the area, not just a few."

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