This is the first time in London that a comprehensive cost-benefit assessment of the value of speed humps has been conducted by the London Assembly’s Transport Committee. Research has proved that speed humps have been successful in reducing vehicle speed, improving road safety and saving lives. The Transport Research Laboratory’s research into the effectiveness of London’s 20mph zones, which mainly use speed humps to reduce vehicle speed, has found that there has been a 57% reduction in killed and seriously injured casualties. Even so, in 2002 there were a total of 5,650 killed or seriously injured casualties in London, a reduction of 7% on the previous year. Out of this total, 614 were children, a reduction of 14% on 2001, but this still equates to about 12 children killed or seriously injured in London every week. Although there is a downward trend for killed and seriously injured casualties, more work still needs to be done in reducing the total number of fatalities and casualties further, so that London Boroughs can meet the Mayor’s road safety targets of 40% reductions in Killed and Seriously Injured by 2010. It should be recognised that technology has improved and there are now some alternative traffic calming measures, which could be considered along with traditional speed humps as a means of reducing vehicle speed and improving safety. Speed cushions are used at the moment but it was heard from boroughs that they are trialling variable speed signs and ripple print textured surfaces. The London Assembly’s Transport Committee has recommended that the Department for Transport (DfT) change regulations so that speed cameras can be trialled to enforce 20mph zones. They have also recommended that the boroughs establish pilot schemes to test the new vehicle responsive humps. These alternative measures would help to minimise the effect on the response times of the emergency services and address any environmental concerns from local residents. (Author/publisher)
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