Oldham Liberal Democrats are backing an international call to the world’s policy makers to make 20 mph / 30 kph the default speed limit on the UK’s residential streets.  The campaign is being called to mark UN Road Safety Week (17-23 May).

Signing the open letter of support calling on Britain’s Transport Secretary Grant Shapps MP to acknowledge that 20 mph is plenty on Britain’s residential streets, Leader of the Real Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE said:

“The Liberal Democrats have twice now brought proposals before Oldham Council asking for action to create 20mph zones to save lives in our borough.  I sincerely hope the Labour Administration will now finally take action to make it so.”

“But I am today writing to the Transport Secretary at the start of UN Road Safety Week asking him to follow the lead shown by other countries in also making 20mph the default speed limit across the United Kingdom.”

Councillor Sykes added:  “For the evidence is overwhelming that speed kills and that many lives would be saved and injuries spared, particularly amongst our children and the elderly, if we just slowed down and reduced our speed limits from 30mph to 20mph on our minor roads.”