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20 effect passes 50 % milestone

Over 50 per cent of Liverpool’s residential streets are now covered by 20mph speed limits as part of the 20 effect programme say its organisers.

Backed by Merseyside Police, Merseyside Fire & Rescue and Merseytravel, the 20 effect is Liverpool City Council’s principal road safety campaign.

New 20mph signs are being installed on residential streets in parts of the south of the city in the coming weeks. By September this year, 70 per cent of residential streets will have the new 20mph speed limit.

“The programme started in 2012 focussing on those areas with higher numbers of road collisions.” Explains Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy.

“Since this time we have continued to roll the programme out across the city using our method of community consultation first rather than simply imposing limits arbitrarily on streets. This approach has provided us with the confidence that the city’s communities back the programme and the knowledge that backing is solid.

“Children in Liverpool face the country’s second highest risk of becoming a road casualty and it is estimated 54 fewer collisions per year will occur thanks to the 20mph limit. That is the sole objective of this campaign: to make the city’s streets safer for all users.” Kennedy concluded.

Liverpool’s 20 effect programme has won recognition from road safety campaigners for its ‘community first’ approach and the subsequent driver education and enforcement activity.

Other English cities have sought out advice from Liverpool while preparing their own 20mph programmes.

The next areas to go through consultation are: Belle Vale, Woolton, Allerton and Hunt’s Cross.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Henry Roberts .