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Cameras 'to catch 20mph speeders' 20mph limit called for in towns
(about 3 hours later)
Drivers breaking 20mph limits could be caught by new speed cameras if the government accepts advisors' proposals. Speed limits in many town centres should be reduced to 20mph, says the government's road safety advisors.
Local authorities are keen to introduce the cameras, a report by the government's advisors on transport safety says. Their report claims a default speed of 20mph in built-up areas will help halve the number of deaths on Britain's roads within the next few years.
The study also called for greater enforcement of 20mph zones through a new generation of speed cameras.
The devices measure a driver's speed over a certain distance and should be a priority for the Home Office, it says.The devices measure a driver's speed over a certain distance and should be a priority for the Home Office, it says.
The report also argues for more 20mph zones in built up areas and a target to cut road deaths by half.
Early approvalEarly approval
The Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (Pacts) said the devices need Home Office approval and priority should be given for this to happen. Robert Gifford, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (Pacts) which produced the report, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that reducing speed limits in towns would help save lives.
He said a survey by the Transport Research Laboratory of 20mph zones across the UK and in other European countries found child road accidents fell by 67%, cyclist accidents by 29% and traffic flow by 27%.
"These do work," he said. "People were thinking 'I could actually make that journey on foot, on my bicycle because the road feels safer as the remaining traffic is going more slowly.
"What you get is more walking, more cycling, fewer people being killed or injured and the environment benefits."
The report, called Beyond 2010 - a holistic approach to road safety in Great Britain, also recommends that all new residential developments should be subject to a "pint of milk test".The report, called Beyond 2010 - a holistic approach to road safety in Great Britain, also recommends that all new residential developments should be subject to a "pint of milk test".
This is whether a resident can reach a shop to buy a pint of milk in under 10 minutes without using a vehicle.This is whether a resident can reach a shop to buy a pint of milk in under 10 minutes without using a vehicle.
There are currently around 3,200 road deaths annually, compared to more than 7,000 a year in the 1960s. In the UK there are currently around 3,200 road deaths annually, compared with more than 7,000 a year in the 1960s.
Deaths preventableDeaths preventable
This improvement is due to a number of factors including seatbelts, improved car design, the breathalyser and traffic-calming measures. This improvement is due to a number of factors, including seatbelts, improved car design, the breathalyser and traffic-calming measures.
The government has a target of reducing deaths and serious injuries on the roads by 40% by 2010 compared with the average figure for the mid-1990s.The government has a target of reducing deaths and serious injuries on the roads by 40% by 2010 compared with the average figure for the mid-1990s.
Pacts' executive director Robert Gifford said: "Improving road safety is not an academic exercise. Deaths on our roads are preventable occurrences where society could and should do more to prevent them. Mr Gifford added: "Improving road safety is not an academic exercise. Deaths on our roads are preventable occurrences where society could and should do more to prevent them.
"Every year, the inhabitants of a town the size of Nottingham or Belfast are killed or injured on our roads. This report highlights the actions that need to be taken to reduce this level of death and injury.""Every year, the inhabitants of a town the size of Nottingham or Belfast are killed or injured on our roads. This report highlights the actions that need to be taken to reduce this level of death and injury."
But Daniel Moylan, deputy leader of the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, told the BBC that the way to reduce speeds was to re-design the roads to engender a culture whereby people looked out for each other.
"This is a very national top-down approach that's being put forward," he said.
"Our roads are mostly run by local highways authorities and they need more autonomy and more encouragement to experiment with different means to improve accident statistics."