Drivers urged to slow down

Today is the start of Road Safety Week and it has seen the launch of an initiative to make 20 miles an hour the limit in the capital's built-up areas.

This report from Glen Goodman.

GO 20 was launched today in Islington, London's first 20mph borough.

Children heard from Paralympian Danny Crates on how great it is to be active, took part in a safe cycling demo with Islington Council, carried out speed checks on traffic with help from the Met and celebrated 20mph by displaying their own banners and placards.

Transport for London's latest figures state that for the first quarter of 2011/2012 the average traffic speed on major London roads for the 12 hours between 7am to 7pm was 19.33 mph and over the same period was 8.98 mph across Central London.

As the GO 20 campaign is launched through events across the UK, including Islington, a survey of 1,630 children in London and the South East by Brake and partners Brain Injury Group and Specsavers reveals how children are being affected by danger from fast traffic:

• Nearly eight in 10 (79%) say drivers need to slow down around their home and school
• Nearly eight in 10 (78%) say they would be able to walk and cycle more if roads in their neighbourhood were safer

• Nearly half (46%) say they have been hit or nearly hit while walking or cycling, and nearly six in 10 (58%) worry about being hurt by traffic when out and about
  

A campaign launched at the start of Road Safety Week is appealing to drivers and authorities in London and the South East to GO 20, to bring about a 2012 legacy of safe walking and cycling.

Brake, the road safety charity, is appealing to drivers to slow down to 20mph or below in communities and calling for widespread 20mph limits in built up areas, so children and adults can walk and cycle for their health and enjoyment, and for cheap and sustainable travel, without being endangered.