GO 20 Campaign Calls For A 2012 Legacy Of Safe Walking And Cycling

A national campaign launched today (19th November) is appealing to drivers and authorities to GO 20, to bring about a 2012 legacy of safe walking and cycling for everyone. Brake, the road safety charity, alongside a GO 20 coalition, is appealing to drivers to slow down to 20mph around homes, schools and shops.

The coalition is also calling for 20mph limits to become the norm across built-up areas, so children and adults can walk and cycle for their health and enjoyment, and for cheap and sustainable travel, without being or feeling endangered.

As the GO 20 campaign is launched in Road Safety Week through street parties and demonstrations across the UK (see below), a survey of more than 8,000 children [1] age 7-11 by Brake, Brain Injury Group and Specsavers reveals how children are affected by danger from fast traffic:

• Seven in 10 (70%) say they would be able to walk and cycle more if roads in their neighbourhood were less dangerous
• More than three-quarters (77%) say drivers need to slow down around their home and school
• Four in 10 (43%) say they have been hit or nearly hit while walking or cycling, and more than half (54%) worry about being hurt by traffic when out and about.

The GO 20 coalition (Brake, Living Streets, Sustrans, the National Heart Forum, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Ramblers, and 20's Plenty for Us) is highlighting that slower speeds in towns, cities and villages can help deliver a post-2012 legacy of active communities, and prevent devastating pedestrian and cyclist casualties, which increased in 2011 (see below).

Many authorities are already recognising the benefits of slower speeds by implementing 20 limits across towns and cities. GO 20 calls for: more authorities to do this; the government to work towards 20mph limits being the norm in communities; and drivers to pledge to GO 20 around homes, schools and shops, even where the current default limit of 30mph remains.

Further information: Go 20 Campaign

Source: Brake

Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services