Sykes backs UK 20mph speed call as UN Road Safety Week begins
Date published: 17 May 2021
Oldham Liberal Democrat Leader, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE
The Oldham Liberal Democrats are backing an international call to the world’s policy makers to make 20 mph/30kph the default speed limit on the UK’s residential streets.
The campaign is being called to mark UN Road Safety Week (May 17-23).
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.
“I am also 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.”
Cllr Sykes added: “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.”
Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.
