Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which roads in Newham are proposed to become 20mph?
A third of Newham streets already have a 20mph speed limit. Over the next two years, Newham Council wants to implement a 20mph speed limit on all streets in the borough, apart from the roads listed below. These roads are excluded from the 20mph programme and will retain their existing speed limits:
- Newham Way (A13)
- Royal Docks Road (A1020)
- Lower Lea Crossing (A1020)
- Woolwich Manor Way, Sir Steve Redgrave Bridge and Albert Road (A117)
- Private streets (e.g. in developments or estates)
- Roads that are managed by other organisations such as Transport for London (TfL) or the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC)
[Source: London Borough of Newham - Borough wide 20mph speed limit Cabinet Report, 3. Background, 3.7 & 4. Proposals 4.1, 4.2 & 4.3]
2. How can a 20mph speed limit reduce the risk of traffic collisions?
Collision data from around the world is very clear. It shows that the faster a vehicle is travelling, the more likely a collision will occur because the driver has less time to react, stop or avoid the collision and the more severe an injury resulting from the collision will be.
[Source: Lowering Speed Limits | Have Your Say Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)]
3. Will a 20mph speed limit cause more traffic congestion?
Average city speeds are generally below 20mph owing to congestion and queues. Traffic tends to flow more freely at 20mph than 30mph and we do not expect congestion to increase.
TfL has also identified that a 20mph speed limit is encouraging more Londoners out of their cars to walk, cycle and use public transport. If more people use healthier and more sustainable forms of travel this will help reduce congestion as well as air pollution.
[Source: 20mph Limits Save Time and Improve Traffic Flow - 20's Plenty for Us (20splenty.org)]
[Source: TFL]
4. How does a 20mph speed limit make roads safer for pedestrians?
20mph is a safer speed limit than 30mph for streets where people live, work or study. This is because a person walking who is hit by a vehicle travelling at 30mph is up to five times more likely to be killed than if they were hit at 20mph.
According to the TfL Road Safety Data Report, there were 17 deaths, 609 serious injuries, 4,667 slight injuries in the London Borough Newham from road collisions in the five-year period from October 2017 to October 2022.
[Source: Transport for London, Safe speeds for central London – introducing 20mph speed limits Consultation Report, September 2019]
[Source: London Borough of Newham - Borough wide 20mph speed limit Cabinet Report, 3. Background, 3.8]
[Source: Road safety data - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)]
5. How can a 20mph speed limit help residents be more active and healthy?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called for 20mph speed limits where people walk, live and play in cities, towns and villages worldwide. The health benefits of lower speeds go far beyond their impact on road danger. Lower vehicle speeds in urban areas support a shift to active travel, which increases physical activity with many resulting in physical and mental health benefits.
In Newham, only one in three children and young people, and two in three adults do a healthy amount of exercise. People living in London get most of their exercise through travel, so 20mph speed limits have a key role to play in improving activity levels.
Lower vehicle speeds can also improve health by reducing noise pollution. Excess traffic noise is linked to sleep disruption and heart disease, and reducing speed limits has been shown to reduce noise from vehicles.
[Source: London Borough of Newham - Borough wide 20mph speed limit Cabinet Report, 3. Background, 3.3 & 3.4]
6. How does a 20mph speed limit improve air quality?
Imperial University's evaluation of 20mph zones in London shows they have no net negative impact on exhaust emissions. It also shows that in 20mph zones vehicles move more smoothly, with fewer accelerations and decelerations, than in 30mph zones. This smoother driving style actually reduces particulate emissions from tyre and brake wear.
[Source: Safe speeds - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)]
7. What changes will Newham make to streets to introduce the proposed 20mph speed limit?
As part of each phase of the 20mph programme, we will review signage on all streets to install new or additional 20mph signs as needed.
As a third of Newham’s streets already have a 20mph speed limit with existing signs, you might not see any changes on your street or in your area. However, if signage in existing 20mph areas needs to be improved and on streets where a 20mph speed limit is being proposed, we will place new signs. These may include the large ‘20’ sign on the road surface or signs on posts.
As part of the 20mph programme, we expect the speed limit across the borough to be more consistent, and not switch from 20mph to 30mph or above as frequently. Therefore, we will look at removing existing signs that show a change in speed limits. This will help reduce confusion over speed limits and also declutter pavements by taking out sign posts that are no longer needed.
[Source: London Borough of Newham - Borough wide 20mph speed limit Cabinet Report, 3. Background, 3.7, 4. Proposals, 4.5]
8. What if drivers do not adhere to the 20mph speed limit?
A 20mph speed limit is enforceable and drivers are required to adhere to the speed limit. Most drivers do, but to ensure compliance with 20mph speed limits, physical measures or traffic calming measures such as road humps or speed cushions will be considered for streets or areas where speeding is occurring frequently. Before implementing any physical measures, informal consultations with residents and businesses as well as statutory consultations will be carried out.
We will also work with the Metropolitan Police for targeted enforcement in areas with speeding issues.
[Source: London Borough of Newham - Borough wide 20mph speed limit Cabinet Report, 4. Proposals, 4.7]
[Source: 20 Questions About 20’s Plenty Answered - 20's Plenty for Us (20splenty.org)]
9. How will the Newham 20mph programme be evaluated?
Once a decision has been made to implement the initial phases of the programme, we will carry out a one-year, post-implementation speed survey campaign to evaluate the outcomes of the 20mph programme.
Officers will do traffic speed surveys on more than 100 streets in the borough before the scheme is implemented to collect baseline data on current speeds. After the scheme is in place, officers will repeat the surveys on the same streets to measure the impact of the scheme on traffic speeds. Officers will use this data to compare the before and after speeds and evaluate the effectiveness of the scheme. If any of the surveyed roads show a persistent speeding problem, officers will recommend installing traffic calming measures to reduce the speed and improve safety.
[Source: London Borough of Newham - Borough wide 20mph speed limit Cabinet Report, 4. Proposals, 4.6]
If you have other questions about 20mph speed limits, you can refer to the 20’s Plenty for Us website.