LEWES LIVING STREETS SUPPORT2 20’S PLENTY!CAMPAIGN
Lewes Living Streets was out in force on 22nd November in support of the Transport 2000 national campaign to get more 20mph zones on Britain’s streets – and to have them enforced. The difference between 30mph and 20mph is a minor irritation for a motorist, but it’s literally a matter of life and death for pedestrians and cyclists; a report by the Health Development Agency shows that children’s death and injuries would fall by two-thirds if motorists would just slow down to 20mph. And, of course, a speed limit is of no value at all if it’s not obeyed and enforced.
East Sussex County Council has repeatedly committed itself to a 20mph zone for Lewes, in an area to include the lower reach of the Offham Road. Living Streets members and supporters met near the junction with The Avenue at 8.00am next Tuesday to remind both ESCC and motorists in the rush hour of the importance of taking it slowly. Simultaneously a group met in Priory Street, where the existing 20mph limit is almost consistently ignored.
In other parts of the country, local groups and councils have been pursuing the 20mph limit vigorously. In Ipswich, for example, there are already 25 20mph zones outside schools, marked with ‘20’s Plenty!’ signs, and Hull has 120 zones, covering more than a quarter of its 191 kilometres of road.
A spokesperson for Lewes Living Streets said: “We are continually reminded by government advertising of the danger of drink-driving, but speeding tends to be seen as a victimless offence. It isn’t of course; and we want to remind motorists that in the interests of safety they should do their duty as citizens and lower their speed, as the law requires, in areas they share with pedestrians. We also hope to remind ESCC of its commitment to safe speed limits”.
Living Streets Lewes is anxious to work with the police in recording and responding to speed infringements.

Liz Mandeville, Communications Officer, Lewes Living Streets

NOTE
The 20’s Plenty! National Day of Action, organised by Transport 2000, comes
as new research, launched today by the Slower Speeds Initiative, shows that 64% of local authorities say that a 20mph limit on residential roads would make designation and enforcement of 20mph limits easier.
20’s Plenty! is the Transport 2000 campaign for a 20mph limit on residential streets where communities want it, and on roads to schools and to places where children play. The National Day of Action is timely, as the Road Safety Bill, designed to help achieve casualty reduction targets and improve safety on Britain’s roads, today reaches the Report Stage in the House of Lords.

 

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Offham Road 20 mph Campaign Success

Lewes Living Streets held a demonstration on the Offham Road last Saturday March 26 calling on drivers to 'Kill your Speed.... not my child' and drive at '20 - Now!'. Drivers, on the whole, were more than obliging and traffic at 20 mph on the dangerous stretch from Prince Edward's Road to the Avenue is far safer and pleasanter for those walking into Lewes from Landport or going to school at Wallands, Pells or Priory. Until improvements are made, traffic travelling at 40 + will kill someone. Please join us next time on Saturday April 30 at 10 am.