| We wrote the
following letter to the Hackney Gazette in November 2005 in support of
the council's proposal for a 20mph zone in the New River zone.
Dear Editor, The fact remains that traffic calming saves lives
and limbs. Between January 2002 and December 2004, there were 29
reported personal injury collisions in this supposedly quiet
residential area, exhibiting a pattern clearly linked to excessive
speeds. Of those collisions, four were serious. Additionally, such reported casualties are usually
just the tip of the iceberg--for every one of these there will be
unreported casualties, plenty of near misses, and and fear of road
danger--even where few collisions are reported, speeds are often very
fast, for example in rat-running along Cranwich Road and Durley Road. Children are most affected. It is always interesting
to ask them for their opinion, as they are more sensitive to these
problems than adults, and it is likely that not many of them would have
signed the petition organised by councillors. While more school crossing patrols would undoubtedly
be beneficial, their role is limited to certain hours of the day, and
very specific spots, whereas the reported collisions are spread
throughout the area. This requires area-wide treatment. Certain places,
like access to schools, are emphasised, but it is not enough to have
measures only in these places. Finally, great strides have already been made in the
area to support cycling and walking, as for instance with the
award-winning STA Bikes school cycle training project, and it is good
progress to see School Travel Planning, Safe Routes to Schools, and a
20mph zone now all joined up to deliver benefits for In summary, we consider the proposals for traffic
calming in the New River area well-designed, and we are glad to support
them.
Oliver Schick
Borough Co-ordinator |
