Over half of London’s roads are now 20mph, with councils across the capital joining the trend. And two-thirds of London boroughs have policies in place to reduce all roads to 20mph. This move correlates with Sadiq Khan’s Mayor’s Vision Zero Policy, which aims to see no one seriously injured or killed on London roads by 2041. The scheme aims to create safer roads for Londoners to live and work on, and to encourage Londoners to use more sustainable means of transport.
With a huge increase in 20mph roads across London, groups like 20s Plenty of Us talk of the dramatic decrease in fatalities and injuries on our roads. However, the move to 20mph has not pleased Londoners across the board, including those who make their living on London roads.
Transport for London released its statistics following the change to 20mph across the city in 2025. It found that there was a 34% reduction in people being killed or seriously injured on London roads, and that a person is five times more likely to be killed if hit by a vehicle travelling at 30MPH rather than 20mph.
City News talked to 20s Plenty for Us, a not-for-profit group which has been campaigning for 20mph since 2007. They write on their website that they aim to help local communities wanting ‘better places to be’. Jeremy Leach, the Director & Community Champion of the group, spoke about why they advocate for this change.
“I’ve been a campaigner for improved streets for pedestrians since 2004 […], it changes the whole way people and vehicles balance across a street environment […] A study done in 2006 found that if you get vehicles down to 20mph, there is a 42% reduction in the number of killed and serious injuries.”
The campaign has gone around the UK, and now around 30 million people in the UK live in places aiming to reduce the speed limit to 20mph. The statistics do show that casualties have significantly decreased. Not all Londoners are in agreement with these changes, however.
City News spoke with one cyclist, Rob, who works at a bicycle store in North London. Rob has not seen a particular increase in feeling safer as a result of 20mph, but rather from separate barriers between the road and bike lanes:
“I’ve not felt massively safer following 20mph. I think the main factor that increases a sense of safety when I’m on the road as a cyclist is very well-defined cycle lanes, ideally with a physical boundary […] I don’t think 20mph hinders cyclist safety, but it doesn’t increase it as much as we think. It is really about visibility.”
Jamie (@jamiethecabby), Larry O’Mahony (left to right)
City News also talked to two London Black Cab Drivers, Jamie (@jamiethecabby) and Larry O’Mahony, about their thoughts on whether this change is a good thing for London roads. Jamie told us how in the daytime in central London, 20mph does not make a huge difference.
“But once you get out of central London, 20mph is ridiculous. No one abides by it – it’s a pointless exercise.”
Both cab drivers told us how other drivers on the road have been ignoring the rules, slowing down for the speed camera, and then immediately speeding up. Larry mentioned that just one mile over the speed limit can catch you out.
“Even one mile over the speed limit, and you can be fined.”
A petition on the government website calling for a ban of all ‘anti-car’ 20mph speed limits to be removed, with limited exceptions, has currently received over 3,300 signatures as of writing.
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HeadlineHalf of London’s roads are 20mph, and opinion is split
Short Headline20mph London is splitting opinion
StandfirstCouncils have reduced over half of London's roads to 20mph following years of campaigning, but not everyone is convinced
Over half of London’s roads are now 20mph, with councils across the capital joining the trend. And two-thirds of London boroughs have policies in place to reduce all roads to 20mph. This move correlates with Sadiq Khan’s Mayor’s Vision Zero Policy, which aims to see no one seriously injured or killed on London roads by 2041. The scheme aims to create safer roads for Londoners to live and work on, and to encourage Londoners to use more sustainable means of transport.
With a huge increase in 20mph roads across London, groups like 20s Plenty of Us talk of the dramatic decrease in fatalities and injuries on our roads. However, the move to 20mph has not pleased Londoners across the board, including those who make their living on London roads.
Transport for London released its statistics following the change to 20mph across the city in 2025. It found that there was a 34% reduction in people being killed or seriously injured on London roads, and that a person is five times more likely to be killed if hit by a vehicle travelling at 30MPH rather than 20mph.
City News talked to 20s Plenty for Us, a not-for-profit group which has been campaigning for 20mph since 2007. They write on their website that they aim to help local communities wanting ‘better places to be’. Jeremy Leach, the Director & Community Champion of the group, spoke about why they advocate for this change.
“I’ve been a campaigner for improved streets for pedestrians since 2004 […], it changes the whole way people and vehicles balance across a street environment […] A study done in 2006 found that if you get vehicles down to 20mph, there is a 42% reduction in the number of killed and serious injuries.”
The campaign has gone around the UK, and now around 30 million people in the UK live in places aiming to reduce the speed limit to 20mph. The statistics do show that casualties have significantly decreased. Not all Londoners are in agreement with these changes, however.
City News spoke with one cyclist, Rob, who works at a bicycle store in North London. Rob has not seen a particular increase in feeling safer as a result of 20mph, but rather from separate barriers between the road and bike lanes:
“I’ve not felt massively safer following 20mph. I think the main factor that increases a sense of safety when I’m on the road as a cyclist is very well-defined cycle lanes, ideally with a physical boundary […] I don’t think 20mph hinders cyclist safety, but it doesn’t increase it as much as we think. It is really about visibility.”
Jamie (@jamiethecabby), Larry O’Mahony (left to right)
City News also talked to two London Black Cab Drivers, Jamie (@jamiethecabby) and Larry O’Mahony, about their thoughts on whether this change is a good thing for London roads. Jamie told us how in the daytime in central London, 20mph does not make a huge difference.
“But once you get out of central London, 20mph is ridiculous. No one abides by it – it’s a pointless exercise.”
Both cab drivers told us how other drivers on the road have been ignoring the rules, slowing down for the speed camera, and then immediately speeding up. Larry mentioned that just one mile over the speed limit can catch you out.
“Even one mile over the speed limit, and you can be fined.”
A petition on the government website calling for a ban of all ‘anti-car’ 20mph speed limits to be removed, with limited exceptions, has currently received over 3,300 signatures as of writing.
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