Another “charity” vying for soapbox space during Road Safety Week is clamouring for more 20mph speed limits to be imposed. This one is in Wales, but that doesn’t make their claims any more relevant.
I normally have a lot of respect for what BRAKE has to say, but not with nonsense like this.
That’s because there is no evidence that 20mph limits actually cut accidents, but a fair bit which suggests otherwise.
The whole kerfuffle is yet another echo of the bloody Olympics, and put forward by a bunch of Bradley fanboys. BRAKE reckons that “a UK-wide survey of 8,000 children shows 70% of youngsters would be able to walk and cycle more if roads in their neighbourhoods were safer.” Conclusive scientific evidence, as you can see.
A BRAKE spokesman goes on to say:
Everyone in Wales should be able to walk and cycle in their community without fear or threat: it’s a basic right, and GO 20 is about defending that.
The 2012 (Olympic) Games helped us all realise the importance of being able to live active lifestyles. Critical to this is making our streets and communities safe places we can use and enjoy.
Unless you ban cars from roads completely, encouraging people – and especially children – to go on them is just asking for trouble.
They’ve even got some pseudo-scientist spouting nonsense to support their claims:
Dr Catherine Purcell, of the Dyscovery Centre, University of Wales, Newport, has found children find it difficult to judge speed once it rises over 20mph.
Also her latest research has shown that children with learning difficulties like dyspraxia, dyscalculia and autism find it particularly difficult.
Of course, there are places where cars are already banned – we call them “cycle routes” – and if people used those instead of major dual carriageways then there’d be fewer accidents. And similarly, if kids were taught to ride bikes and use roads as pedestrians properly, instead of blindly walking out because they’re hunched over their iPods or phones, even they would be a whole lot safer.
And just get over the bloody Olympics.