Request ID: FOI-2184-2425 Date published: 22 October 2024
You asked
To whom it may concern,
I note the vast majority of roads in London, including many arterial roads (such as the Finchley Road) now enforce a 20 mile per hour speed restriction.
I note that the Archway Road enforces a speed limit of 30 miles per hour.
As a local resident with young children, and concerned about road safety, I would like to understand why the Archway Road has a 30 mph speed limit rather than 20 mph.
Please can you share with me relevant information that explains TFLs rationale for keeping the speed limit at 30 mph on the Archway Road, rather than reducing it to 20 mph. This may be in form of TFL meeting minutes or safety reports that are being relied on.
Kind regards,
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2184-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on10 October 2024 asking for information about the speed limit on Archway Road.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. TfL’s Lowering Speed Limits programme was launched in July 2018 as part of our Vision Zero Action Plan. This can be found on our website here: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/about-tfl/the-mayors-transport-strategy
This plan set a target to introduce a new 20mph speed limit in central London by May 2020 and on a further 140km of TfL roads by May 2024.
The methodology for identifying sites took into account a risk-based approach to identifying where to deliver lower speed limits on the inner ring road and the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) in town centres and other high risk locations across London. This included:
KSI risk per km walking / cycling / travelling
Exposure level of road users
Likely scope for collision reduction
The output was then reviewed by TfL Investment Delivery Planning directorate to ensure that the minimum lengths of road for a speed limit reduction met Department for Transport requirements and as far as possible, consistent speed limits were applied across corridors.
In March 2024, we completed this phase of the programme, including the introduction of a 20mph speed limit on TfL roads in the London Borough of Islington, up to and including the Archway junction. We are currently investigating other roads which may be included in future iterations of the Vision Zero Action Plan. While proposals are still under review at this stage, we can confirm that a 20mph speed limit on A1 Archway Road, north of Archway Road is under consideration at this time, subject to resources, feasibility and engagement with local stakeholders.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Mary Abidakun FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
