City-wide rollout of a new 20mph speed limit completed

After a four-month installation process across the borough’s 8.9 square miles of central London, all streets managed by Westminster will now come under an enforceable 20mph speed limit, providing safer, greener, and cleaner streets for all road users across some of the city’s most famous highways. 

In July 2020, the council’s contractors began the carefully-planned installation of signage across the city to highlight the new safer speed limits on a street by street basis. Covering roads from the centre of the West End to the borders with neighbouring boroughs, until the final signs were erected. 

This essential safety improvement marks just part of the council’s ongoing commitment to reducing the severity of accidents, limiting speeds, and tackling road traffic pollution. This change will also make it easier and safer to travel on foot or by cycle, helping to improve public space and to encourage healthier, more active lifestyles. 

Cllr Andrew Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways & Environment:

“Our teams have been working throughout the summer to carefully and effectively complete this rollout across Westminster. Reducing our city-wide speed limit is a clear step forward in our efforts to create a hub of safe and sustainable transport, not only saving lives but creating a calmer and more inviting street environment for those who travel around our city, whether by foot, cycle, car, taxi or bus.”   

As well as securing safety for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users, this change is also part of the council’s commitment to reducing road traffic congestion, alongside ongoing pans to improve air quality around schools, create low emissions neighbourhoods, enhance green space and more. 

The decision to implement the new limit follows a public consultation held in 2019, with over two-thirds of responses showing support for the changes.

ENDS

• The 20mph speed limit in Westminster will apply to all roads apart from TfL red routes and those in the Royal Parks.
• Consultation on the 20mph proposal took place between 17 September 2019 and 10 December 2019. 66% of respondents to the consultation were in support of the proposed scheme. Further details on the consultation responses and the Cabinet Member’s decision can be found at https://bit.ly/20mphwcc
• 20mph speeds limits have already been introduced around 39 schools in the city - a move supported by 73% of residents surveyed.