Changing the culture on London’s roads: Caroline Russell AM welcomes Mayor’s Vision Zero Action Plan 2 

Green Party London Assembly Member, Caroline Russell, today welcomes the Mayor’s Vision Zero Action Plan 2 (VZAP2), highlighting that it incorporates many of the recommendations she set out in her July 2025 report, Changing the Narrative – Ending the Acceptance of Road Death in London. [1]  

The new action plan includes supporting boroughs to expand 20mph zones, delivering 1,000 new pedestrian crossings, expanding the cycle network, introducing 200 new School Streets and establishing a pan-London Road Danger Reduction team to tackle the most dangerous driving offences, all aimed at making London’s streets safer and reducing deaths and serious injuries. 

Caroline Russell’s 2025 report, Changing the Narrative – Ending the Acceptance of Road Death in London was produced specifically to inform the development of the Mayor’s Vision Zero strategy. The report brought together evidence and testimony from campaigners, crash survivors, and bereaved families and set out 27 recommendations to help reduce road danger across the city. Many of these are reflected in the Mayor’s new plan, which shows that sustained pressure can deliver the change needed. 

Green Party London Assembly Member Caroline Russell said:  

“Collisions, never ‘accidents’, happen daily. They happen when people make mistakes. Whoever slips up, whether it’s a tired child scooting home or a weary person at the wheel of a car or lorry, the price should not be death or life-changing injury. I’m glad to see the Mayor and his teams understand that to achieve Vision Zero we need to create city streets where no one is harmed when, inevitably, mistakes are made.  

“Too often there has been a culture on our roads where speeding, distraction and risky driving are treated as acceptable, when in reality they can have devastating consequences. It’s encouraging to see VZAP2 clearly challenge that way of thinking and recognise that changing the culture around driving has to be part of the solution.  

“I love the new ideas for ‘hospital zones’ and ‘evening streets’ building on the success of School Streets to reduce road risk and improve air quality. I’m pleased to see that side road zebras, reminding drivers to give way to people crossing, will also be piloted. 

“VZAP2 emphasises partnership working between TfL, the Met and the boroughs not only to create safer more inclusive streets, but also to provide support for bereaved families and crash survivors through effective collision investigation along with routine challenge of ‘fatal four’ offences: speeding, driving under the influence of drink or drugs, not wearing a seatbelt, and using a mobile phone. 

“The Mayor's VZAP2 Plan has set out clear actions and targets, and what matters most now for Londoners is delivery. I will continue my work on the Assembly to scrutinise his progress closely and ensure that every policy set out is followed through and fully implemented so we can end the trauma of road harm in our city."