News from Caroline Russell: 125 deaths on London roads, and more kids cycling injured

New data shows that 125 people were killed and 3,780 people were seriously injured on London’s roads last year, as Caroline Russell AM calls for lower speeds to prevent yet more deaths and injuries.

TfL’s report, Casualties in Greater London during 2019, released today shows that the Mayor is not on track to meet his target of a 65 per cent reduction of the numbers of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties on London’s roads by 2022.

As more people walk and cycle to get around in a socially-distanced way, Caroline Russell is urging the Mayor to bring in 20 mph for all roads where people walk with pavements and lighting, and more low traffic neighbourhoods.

Caroline Russell says:

These numbers are not just stats in a report – every death, every injury whether serious or slight, has a massive ripple out effect into our communities.

Serious injuries are not just a broken bone, they are often life-changing, like losing a leg or suffering permanent brain damage.



I have been thrilled by the take up of cycling by Londoners, who are finding it an easy and safe way to get around their neighbourhoods, but to achieve the Mayor’s goal, and my call to make our roads safe for people aged from eight to 80 – we need much more.

London needs more low traffic neighbourhoods, not just pockets of quieter streets, and the main roads need calming too. To make these work we need a London-wide speed limit of 20 mph. People walking and cycling need, protected cycle lanes, safe crossings at every junction and high street, and schools streets so children and parents can travel to and meet at the school gates safely.



I will never stop pressing the Mayor for these simple, but life-enhancing, changes to our streets.

Vision Zero is the Mayor’s plan to reduce road danger and have no one killed on London’s roads by 2041.

The TfL report shows:

• 125 deaths on London's roads in 2020, up 12 per cent from 2018
• Progress on the Vision Zero target for a 65 per cent reduction in KSI by 22 has stalled, only a 39% reduction has been reached to date.
• Most of the people who died were walking, 68, which was up 19 per cent. Also a concerning increase in deaths for people on motorbikes (+41 per cent)
• Cycling deaths are down to just 5, a 70 per cent decline from the 2005-09 baseline of 17, but cyclist casualties are up 36 per cent from the long-term average for 2005-09 to 4634 from 3410
• Also Significant reductions are seen across all mode against the baseline except serious injuries to pedal cyclists that have increased by 11 per cent.
• Child casualties are declining but child pedal cyclists are up in casualties from 17 to 22 in the past year, whilst all other modes saw a decline.
• People walking, cycling and motorcycling made up 83 per cent of all people killed or seriously injured.