South London Weekly - February 2nd 2024

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SouthLondonWeekly. Community matters

Issue 35 ∙ 50p ∙ February 2nd 2024 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk

Taxi trade in turmoil with 20mph zones

By Harrison Galliven

Local Democracy Reporter The roll-out of 20mph speed limits on main roads has had a “devastating” impact on London’s taxi trade, City Hall has been told. Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, said on Tuesday that reduced speed

limits have led “many, many dozens” of his members to lose their jobs. He added that cabs have had to fight “tooth and nail” to access parts of the city where traffic reduction schemes have been installed. Transport for London (TfL) argues that lower speed limits are making London’s roads safer by reducing deaths and serious injuries.

The issue was discussed at a meeting of the London Assembly’s transport committee, where Mr McNamara was asked to describe the impact of 20mph limits on taxis. He said: “In a word – devastating. The argument for lower speeds is obviously clear, the safety arguments are clear and unequivocal, really, on secondary roads…

“[On] all of the side streets, I don’t think anyone would argue against 20mph speed limits, certainly not us. But since the mayor’s introduction onto the TLRN [Transport for London Road Network], we’re looking at roads like the Finchley Road, which is a three-lane dual carriageway in either direction… Full story on page 6

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