New 20mph limit rolls out in central London – find out where it applies

Reduced speed limits will be in force across 9km of London roads within the Congestion Charging Zone from today (Monday 2nd March).

The new 20mph speed limits across the central London TfL road network are part of plans that attempt to reduce road danger across the capital.

These lower limits will be enforced across all TfL roads within the Congestion Charging Zone - including Millbank, Victoria Embankment and Borough High Street.

New 20mph limit map

The 20mph speed limits are supported by new signage and road markings, with raised pedestrian crossings being installed in prominent locations where a high number of people walk, including near Embankment and Tower Hill Underground stations and outside the Tate Britain.

TfL will recalibrate all the speed cameras in central London and will work closely with the Metropolitan Police to ensure that drivers are complying with the new safer speed limits.

RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said:

"TfL’s new speed limits put safety at the heart of the changes, but the reality for drivers is that average speeds are now so low on central London’s roads that many drivers are unlikely to reach such speeds during busy periods.

"More broadly, RAC research suggests compliance with 20mph limits has worsened as they have become more prevalent in recent years. It is important that road design encourages drivers to reduce their speeds and promotes smoother, safer driving alongside these new limits."

New speed enforcement team

TfL are telling drivers to expect to see police officers at the roadside more often. From April, a new speed enforcement team will identify speeding drivers across the capital, including within the new 20mph speed limits.

The team will be deployed to known high-risk locations for speeding and will respond to community concerns about drivers speeding in their area, equipped with the newest laser video speed enforcement technology.

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Speed is a factor in around 37% of collisions in London where a person dies or is seriously injured, which is why reducing the speed limit is being positioned as an important part of the Mayor's Vision Zero commitment to eliminate death and serious injury from London's transport network.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

"I am absolutely determined to do everything I can to eradicate all deaths and serious injuries on London's roads and these new measures are a vital step along the way to helping us to achieve this.

"By cutting speed limits on TfL's roads within the Congestion Zone we are saving lives, while at the same time making our streets more appealing for Londoners to walk and cycle around the capital."

Over the next five years, TfL claims it will work with boroughs and the public to introduce lower speed limits more widely across the capital.

TfL aims to introduce safer speed limits across a further 140km of its road network, focusing on high-risk sections of road, town centres where people walk and cycle, and streets neighbouring ambitious local speed reduction programmes led by London boroughs.