THE discussion and debate revived this week on introducing 20mph zones across Croydon is to be welcomed.
Indeed, it is pretty hard to find an argument against bringing in such limits, specifically on residential roads and those close to schools.
The motorist is a persecuted animal in the modern world – overtaxed, overcharged for petrol, constantly delayed by endless roadworks and unfairly blamed for, well, pretty much everything by the cycling brigade.
But 20mph zones shouldn't be seen as part of this persecution or another attempt to penalise the motorist.
Rather, this is about saving lives.
On major routes and carriageways, of course the limit should be above 20mph. In some cases, for example, the Coulsdon Bypass, there is an argument for increasing the needlessly slow speed limit further still.
But there is a difference between the major trunk roads we need to keep moving and the smaller roads used to get our children to school and by elderly pedestrians, yet also increasingly becoming rat-runs for impatient and irresponsible drivers.
Ask yourself – would reducing the limit on such roads from 30mph to 20mph really affect you that adversely? In reality, it'd be little more than a minor inconvenience and cause only the slightest of delays.
The benefit? It'll probably save lives.
Put this way, 20mph limits would appear to be a no-brainer.
