Two councillors representing Thanet on the Kent county authority have launched a bid to bring in 20mph traffic limits across Margate and Ramsgate.
Barry Lewis and Karen Constantin are due to bring the proposal up at county council this month and say the measure could result in saved lives.
Last year Cllr Lewis applied for the limit to e put in place on New Street, New Cross Street, Mansion Street, Fort Road, Alkali Row and Cobbs Place.
He said: “This is about speed in residential areas. I have been in contact with the national and county organisation 20’s Plenty.
“There are fatalities due to cars going over 20mph if they impact with someone whereas it has proved much safer and better outcomes in the case of accidents if the car is at 20mph.
“There is also a problem on our roads where the speed limit changes so drivers do not always know what speed they should be doing.
“The 20mph zone has been put in place in areas of London and the traffic flow remains constant whereas in Margate everyone is rushing to the next set of traffic lights, the 20mph system means less braking and safer driving.
“We will be raising this at county level and will try to get cross party support for it.
“I’ve also tried to encourage individual drivers to keep to 20mph in built up areas. If enough people do it, it will slow down the traffic and people will drive in a way that saves lives rather than saving five minutes.”
Cllr Constantine, who lost her son in a road accident, says action needs to be taken. She said: “I feel very strongly that our roads should be as safe as they can be. Many residents have contacted me with concerns over the past three years.
“These people, quite often parents, and elderly, are worried about the potential for accidents especially near to schools and on busy roads. They are not reassured by the county council’s response that roads cannot be improved, by way of either speed limitations or additional pedestrian crossings because there have been no deaths. They want action to avoid deaths on our roads. I fully agree. I think 20 is plenty.
“In 2001 my own dearly loved son Aaron, just 19 years old, was killed in a road traffic accident in Nottinghamshire.”
The 20’s Plenty For Us group is a ‘not for profit’ organisation with 400 local campaigns around the country.
They want 20mph to become the default speed limit on residential and urban streets.
