Labour MP demands 'bonkers' 10mph speed limit be rolled out
Labour MP demands 'bonkers' 10mph speed limit be rolled out
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Labour MP Rachael Maskell suggested councils should introduce speed limits of 10 miles an hour near homes.
The York Central MP, who is a member of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group, encouraged the Transport Secretary to adopt the policy in a question to the Department for Transport.
She said: “[I want to] ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to require local councils to introduce maximum speed limits of 10mph in residential areas?”
The proposal has been branded “bonkers” by Maskell’s Conservative critics.
The York Central MP, who is a member of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group, made the claim in a question to the Department for Transport
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A Tory Party spokesman said: “This question shows just how out of touch Labour is.
“Ten miles per hour speed limits would be bonkers, pushing up congestion and making it impossible to drive.
“Labour’s anti-car crusade would see ordinary motorists taxed off the road.”
There are very few 10mph speed limit zones in the United Kingdom.
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has claimed reducing speed limits will cut collisions and pollution
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However, central areas and car parks may have the snail-paced restrictions in place.
Labour-ran areas have been putting increasing levels of restrictions on UK drivers.
The Welsh Government, which has been run by Labour since Cardiff Bay opened in 1999, announced it would lower speed limits on residential roads from 30mph to 20mph last July.
The changes will come into effect in September and are expected to cost £32million.
Data released by Transport for London found that the number of collisions on roads which had 20mph zones introduced reduced by 25 per cent
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Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford has claimed the measures will reduce collisions and pollution.
The Conservative Party in Wales has criticised the move, warning it could cost the Welsh economy £4.5billion.
A Labour spokesman rejected Maskell’s suggestion to the Department for Transport.
They said: “This is not being considered by Labour.
A Labour spokesman rejected Maskell’s suggestion to the Department for Transport
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“Under the Conservatives, motorists have never had it so bad - our roads are falling apart, and ministers are refusing to stand up to the oil and gas giants raking it in at the petrol pump.”
Data released by Transport for London found that the number of collisions on roads which had 20mph zones introduced reduced by 25 per cent, from 406 to 304.
Collisions involving people walking also decreased by 63 per cent, from 124 to 46.
However, research by experts at Queen’s University last year found that although speed limits reduce traffic they do little to reduce accidents.
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