Derry SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey has introduced a Bill to the Northern Ireland Assembly which proposes to reduce the speed limit on residential unclassified streets from 30 mph to 20 mph.
The Bill comes after extensive public consultation as well as engagement with stakeholders was carried out by former SDLP MLA Conall McDevitt.
Mr Ramsey said the bill is aimed at improving road safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists alike.
Mr Ramsey said: “I am grateful to Conall for the time and work that has already gone into this Bill. His dedication to making our roads a safer place for cyclists and pedestrians is well known and the depth of public engagement with this Bill is a testament to his efforts.
“I am very pleased that I now have the chance to take this forward. According to research from the Department for Transport in England, if a person is hit by a car travelling at 30mph, they face a one in five chance of being killed. Reducing that to 20mph and the chance of death is significantly reduced to one in forty.
“This year we continue to see an unacceptable level of death on our roads, many of them pedestrians. I believe that a reduced speed limit would go some way towards reducing the number of fatalities and accidents, and begin to really address this issue.”
Mr Ramsey concluded: “The Bill would allow the Department of Regional Development to issue exemptions for roads which may be unclassified, but that are major thoroughfares, to retain 30 mph status.”
Tags:
