Politicians have united to back the Surrey Comet’s campaign to improve road safety where schoolboy Ali Nasralla died.
London Mayoral candidates Ken Livingstone, from Labour, and the Green’s Jenny Jones have joined Liberal Democrat Surbiton and Kingston MP Edward Davey and Conservative MP for Richmond and North Kingston, Zac Goldsmith, in backing our calls for change in Robin Hood Way.
We want speed on the road cut from 30mph to 20mph in memory of the eight-year-old who was knocked down and killed after his bicycle collided with a taxi two weeks ago.
In last week’s paper we revealed residents in the road had been lobbying Transport for London for increased safety on the road since 2009.
Now we are calling on transport bosses to stop, look and listen and take action to stop more deaths.
Ken Livingstone took time out from canvassing for May’s election to back us.
He said: “When I was Mayor we cut speed and the reduction in injuries and fatalities was considerable. That is why I am backing this campaign and why, if re-elected, I will work with councils to have speeds cut on residential roads.”
Mr Davey, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said lower speed limits in Robin Hood must be looked at.
Assembly member Jenny Jones, who has worked to secure safer roads, improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists in London, said: “The campaign has my wholehearted support. It is great to see such dedication to protecting children, after such a shocking event.”
The Stop, Look and Listen To Us campaign has created a wider debate on road safety.
Brian Mooney, from Fair Deal for Motorists, laid the blame for accidents on irresponsible drivers.
He said: “Instead of a misplaced focus on speed, road safety policy should promote more police patrols to tackle the rising number of drugged drivers and better road user training, especially for cyclists and pedestrians.”
Our readers have backed the campaign and said it could be used to increase education in schools.
Vincent Leader left us a message that read: “We need better education on road safety and a maximum speed limit of 20mph on residential roads with a harsher penalty for faster drivers.”
Jules posted this on our website: “Well done for your campaign."
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