In our continued efforts to make Islington’s roads safer, Islington Labour is working with the police to keep motorists’ speeds down.

Last year, Islington Labour campaigned to become the first London borough to introduce a 20mph speed limit on all roads the Council manages.

From this week, police enforcement action will begin -; making Islington the first borough in London where motorists flouting the 20mph limit could face penalty action.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Executive Member for Environment (pictured above), said: “It has long been known that people living in inner city boroughs like Islington are at a greater risk of being hit by speeding motorists.

“Islington Labour is committed to tackling the scourge of traffic accidents and our pioneering introduction of the 20mph limit on all of our roads is part of addressing this problem.

“Most motorists stick to the speed limits, but those who don’t can now expect to be prosecuted and risk losing their licence.

“We’ve worked closely with the police over the past 12 months to target hot-spots where drivers frequently speed, and together we’ve stopped more than 900 motorists to remind them to keep within the limit.

“With continued injuries and fatalities from speeding, the time is now right to start enforcement action and I welcome the action by Islington police.”

All roads in Islington are covered by 20mph restrictions, apart from those managed by Transport for London (TfL) and Islington Labour is campaigning for TfL to see sense and adopt 20mph limits on the roads they control.

Cllr Webbe, added: “We’ve had lots of interest in our pioneering scheme from other Councils that are interested in following our lead. The missing piece in Islington is the TfL managed roads and I want the Mayor of London to join us in making their roads 20mph as well.”

Since November 2013, Islington Council and the police have carried out 24 targeted ‘stop and advise’ speed reduction operations on our borough roads. The 13 different locations chosen have been ones that have been identified by the public and community groups as of concern and by the police or council as having high casualty rates.

Islington Labour is also doing more to make cycling easier and safer on the borough’s roads. You can read more about a £2m scheme to deliver new cycle routes here.