TfL wants almost 140 miles of main roads to have a 20mph limit by the end of next year as part of the Mayor’s “vision zero” target of reducing road deaths to zero by 2041.
Mr Lord admitted the introduction of 20mph zones was contentious – and even his own friends failed to see the benefit.
He said: “If there’s one topic that is brought up when I’m out with friends, it’s: ‘Why on earth are you doing 20mph in my part of London?’
“People do not understand it. They don’t understand the safety benefits, and the messaging and the narrative is inconsistent across the city.
“Some boroughs have been absolutely brilliant and have shown leadership. Some others we need to work much harder with. We need to get on the front foot as an organisation to demonstrate this is a game changer.”
Other roads where traffic will be limited to 20mph, either for the length of the road or parts of it, are Finchley Road, Camden Road, Stoke Newington High Street, Rectory Road, Bow Road, Grays Inn Road, Tollington Road, Parkhurst Road, The Highway, East Smithfield and the northern end of Holloway Road, including the Archway roundabout.
TfL chiefs insist that the 20mph limits will be enforced by police.
A total of 565,945 speeding offences have been registered in London since last April – about half of them in 20mph zones.
TfL says it expects the total for 2022/23 to hit 650,000 offences – a 30 per cent increase on the previous 12 months.
TfL wants the Met to have capacity to enforce a million speeding offences a year.
TfL’s roads safety chief Lilli Matson admitted speeding was “more prevalent” than the enforcement statistics suggested. “There is genuine enforcement by the police,” she said.
As well as 20mph road signs, banners will be attached to increase driver awareness of the new speed limit.
TfL will monitor compliance with the new speed limits to assess whether further measures are required.
Last week, TfL revealed plans for more 20mph roads in Greenwich, Kensington and Chelsea, Lewisham, Southwark, Wandsworth, Merton, Bromley and Lambeth by October.
Walking and Cycling Commissioner Will Norman, said: "Lowering speeds is one of the most important things we can do to reduce road danger.”
Penny Rees, TfL’s head of healthy streets investment, said: "Speed continues to be a factor in almost half of fatal collisions in London and this is not acceptable. It’s clear that these new 20mph speed limits will save lives.”
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