Safety Storm Over Road Humps

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 22nd Sep 2003

London Ambulance Service

There has been strong and mixed reaction to the claim by the London Ambulance Service that 'hundreds of ambulance patients die every year' because of delays caused by traffic calming measures, especially road humps.

The conclusion is based on LAS research showing that 500 people die every year in the capital if crews responding to emergency calls are delayed by a minute or more. The views clash with Transport for London research which shows that 1400 deaths and serious injuries could be prevented in London if there were more traffic calming and a 20mph speed limit.

MP Vincent Cable said: "these diametrically opposed research findings are reflected in public opinion. Whenever I go out knocking on doors I find half the people I talk to - especially those with children - clamouring for more traffic calming measures and the other half resenting them. The trouble is both are right".

"The important conclusion is that the council - and other councils should not take up a dogmatic position but be pragmatic and also willing to experiment with new techniques. Speed tables seem to work better than humps, but are more expensive. Speed cameras could be used more actively

at least on main roads".