Twenty is Plenty - Petition to make Botley Road a 20 mph

On 6th February at lunchtime a nine-year-old boy with the right of way was seriously injured when a driver failed to stop at a red light on the Botley Road in light traffic. This is the latest accident in a string of incidents caused by some drivers carelessly speeding along this main road to shops and the A34 and the station and the city centre in the other direction
This is a high density, residential area with numerous shops, a school, two playgrounds, a community centre and retirement homes. There is a large population of vulnerable road users - schoolchildren, cyclists, retired people and dog-walkers.
The stretch of road has three sets of traffic lights with pedestrian crossings, yet drivers often fail to stop or jump the lights. Local residents and road users report frequent near misses and great anxiety using this road. We are therefore launching a petition to be presented to the County Council on the 14th March. The council are reluctant to change the speed limit and see the accident as a one off. But this is not the experience of those of us who have to use this dangerous stretch of road on a daily basis.
At a 20 mph speed limit the risk of a fatality is 5%. At 30 mph this jumps to 45%. A lower speed limit also increases drivers reaction times, concentration and caution.
Botley Road should be part of the 20 mph city centre zone.
Please support us in making Botley Road safer for all users.