IN a recent issue of the Advertiser, Adrian Kibbler was critical of the suggestion that all residential roads should have a 20mph speed limit. 
The 20mph speed limit idea has been under discussion for many years in this country and is supported by directors of public health, the World Health Organisation and by councils representing over 12 million people in the UK. Lancashire has a general 20mph speed limit on all residential roads except for trunk roads. 
The choice of 20mph is based on science. There is a significant increase in the chances of death in a road crash above 20mph. Below 20mph the chances of a pedestrian surviving a crash are about 95 per cent. At 30mph the chance of surviving is 45 per cent and 40mph it is five5 per cent.  
We all want safer roads and in a town like Ludlow it makes a great deal of sense to choose a speed limit that gives us all the best possible chance of survival if hit by a car. Why would we want to go along with a 45 per cent chance of survival (30mph)l when we could have a chance of 95 per cent at 20mph?
Speed limits are about making our roads safe for everyone with a special emphasis on children, older people and those with disabilities. They are not part of cunning plan to remove cars from the roads or prevent anyone going about their normal business by car.  
JOHN WHITELEGG
South Shropshire Green Party