Campaign group backs 20mph plans to make Cambridgeshire town safer
Some routes will retain their existing speed limit
A road safety group has said a 20mph speed limit for a Cambridgeshire town is a step forward.
It comes as new 20mph zones are due to be rolled out across West and South Huntingdon from this summer as part of a two-phase approach, while plans to introduce the scheme in North Huntingdon and nearby Hartford are in the pipeline.
The county council said the first phase will be implemented by August.
20mph in residential areas should be backed, says campaigner
John Morris is the leader of the Hunts Walking and Cycling Group, which aims to help improve road safety in the Huntingdonshire area.
"You're something like six times more likely to sustain a serious or life-changing injury than if you hit a vehicle doing 20mph or less," he said.
"Slower speeds in residential areas should be something that most people would want to support.
"You're driving along at 30mph and suddenly that child's underneath the bonnet of your car through no fault of your own, whereas if you're travelling at 20mph, there's a significantly greater chance that that collision would not result in death or serious injury."
Cambridgeshire County Council said a 20mph may be expanded to the rest of Huntingdon at a later date subject to local agreement.
The scheme would only apply to residential areas, with main through routes and industrial roads retaining their existing speed limits.
Last month, work on installing a city-wide 20mph scheme in Ely has been taking place but the move did draw some critics.
"When you get a build-up, it becomes safer to cycle"
John hopes more 20mph speed zones in and around Huntingdon will encourage more people to change their travel habits.
"We're not expecting everybody to walk or cycle, but if we can make inroads with those people that won't entertain walking or cycling at the moment, (that would be progress), and we're talking about short journeys," he added.
"When you get a build-up of a critical mass, like has happened in some towns and cities across Europe, it becomes safer to cycle because everybody is expecting there to be people out walking and cycling."