Narrowing schemes considered to reduce road deaths

04 August 2025

Transport for London (TfL) plans to reduce the number of lanes on main roads to help lower the number of road deaths in the capital.

Other proposals include re-extending the congestion charge in the evening and requiring motorbike riders to pay the fee, which is already set to increase to £18 a day from January 2026.

Mayor Sir Sadid Khan is aiming for no one to be killed by a London bus by 2030 and to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries from collisions on London roads by 2041. TfL admits that “significant acceleration is needed” to meet its Vision Zero targets.

In response, London Assembly member and road safety campaigner Caroline Russel has published a 46-page report on “ending the acceptance of road death in London”. This outlines the proposals for lane reductions, known as narrowing schemes, which have proven successful at Tottenham Court Road, Bank junction, Stoke Newington Church Street and Bishopsgate.

Caroline Russel said, “Most main roads in London could move to having a maximum of one lane for private motor traffic in each direction, protected cycle lanes, wider pavements and deliveries from side roads.” She added that higher parking charges and “a tobacco-style ban” on advertising of heavier, larger cars could dissuade people from driving SUVs.

TfL’s own latest annual safety report revealed there were 98 road deaths in the capital last year in 2024/24 and 3,704 serious injuries. This included 13 deaths and 240 serious injuries caused by a London bus.

TfL research published in May 2025 found there were 35 per cent fewer collisions and 36 per cent fewer casualties on borough roads where 20mph zones had been introduced, prompting the green light for speed limit reductions throughout the capital.

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