Local authorities were today urged to adopt 20mph speed limits in residential areas and around schools.

A coalition of campaign groups – including Brake, Living Streets, Sustrans and the Campaign to Protect Rural England – marked the beginning of road safety week by launching a campaign calling for a national 20mph speed limit on built-up roads.

It is currently down to individual authorities to reduce speed limits on their local road networks. Many councils – including Birmingham, Bristol and Portsmouth – have already lowered limits in urban areas but campaigners say the Government must act to encourage more to follow suit.

The Go 20 campaign cites research carried out by Warrington MBC, which suggested 20mph speed limits reduce casualties among pedestrians and cyclists. A separate study by Bristol City Council found such moves boost take-up of active travel – therefore reducing congestion and pollution in town centres.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, says: 'Everyone should be able to walk and cycle in their community without fear or threat: it's a basic right.

'We are calling on the government and more local authorities to recognise the need for 20mph, and the huge demand for safe walking and cycling, and GO 20.'

Sustrans' chief executive Malcolm Shepherd added: 'A 20mph is already in place in many parts of the country, but a postcode lottery where children are safer in some areas than others is not acceptable. A new national limit would save money for public health, education and transport budgets, and the Government should now act to lower speeds on streets where we live, work and play.'