The Lancashire Telegraph spoke to three people with very different views on the plan to introduce 20mph limits in all of Lancashire's residential areas.

SUPPORTERS' VIEW: Safer driving is essential

TERRY Hannon, whose 22-year-old son Matthew’s death in a high-speed crash in 2006 sparked our ‘Wasted Lives’ campaign, said: “I fully support this campaign. Anything that helps ensure people drive safely is vital. Deaths and injuries to children devastate families. Slower driving especially in residential streets is safer driving.”

Road Safety Minister Stephen Hammond said:“One death on the road is one death too many and that is why I am pleased that the Lancashire Telegraph is raising awareness of road safety in Blackburn.

“We have made it easier for local authorities to put in place 20mph schemes on residential roads.”

Road Safety campaign group BRAKE said: “Slower speed limits have been shown to deliver huge benefits: preventing devastating casualties, enabling more active lifestyles, and making our streets more people-friendly places. Ultimately, we need our default speed limit changed to 20mph, to make this the norm in our communities. In the meantime, we want more councils to GO 20, so our towns, villages and cities can start reaping the benefits as soon as possible.”

SCEPTICS' VIEW: Lower limits do not work

CLAIRE Armstrong, co-founder of anti-road camera group Safe Speed said: “I am very disappointed to hear of this campaign. Slower driving is not safer driving.

“Speed is a factor in just six per cent of accidents. 20mph limits just do not work. In reality they are virtually unenforceable.”

Mike Lee, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Tory group said: “I have not seen enough evidence of the case for 20mph speed limits making a difference to child accident casualties. We need to review the evidence carefully before we make a commitment to bringing in 20mph limits across the borough.”

Automobile Association spokesman Luke Bosdet said: “We have no problem with 20mph speed limits on residential side streets our concern is with imposing them on arterial or bus routes where they can slow the town down.”

COUNCIL VIEW: Education is also needed

COUNCILLOR Maureen Bateson, executive member for highways in Blackburn with Darwen, said: “One accident is one too many. We have worked hard and with great success to bring down our accident figures year on year. 2012 saw the lowest number of child accidents ever.

“The environment in Blackburn with Darwen is extremely challenging compared with anywhere else in the country. Many of our properties are terraces with no gardens which means children are more likely to play in the street and we have the highest number of young people in the country.

“We are piloting a 20mph zone in Mill Hill and it will be fully evaluated before a decision is made whether to roll it out to other areas. But it is not just about engineering solutions, we also need to educate drivers and pedestrians.

“We are committed to working together with drivers, parents and schools as part of our Your Call campaign to promote road safety. We want to work with motorists so they slow down in residential areas and think about where they park. We also want to work with parents and schools to promote road awareness.”