The 100 years' war for safer roads

Resistance to change is an enduring challenge. When it comes to transforming our roads into safer, more inclusive spaces, it seems as old as the motor car itself. This resistance - fuelled by fear of inconvenience, economic concerns, or simple nostalgia - continues to stymie progress, despite the overwhelming evidence of societal benefits.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the debates over Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), speed limits, and other road danger reduction initiatives. The truth is, what we’re facing today is just the latest iteration of a century-old battle.

Back in the early 20th century, when cars began to dominate American streets, society grappled with how to control the chaos they brought. The rise in car ownership was astonishing: from 200,000 motorised vehicles in 1909 to 2.25 million by 1916. But with this industrial rate of growth came a corresponding increase in death and injury. Public outrage followed. Newspapers of the time labelled killer drivers “remorseless murderers,” and communities likened road fatalities to an epidemic. In Detroit, the birthplace of America’s car industry, the fury boiled over. Dangerous drivers were dragged from their vehicles by mobs. One infamous case saw John Harrigan, convicted of killing a man while drink-driving, paraded in handcuffs during a 'Safety Parade' in 1922.

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This wasn’t just about emotional outpourings. Public rituals hammered home the devastating toll of road deaths. Bells tolled twice daily in Detroit to mourn the lives lost. ‘Murder maps’ marked the spots where pedestrians had died. Grieving mothers, clad in white or gold stars symbolising their children’s deaths, led marches in New York and Washington, flanked by thousands of children dressed as ghosts - a poignant embodiment of road fatalities.

Yet even then, powerful forces pushed back against reform. The courts toyed with the idea of mandating speed governors in cars. Predictably, the motor industry recoiled. James Couzens, a millionaire and former Ford executive, introduced an insidious counter-narrative: victim blaming. Pedestrians - not drivers - were now portrayed as reckless. The term 'jaywalker' was coined as a result.

The tide had turned; resistance to change was now working against road safety reforms. Here in the UK, the introduction of a 30 mph speed limit in 1935—a vital step for public safety—was met with derision. Just a week after the new signs were installed, they were found dumped in a muddy pond in Hampshire. As if to underline the absurdity, newspapers reported on a boy angler who “caught” eight of these signs with his fishing rod. Ironically, the visceral anger that had once been directed at the carnage caused by motor vehicles was now redirected at efforts to curb that very danger. Resistance to the disruption caused by cars had given way to protests against curbing their dominance—a shift that remains a key obstacle today.

Progress met by protest

This pattern - attempts at progress met by protest- continues today. LTNs, which restrict through-traffic in residential areas, have been shown to reduce collisions, improve air quality, and increase walking and cycling. Yet the backlash has been loud and, at times, vitriolic. Critics lament alleged increases in congestion, longer journey times, or restricted freedoms—even when evidence overwhelmingly supports the benefits for communities as a whole.

Speed limit reductions face similar hurdles. Despite studies showing that lower speeds dramatically reduce road deaths, some drivers rail against the “nanny state” or claim that slower speeds inconvenience them. The reality is that a pedestrian hit by a car at 30 mph is five times more likely to die than one struck at 20 mph. Yet the emotional appeal of speed - still used as a selling point by car manufacturers - continues to hold sway.

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Lessons for the future

So, how do we overcome this resistance? The Netherlands offers a lesson in how persistence and bold political vision can succeed. In the 1970s, Dutch cities were as car-dominated as Britain’s. But a grassroots movement, spurred by high road death rates (particularly among children), forced the government to act. Through a combination of lower speed limits, reallocation of road space, and comprehensive cycling infrastructure, the Netherlands transformed its streets. Yes, there was pushback. But the Dutch government persisted, focusing on the long-term societal benefits over short-term opposition.

Britain can learn from this. We need political leaders willing to stand firm against backlash, supported by campaigns that highlight the human cost of inaction. Public education is key: the benefits of reducing reliance on oil, the stories that reveal the true scale of harm, and the success stories of safer, quieter streets. Change is always uncomfortable, but the prize is a society where streets belong to everyone, not just to those in cars.

We must remember that resistance to change is as old as change itself. The question is whether we let fear of progress hold us back, or whether we embrace it to create a safer, healthier future. If history teaches us anything, it’s that those who persevere - who refuse to back down in the face of opposition - ultimately transform society for the better. Our streets can be safer, our air cleaner, our communities more connected. All it takes is the courage to act.

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https://vimeo.com/361286029

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Stop Killing our Children is the name of the documentary we made to examines how road danger damages us all, whatever our age and however we travel. The 40-minute, crowdfunded film questions our collective blindness to both the cause of road danger, and its remedy. Narrated by the BBC’s John Simpson, and featuring interviews with Chris Boardman, Dr Rachel Aldred, Dr Ian Walker, George Monbiot and the founders of the Stop de Kindermoord movement amongst others, the film is a must-watch for anyone with an interest in safer streets.

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The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover  and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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