A new 40mph speed limit could soon be introduced to many rural roads after the Department for Transport will make it easier for local authorities to introduce the limit on the quietest rural roads. The new guidance will also make it easier for local authorities to put 20mph zones in place.
The consultation document says 68% of road deaths in Britain occurred on rural roads in 2010, and 49% of road deaths occurred on single rural carriageway roads that are subject to a 60 mph national speed limit.
The Government plans show a reduction to 50mph would be considered for “lower quality A and B roads” with “a relatively high number” of bends or junctions and where mean speeds are already below 50mph. A futher reduction of the speed limit to 40mph should also be considered where there is “substantial development” or where there are “a considerable number” of horse-riders, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said, “It is vital that speed limits are suitable for local conditions and councils are best placed to determine what these limits are, based on local knowledge and the views of the community.
“To help, we are publishing updated guidance for consultation. This includes a number of initiatives we have introduced to improve road safety, including making it easier for local authorities and communities to put in place 20 mph schemes, or use common-sense measures such as variable speed limits outside schools.”
The Department also announced that it would introduce a speed limit assessment tool later this year that will “help local authorities assess the full costs and benefits of any proposed schemes and make robust, evidence-based decisions about which limits they put in place. It will include effects which cannot be monetised such as quality of life, as well as casualty and other traffic effects.”
Is it necessary to lower the speed limit to save lives or should more time be spent training drivers to cope with different types of roads and conditions?
Jul, 16, 2012