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Motoring news

Lower speed limits 'an option'

09/03/2009

Ministers are considering lowering the national speed limit - reducing the maximum speed on many single-carriageway roads from 60 to 50mph.

The change would affect thousands of miles of rural roads where a slower, signposted speed limit has not already been introduced.

The Telegraph reported last week that the move was being considered to help bring further reductions in the number of UK road deaths, which in 2007 fell below 3,000 for the first time since records began in 1926.

Speed was considered to be a factor in 29% of these.

On Sunday, a separate Telegraph report suggested that the Department for Transport (DfT) might police the new limits using average speed cameras - which monitor drivers' speed over a stretch of road, rather than at a given instant.

However, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) warned that a blanket speed limit change would "not command respect" unless drivers could see a link to a crash risk. Research conducted by the group in 2007 found that roads with specific risks such as bends or twists should be "candidates for a wholesale review of speed limits".

"A detailed review which assesses every mile of rural road is needed," said director of policy and research Neil Greig. He cautioned against "a simple application of an arbitrary new speed limit that conveys no obvious message to the driver".

Commenting on the plans, a DfT spokesperson told The Times: "Any such proposal would have to be based on robust evidence of the impact on casualties, emissions and journey times.

"It would also need to consider issues of enforcement and public acceptability."