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16/12/2009
The Government is likely to encourage councils to bring in more 20mph speed limits, in a bid to reduce accidents in areas with high concentrations of pedestrians and cyclists.
Published today, a letter from the Department for Transport (DfT) to highways authorities invites feedback on proposed changes in Government guidance, which would give councils greater flexibility to create more 20mph zones in residential areas, or around schools, shops or parks - provided these do not lie on any major through-route.
It also puts forward a lowering of the national speed limit from 60mph to 50mph on selected rural single-carriageway roads.
The proposals follow a city-wide trial of 20mph zones in Portsmouth - which the DfT says has successfully shown that lower speeds can be achieved without the need for traffic-calming measures, such as speed bumps or chicanes.
Previously, councils wanting to introduce a lower speed limit in an area affecting more than one road have had to implement 'zones' with compulsory traffic calming measures. Not needing to create such features would allow councils to more easily implement 20mph zones, the Government says.
The proposed revisions come after research published last week, which found that 20mph zones in London had prevented 203 casualties a year - particularly among young children.
Road safety minister Paul Clark said the proposals would mean that lower speed limits could be introduced at a lower cost and with less disruption to residents.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) welcomed the consultation, but director of policy and research Neil Greig said: "Most road accidents are caused by drivers making mistakes at speeds below the speed limit, and it would be naive to assume a speed limit reduction alone will totally remove all deaths and injuries from our roads.
"Better driving standards and road awareness as well as improvements in road engineering would make the most sustainable differences."
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