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Speed limits to be reviewed

The DfT has instructed traffic authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to conduct reviews, which could result in 60mph limits coming down on some rural roads.

The review could also see some limits going up, but will not result in new national limits for motorways or built-up areas.

Ministers want more consistency in speed limits on single and dual carriageways that are not trunk roads. These are commonly in rural areas and typically under local council control, which means varying limits can be set on similar roads in different places.

Transport minister, Stephen Ladyman, said: "Our new guidance encourages lowering speed limits where the evidence warrants it, but equally traffic authorities should consider increasing limits if it can be done safely."

Edmund King, of the RAC Foundation, said consistency was needed: "We do have some 40mph limits on A-roads, where there isn't pedestrian or cycle access, whereas in other cases they would be 60mph. But there are country roads going through villages where the limit is 60mph, when it should be 30mph.

Bert Morris, of the AA Motoring Trust, wants all speed limits to be scrutinised along with road conditions. "Putting it at a lower speed limit rather than maintaining the road properly may not be the answer to deal with an accident problem," he said.

Sean Spiers, chief executive of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said there is a strong demand for the review. "57% of fatalities on the road last year were in rural areas, so there is a crying need for this and we know that lots of villages are lobbying their local authorities to introduce 30mph speed limits."

For the full story go to: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5254926.stm

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