Speed reduction proposals announced
Added on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Speed reduction proposals announced
A plan to reduce the speed limits on rural accident blackspots and in built-up areas has been announced by the government.
Under new proposals announced today by Road Safety Minister Paul Clark, local authorities would have the power reduce speed limits on rural A and B roads from 60mph to 50mph where there is a history of fatal accidents. Councils would also be encouraged to reduce speed limits in areas where there is a high level of pedestrian and cycle traffic, such as in residential areas, around schools and in city centres, from 30mph to 20mph.
Under the new plan however, the use of speed humps will be discouraged and unlike previous plans, there has been no announcement regarding the enforcement of these plans by safety cameras.
It’s believed that a pilot scheme, which has highlighted motorcyclists and younger, inexperienced drivers as the groups most at risk in addition to pedestrians and cyclists, has resulted in casualties dropping by 15% in trial cities.
“The number of people killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads has fallen by 40% since the mid-1990s and Britain now has the joint safest roads in the world,” claimed Mr Clarke. “But too many pedestrians and cyclists – including many children – are still being killed or hurt on the roads around their homes and schools.
“We have seen that 20mph zones with traffic calming measures can make a real difference to the safety of local roads. But we’ve also looked at the latest research and listened to councils and residents who want to introduce 20mph limits on a series of roads where physical traffic calming measures aren’t possible or practical.”
The proposals have been given a cautious welcome by motoring groups, with the AA calling for a “common sense” approach to casualty reduction.
“We need to introduce a broad degree of common sense when dealing with speed restrictions,” said AA president Edmund King.
“What we don’t want to see is local authorities adopting an overzealous approach. We’re certainly not keen on blanket reductions but the AA and its members back the idea of targeted reductions.
“We also support 20mph zones where they are needed. But we would like to see more varied speed limits. A 20mph restriction around a school is fine at 8.50 in the morning but not so good at 2am at night.
“Local authorities must remember that we need roads for movement. They must be careful not to introduce limits that lead to drivers getting impatient and trying to overtake all the time.”
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