| Speed limits on country roads to be cut
In the DT today.
And who gets the blame?
Ains.
Speed limits on country roads to be cut
By George Jones, Political Editor
(Filed: 08/08/2006)
Speed limits on many rural roads could be cut from 60mph to 50mph or even 40mph under a review of all A and B roads announced by the Government yesterday.
Stephen Ladyman, the transport minister, instructed councils in England to look again at speed limits on all single and dual carriageway roads. Similar instructions have been issued in Scotland and Wales.
The review is likely to result in more 20mph and 30mph limits in towns and villages. But the biggest impact is expected to be on rural roads, where 64 per cent of road deaths occur.
Mr Ladyman indicated that the 60mph speed limit on most single carriageway roads outside towns might be too high. He said the guidance encouraged the lowering of speed limits "where the evidence warrants it". But limits could be raised on some 30mph and 40mph roads where the risk to pedestrians and cyclists was low.
A recent survey by Direct Line, the insurer, found that one in four rural drivers admitted breaking the 60mph limit. Many thought that less traffic and fewer pedestrians made speeding in the country safer. A lack of police and speed cameras were also cited as reasons for driving faster.
The Transport Department has told councils that any changes to speed limits on A and B roads should be implemented by 2011. The Highways Agency is responsible for trunk roads and motorways.
There is to be no change to the three main national speed limits: 30mph in urban areas, 60mph on single carriageway roads and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways.
The department's guidance on rural roads states that councils should review the accident rates and other characteristics, such as visibility and the quality of the road.
A 60mph limit would be suitable for "high quality strategic roads with few bends and junctions or accesses". A 50mph limit would be suitable for "lower quality" strategic roads that had a relatively high number of bends, junctions and accesses.
A 40mph limit should be imposed on roads with many bends or junctions, substantial development, or for "strong environment or landscape reasons" or if there were considerable numbers of vulnerable users.
The guidance states that in future 30mph should be the norm in villages with 20 or more houses and 20mph might be appropriate in some larger villages.
The department said that speed was "a major contributor" to accidents.
"A large proportion of road accidents happen on rural roads," a spokesman said. "Urban roads tend to be safer in terms of casualties."
The 12 roads with the highest crash rates last year were all single carriageway A roads in rural areas, a study by the AA showed.
The worst was the A682 in Lancashire, between the M65 and the A65, where 23 crashes left people dead or seriously injured. The AA described it as undulating and lined with hedges and mature trees, with narrow verges and several blind brows of hills.
Rural roads with many bends are attractive to motor-cyclists, particularly at weekends, often producing high casualty rates.
Mr Ladyman, replying to a report from MPs calling for strict enforcement of speed limits, said the Government tried "very hard'' to enforce limits and was frequently criticised for measures such as speed cameras.
He said: "I think our policy of enforcing the speed limit for safety reasons is more cost effective than trying to get absolute enforcement everywhere for the moment."  | 
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