Speed limits: 40mph plan for country roads

[davieG]

BBC

Speed limits on many rural roads in England could be cut from 60mph to 40mph under government proposals.

The reduction should be considered by councils on roads with "many bends or junctions", the Department for Transport (DfT) says in draft guidance.

Some 49% of road deaths in 2010 in the UK took place on single carriageway rural roads with a 60mph speed limit.

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said it was "vital that speed limits are suitable for local conditions".

The vast majority of rural single-carriageway roads are subject to the national speed limit of 60mph.

Under the plans, which are open to public consultation, a reduction to 40mph should also be considered where there is "substantial development" or where there are "a considerable number" of horse-riders, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

A reduction to 50mph would be considered for "lower quality A and B roads" with "a relatively high number" of bends or junctions and where mean speeds are already below 50mph.

DfT figures for 2010 show that 68% of road deaths in Britain took place on rural roads.

Ralph Smyth, from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, called for "a presumption that minor rural roads, the narrower winding ones, have a lower speed limit".

"It seems strange that you've got minor roads, often that are just tarmaced tracks, that have a speed limit of 60mph - just 10mph less than the motorways," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

He said councils could already reduce limits on such roads but that they were legally obliged to erect expensive "repeater" signs along the way.

"We're saying a much better solution would be to use 40mph zones, similar to the 20mph zones in urban areas, where there isn't the requirement to have the signs every few hundred metres.

"And, of course, that doesn't just mean less cost it means less clutter in the countryside," he added.

He said drivers should also be educated that "these are different to the other sorts of roads they use, almost like a separate network where you could expect to find someone walking their dog, a cyclist or some livestock around the next blind bend".

'Top priority'

Milly Wastie, vice-chairwoman of the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, meanwhile, said raising awareness about driving conditions in rural areas was key to reducing accidents.

"I think instead of lowering the speeds on rural roads it's more about education and awareness and I think it's how to drive and how to manage different driving conditions," she told Today.

"You're only starting to learn how to handle these conditions when you pass your test and, from a young person's point of view, obviously we're the most at risk."

Under the new guidelines, English councils will also be given more freedom to introduce 20mph speed limits as well as to use variable speed limits outside schools.

The DfT says there are about 2,000 of the 20mph schemes in England; it cites research suggesting they can reduce collisions and injuries by 60%.

A new online speed limit appraisal tool will help councils to assess the benefits and costs of such schemes.

"Road safety is a top priority and the guidance will help councils make evidence-based decisions to introduce local speed limits that reflect the needs of all road users," Road Safety Minister Mr Penning said.

No changes are planned to the national speed limits of 30mph on street-lit roads, 60mph on single carriageway roads and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways.

[Benji]

It is quite funny that you can bomb round some terrible country roads at 60 but a straight open motorway at (legally) 70. But I'd suggest it's the 70 that needs upping, not the 60 down.

[Guest]

Car manufacturers should be forced to make cars that cannot exceed the speed limit. The old argument of being able to drive at any speed you wish on private land is irrelevant these days, if people want to drive fast on private land then they can used specialist cars and afford to pay for them. No mass produced car for normal use should be able to exceed 70mph.

This would do far more good than reducing speed limits on some country roads.

And while there at it make all cars non petrol based consumers and increase the efficiency of alternative fuels.

[acooling08]

Car manufacturers should be forced to make cars that cannot exceed the speed limit. The old argument of being able to drive at any speed you wish on private land is irrelevant these days, if people want to drive fast on private land then they can used specialist cars and afford to pay for them. No mass produced car for normal use should be able to exceed 70mph.

This would do far more good than reducing speed limits on some country roads.

And while there at it make all cars non petrol based consumers and increase the efficiency of alternative fuels.

So basically make all cars so expensive so that nobody can afford them?

[Soar Fox]

I find a lot of the county roads around Leicestershire aren't suitable to drive at 60mph anyway. Either too narrow or there's not enough of a straight to build up you're speed.

[Guest]

So basically make all cars so expensive so that nobody can afford them?

Did no-one teach you about economies of scale?

I find a lot of the county roads around Leicestershire aren't suitable to drive at 60mph anyway. Either too narrow or there's not enough of a straight to build up you're speed.

But people do because it says that they can.

[Ilkeston_Fox]

It is quite funny that you can bomb round some terrible country roads at 60 but a straight open motorway at (legally) 70. But I'd suggest it's the 70 that needs upping, not the 60 down.

I think there's talk to put the motorway speed limit up to 80mph in the future

[purpleronnie]

I think there's talk to put the motorway speed limit up to 80mph in the future

no chance.

[acooling08]

Many country lanes should be 40mph. I've been on some with single file bends that require 2nd gear on 60mph limit roads.

The motorway limit should be 100mph or even unlimited imo.

[davieG]

60mph is a maximum limit you don't have to drive that fast.

Many roads that are suitable for driving at 60mph will have sections that require you to use your brain to reduce your speed. We already have signs like 'dangerous bends', or 'bends for X miles' these are in effect signs for you to reduce your speed to a suitable level.

What happens on roads where you've introduce a 40 limit and there's sections that are best driven at 20 are we going to make them all 20?

WTF happened to common sense?

[purpleronnie]

60mph is a maximum limit you don't have to drive that fast.

Many roads that are suitable for driving at 60mph will have sections that require you to use your brain to reduce your speed. We already have signs like 'dangerous bends', or 'bends for X miles' these are in effect signs for you to reduce your speed to a suitable level.

What happens on roads where you've introduce a 40 limit and there's sections that are best driven at 20 are we going to make them all 20?

WTF happened to common sense?

It was made illegal in 1994.

[Guest]

60mph is a maximum limit you don't have to drive that fast.

Many roads that are suitable for driving at 60mph will have sections that require you to use your brain to reduce your speed. We already have signs like 'dangerous bends', or 'bends for X miles' these are in effect signs for you to reduce your speed to a suitable level.

What happens on roads where you've introduce a 40 limit and there's sections that are best driven at 20 are we going to make them all 20?

WTF happened to common sense?

When has common sense ever come into the "how fast can I drive?" mentality?

[davieG]

When has common sense ever come into the "how fast can I drive?" mentality?

Every time I go out in my car

There's already enough speed limit signs around many villages now have signs going from the 60 through 40 and down to 30 as you approach them some even then have a 20 it's ridiculous. A simple reduction from 60 to 30/20 should be sufficient.

[Captain...]

Every time I go out in my car

There's already enough speed limit signs around many villages now have signs going from the 60 through 40 and down to 30 as you approach them some even then have a 20 it's ridiculous. A simple reduction from 60 to 30/20 should be sufficient.

I agree but, not everyone does drive like you and me, and it doesn't matter how well you drive if some twat comes flying down a narrow country and takes a corner too wide and sends you off the road. But they were driving under the limit so don't get prosecuted.

It is sad that we may have to do this but if it makes people drive better and safer I support it, from the other side it would also give you a warning when driving down unfamiliar roads that there may be a tight bend or dangerous corner coming up.

[davieG]

I agree but, not everyone does drive like you and me, and it doesn't matter how well you drive if some twat comes flying down a narrow country and takes a corner too wide and sends you off the road. But they were driving under the limit so don't get prosecuted.

It is sad that we may have to do this but if it makes people drive better and safer I support it, from the other side it would also give you a warning when driving down unfamiliar roads that there may be a tight bend or dangerous corner coming up.

If they're driving dangerously there's laws that cover that putting signs up wont make it any easier to prosecute as it all depends on witnesses in the main.

There's already signs available to tell there's a tight bend or dangerous corner coming up there's no need to complicate it by making whole stretches of roads/areas limited because of a few bends.

I doubt whether having tighter restrictions will stop those intent on going faster or driving dangerously.

[Daggers]

Simple.

Only allow people onto the roads from Monday to Saturday if they've passed an advanced course in driving and ridden a motorbike for two years. All the rest of the rabble can go out killing themselves on Sunday while I'm enjoying my roast.

[Ilkeston_Fox]

no chance.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2144132/Motorways-80mph-speed-limit-despite-claims-safe-cope.html

They are talking about it. If it gets the go ahead or not, it's being looked at.

[z-layrex]

http://www.dailymail...-safe-cope.html

They are talking about it. If it gets the go ahead or not, it's being looked at.

Most people seem to drive 80 anyway, I don't think a change in law would make a difference. I mostly go 70 purely because I can't afford the petrol to go any faster!

[Ilkeston_Fox]

Most people seem to drive 80 anyway, I don't think a change in law would make a difference. I mostly go 70 purely because I can't afford the petrol to go any faster!

Indeed they do. I know certain police forces don't give tickets out to anything less the 79mph anyway, that'll then increase should the 80mph limit come to fruition.

[anotherharboroughfox]

Went for my first driving lesson the other day and went out on the country roads did 60 down some parts and felt completely safe on a nice wide track with light bends, but then there were some sections where I wasn't comfortable doing more than 20 (tight bends with very narrow roads).

As most here say all it takes is common sense. It's just a shame that's in short supply.

[Guest]

Every time I go out in my car

There's already enough speed limit signs around many villages now have signs going from the 60 through 40 and down to 30 as you approach them some even then have a 20 it's ridiculous. A simple reduction from 60 to 30/20 should be sufficient.

If commonsense was relevant we wouldn't need speed limit signs nor speed limits anywhere

[MooseBreath]

Car manufacturers should be forced to make cars that cannot exceed the speed limit. The old argument of being able to drive at any speed you wish on private land is irrelevant these days, if people want to drive fast on private land then they can used specialist cars and afford to pay for them. No mass produced car for normal use should be able to exceed 70mph.

This would do far more good than reducing speed limits on some country roads.

And while there at it make all cars non petrol based consumers and increase the efficiency of alternative fuels.

So 49% of road deaths are on 60mph roads, and you are going to solve that by limiting cars to 70mph? So they can still speed on 60mph roads. Great solution.

[Guest]

So 49% of road deaths are on 60mph roads, and you are going to solve that by limiting cars to 70mph? So they can still speed on 60mph roads. Great solution.

You are always good for a laugh

[davieG]

If commonsense was relevant we wouldn't need speed limit signs nor speed limits anywhere

Well of course not but then we wouldn't need any laws, having laws is not the problem it's where to draw the line and this is just going too far and as an aside we're already awash with road signs this will inevitably mean more.

[Daggers]

For a party which says it believes in less regulation they sure do like to introduce lots of it, criminalising vast chunks of society in the process for little reason.

Maybe they could get an efficient model of private enterprise like A4E or G4S to run the show.