20mph rural speed limit plans "flawed and deadly"
40 mph limits could be more common on roads in England and Wales
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Tuesday, 08, Aug 2006 11:28
Motorists travelling on many British rural roads will have to stick to 20mph speed limits under new government proposals.
The Department of Transport (DfT) has ordered local authorities to conduct a review of current speed restrictions within the next five years.
It is concerned that many accident black spots need tighter speed controls and has issued guidance recommending that rural roads with many turns or junctions, or ones that go through built-up areas, are given a 40mph limit.
And applications for 20mph zones will "encouraged and supported", the DFT said.
But the changes to the current rules have not been universally welcomed by road safety campaigners, who have warned the government that its reasoning is "flawed and deadly".
Paul Smith, founder of the Safe Speed road safety campaign, said: "The new guidance is based on faulty foundations and will ultimately cause road deaths to increase.
"If we want safer roads we must look at the psychological factors that underlie crashes. By tending to deskill driving these proposals will make road safety worse."
He added: "The Department for Transport is clearly blinded by its own 'speed kills' propaganda and is not fit for purpose. It does not understand the process of safe driving and as such is not competent to devise road safety policy."
The Association for British Drivers (ABD) echoed those views, stating that speed limits are "the bluntest road safety tool we have" and has called for the appointment of an independent speed limit watchdog.
But transport minister Stephen Ladyman has defended the call for council speed limit reviews, which will lead to changes being implemented by 2011.
"Realistic and consistent speed limits help to keep traffic moving freely and safely," he 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.
"The guidance also encourages traffic authorities to set limits that reflect the road environment and characteristic, and which drivers will instinctively understand."
The new guidance will not affect the three default national speed limits: the urban 30mph speed limit on street lit roads, the national speed limit 60mph on single carriageway roads and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways.