The government has formally outlined plans to introduce its blanket 50mph speed limit on country roads as part of new 'target-based' measures to help cut the number of road deaths.
Today’s measures are part of a ten-year long strategy to cut the number of fatalities by a third from their current level of around 3000 per year. They are part of a 'consultation document' launched today by transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick which, among a myriad of changes, proposes that default speed limit for country roads will be lowered to 50mph unless local councils can provide strong evidence to maintain the higher limit.
The following excerpt from the document outlines the government's perceived logic:
'On the whole, the British road network is relatively safe by international standards. Nevertheless, there are considerable variations of the levels of safety on different parts of the network. Of particular concern are rural roads: over 60 per cent of all deaths occur on rural roads, but they account for just over 40 per cent of traffic.
Many of these roads are single carriageways where the national speed limit applies (60 mph). We know that speed is a factor in many of the fatalities, but compliance with the speed limit on these roads is good. The high casualty figures suggest therefore that speed limits are not at the appropriate level on some of these roads.'
More 20mph zones are also likely to spring up around the UK after several local councils expressed their desire to implement low-speed zones in built-up areas. Cities including Newcastle, Portsmouth, Leicester and Oxford may all implement 20mph zones in residential areas in an effort to save lives.
Research suggests that just one in 40 dies when struck at 20mph, compared to one in five when hit at 30mph. These new low-speed zones could be policed by average speed cameras that will log car number plates on the entrances and exits of the 20mph residential zones.
Maps will also be published to help motorists identifying the location of accident black spots to help make motorists more aware of the potential dangers faced on their routes.
You can download the consultation document here.