Gubment Reposonse to Rural Roads Bill......
Discussion
Dear John (Wilkinson)
Thank for you for your letter of 3 April addressed to Alistair Darling enclosing an email from your constituents, Mr. X. XXXXX (address withheld) Ruislip concerning speed limits in rural areas. I am replying as I have ministerial responsibility for road safety policy.
Your constituent mentions an amendment to the Railways and Transport Safety Bill on a 'rural road hierarchy' defining speed limits for roads in the countryside. He expresses concerns that the Government have "misrepresented statistical evidence to support our case". In fact, this amendment was proposed by the Conservative front bench supported by the Liberal Democrats, but did not find favour with the Government and was not approved by the committee. Although the Government fully supports the need to reduce inapprioiate speeds on rural roads, we are not planning to take forward such measures in this Bill.
Excessive and inappropriate speed is a significant factor in road accidents. Increased compliance with speed limits will considerably reduce the the risk of accidents that occur on our roads. My Department has commissioned a considerable amount of research aimed at identifying the reasons for the high incidence of serious accidents most prevalent on rural roads and are seeking effective measures to reduce them. One of the biggest problems however, is that experience of driver behaviour suggests that people who drive at speeds they themselves believe to be safe for the roads on which they are travelling. The key therefore is to ensure that the nature and appearance of the road suggest a slower speed is appropriate.
We are aware that one speed limit that comes in for the most criticism is the 60mph national speed limit on many country lanes. Whilst no one believes that on single track and narrow roads such high speeds are desirable, we believe that in many cases the speed limit on these roads is unachievable safely. This led us to conclude that a speed limit on country roads was only relevant where it was possible fo drivers to break it, and where the appearance of the road led them to do so.
I acknowledge that vehicle speeds that are below the speed limit but are considered too dangerous for the road cannot be tackled by the use of the more conventional and highly successful speed enforcement cameras. However, we have now finished trials on devices that we believe will enormously help in this area. These are Vehicle Activated Signs. Trials of these signs have proved very successful. They are used as a measure to curb inappropriate speed, especially in rural areas, by warning drivers of potential hazards ahead or reminding them of the speed limit in force. Your constituents will be pleased to know that with the publication of the revised Traffic SIgns Regulations and General DIrections 2002, there is much more flexibility in allowing their use. My officials are also currently preparing guidance in the form of a Traffic Advisory Leaflet and we hope this will be available shortly.
The Govermnet's response to the Transport Select Committee Report on Road Traffic Speed, published on 8 October 2002, made clear our believe that rural communitities deserve the same protection from the effects of of excessive and inappropriate sped as has been achieved by our successful road safety measures implemented in urban areas. I would like to assure your constituents that my Department is working hard to redress this imbalance.
Indeed, work is already underway and includes simplifying speed limit order making and the development of a speed management assessment framework which will establish exactly what speeds are being driven on our rural roads. We expect the first results of this work to be available in mid 2003. This work will feed into our plans to revise the guidance on setting local speed limits. We also plan to publish advice on village entry signing later this year to assist local authorities in introducing more 30mph speed limits in villages.
However, it is worth noting that local authorities already have such powers to set local speed limits. This includes 30mph speed limits for villages. As such, many of the options described in the Transport Select Committee's recommendations are already available to local authorities. There is certainly no requirement for them to wait for additional guidance before setting a lower speed limit.
I hope this is helpful.
(signature)
David Jamieson
Thank for you for your letter of 3 April addressed to Alistair Darling enclosing an email from your constituents, Mr. X. XXXXX (address withheld) Ruislip concerning speed limits in rural areas. I am replying as I have ministerial responsibility for road safety policy.
Your constituent mentions an amendment to the Railways and Transport Safety Bill on a 'rural road hierarchy' defining speed limits for roads in the countryside. He expresses concerns that the Government have "misrepresented statistical evidence to support our case". In fact, this amendment was proposed by the Conservative front bench supported by the Liberal Democrats, but did not find favour with the Government and was not approved by the committee. Although the Government fully supports the need to reduce inapprioiate speeds on rural roads, we are not planning to take forward such measures in this Bill.
Excessive and inappropriate speed is a significant factor in road accidents. Increased compliance with speed limits will considerably reduce the the risk of accidents that occur on our roads. My Department has commissioned a considerable amount of research aimed at identifying the reasons for the high incidence of serious accidents most prevalent on rural roads and are seeking effective measures to reduce them. One of the biggest problems however, is that experience of driver behaviour suggests that people who drive at speeds they themselves believe to be safe for the roads on which they are travelling. The key therefore is to ensure that the nature and appearance of the road suggest a slower speed is appropriate.
We are aware that one speed limit that comes in for the most criticism is the 60mph national speed limit on many country lanes. Whilst no one believes that on single track and narrow roads such high speeds are desirable, we believe that in many cases the speed limit on these roads is unachievable safely. This led us to conclude that a speed limit on country roads was only relevant where it was possible fo drivers to break it, and where the appearance of the road led them to do so.
I acknowledge that vehicle speeds that are below the speed limit but are considered too dangerous for the road cannot be tackled by the use of the more conventional and highly successful speed enforcement cameras. However, we have now finished trials on devices that we believe will enormously help in this area. These are Vehicle Activated Signs. Trials of these signs have proved very successful. They are used as a measure to curb inappropriate speed, especially in rural areas, by warning drivers of potential hazards ahead or reminding them of the speed limit in force. Your constituents will be pleased to know that with the publication of the revised Traffic SIgns Regulations and General DIrections 2002, there is much more flexibility in allowing their use. My officials are also currently preparing guidance in the form of a Traffic Advisory Leaflet and we hope this will be available shortly.
The Govermnet's response to the Transport Select Committee Report on Road Traffic Speed, published on 8 October 2002, made clear our believe that rural communitities deserve the same protection from the effects of of excessive and inappropriate sped as has been achieved by our successful road safety measures implemented in urban areas. I would like to assure your constituents that my Department is working hard to redress this imbalance.
Indeed, work is already underway and includes simplifying speed limit order making and the development of a speed management assessment framework which will establish exactly what speeds are being driven on our rural roads. We expect the first results of this work to be available in mid 2003. This work will feed into our plans to revise the guidance on setting local speed limits. We also plan to publish advice on village entry signing later this year to assist local authorities in introducing more 30mph speed limits in villages.
However, it is worth noting that local authorities already have such powers to set local speed limits. This includes 30mph speed limits for villages. As such, many of the options described in the Transport Select Committee's recommendations are already available to local authorities. There is certainly no requirement for them to wait for additional guidance before setting a lower speed limit.
I hope this is helpful.
(signature)
David Jamieson
Only a small rasberry methinks Deltaf. Not only does he acknowledge 'innapropriate speed' rather than 'speeding' is a key factor, but if you recall, the ABD issued a release a few weeks ago challenging the Government to acknowledge the success of the vehicle activated signs which have proven to be much more effective than Gatsos etc. It seems to me thats exactly what David Jamieson is now saying. Not only that but they are putting in the regulatory and advisory framework to extend their use. Surely this is a small victory for common sense.
Lentil munching tree huggers in "Leave the limit alone" shock. 
...or maybe not....
...but we might put it in the next one.....
Your constituent mentions an amendment to the Railways and Transport Safety Bill on a 'rural road hierarchy' defining speed limits for roads in the countryside. He expresses concerns that the Government have "misrepresented statistical evidence to support our case". In fact, this amendment was proposed by the Conservative front bench supported by the Liberal Democrats, but did not find favour with the Government and was not approved by the committee.
...or maybe not....
Although the Government fully supports the need to reduce inapprioiate speeds on rural roads, we are not planning to take forward such measures in this Bill
...but we might put it in the next one.....
Oh, no it doesn't.
"Indeed, work is already underway and includes simplifying speed limit order making and the development of a speed management assessment framework which will establish exactly what speeds are being driven on our rural roads"
This means non-driving rural councillors will be able to set 20 limits on rural A roads. And they will
The creeping 50 limits on good, fast A roads are set to grow.
Come on, folks......wake up.
"Indeed, work is already underway and includes simplifying speed limit order making and the development of a speed management assessment framework which will establish exactly what speeds are being driven on our rural roads"
This means non-driving rural councillors will be able to set 20 limits on rural A roads. And they will
The creeping 50 limits on good, fast A roads are set to grow.
Come on, folks......wake up.
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