Lower speed limits advised for roads with crash history

09.58 | 16 December 2009 | | 2 comments

The DfT has today (16 December) issued guidance to local authorities to cut the speed limit on roads with a history of crashes and collisions, according to a BBC News report.

The department wants the national speed limit of 60mph lowered to 50mph on selected main roads in rural areas, and is also advising local authorities to introduce 20mph zones in residential areas and near schools.

The BBC News website has launched an interactive map which plots the location of every death on the roads in the last decade, to allow users to examine collision blackspots near where they live.

Click here to read the full BBC News release.
 

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    I think this is a much better idea than a blanket 50 mph limit. A targeted approach on roads where there is evidence of a history of collisions and other road safety issues is positive and proactive. Road users are more likely to comply with a speed limit if there are good reasons for it. Where a speed limit is reduced to 50 mph, authorities concerned could consider effective communication of the reasons to road users. Use of local news media, the internet and appropriate signs are all possibilities. The Highways Agency’s eye catching ‘Think Bike’ signs on the trunk road network are a good example of a proactive intervention using signs with impact.

    For those minority of drivers and riders who will not comply, despite attempts to educate, effective consistent enforcement is a final option.


    Mark – Wiltshire.
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    Whilst I have no problems with the 20 mph restriction round towns, would be better if it was all over town. as traffic can rarely travel at 30 sometimes anyway.

    I dont think the 50 mph will necessarily work..Most vehicles will travel at up to speed limit anyway, it will just reduce speed of impact from 120mph to 100 mph. You will still end up with fatalities.

    I know more about motorcycle accidents and on rural roads many are on bends [for whatever reason] and the rest are in overtaking manouvers. On rural roads the incidence of vehicle collision is small. The first generally doesn’t require speeds over the speed limit but the second obviously requires a higher speed and that may sometimes be over the limit.

    Reducing speed limits may have some bearing on overtaking manouvers but to a small % of riders they will not bother with speed limits anyway.


    Bob Craven Blackpool
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