News

Speed limit reduced to 50mph
2009-03-09

The government are to reduce the national speed limit from 60mph to 50mph on most of roads in the UK.  This is likely to be implemented early next year and will be the most drastic change since 1978 when the national speed limit was then reduced from 70mph to 60mph. It has been estimated that the changes will affect over 60 percent of roads, but will not alter the speed limit on dual carriageways or motorways, where drivers will still be able to reach 70mph.

Jim Fitzpatrick MP and road safety minister said “There will be some in the driving lobby who think this is a further attack and a restriction on people’s freedom,” he said. “But when you compare that to the fact we are killing 3,000 people a year on our roads, it would be irresponsible not to do something about it. I’m sure that the vast majority of motorists would support the proposals. If you look at the figures on rural roads, there are disproportionately more people dying there than on any other roads. The nature of some rural roads, with dips and bends and difficult conditions, means that the 60mph limit is not enough”
 

Department of Transport research has found that by reducing the speed limit to 50mph could save between 200 and 250 lives every year at the same time as reducing our carbon footprint. The new speed limits will be enforced by the new generation of speed cameras which monitor the average speed of the vehicle over a disatnce.

BRAKE the road safety charity state: On many derestricted rural roads, the 60mph limit is far too fast for safety. Fatal high-speed collisions with other vehicles, and single vehicle collisions with trees and walls, are often caused by taking bends too fast or by overtaking in dangerous places. Drivers also kill cyclists, horse riders and walkers on rural roads. These road users are particularly vulnerable when hidden round bends, or at night.  For more information visit BRAKE

 

 

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