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Rural road speed limits to be reviewed

Date: 09 August 2006

Rural speed limits are to be put under the microscope as the Government takes a long hard look at reducing road deaths on country roads.

Issuing guidance this week, the Department for Transport set targets for a nationwide review that urges local authorities to examine speed limits and implement changes by 2011.

In 2004 68% of the 1663 car drivers and passengers killed were on rural roads, seven times the motorway death rate of 0.1 per million km.

Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman explained the need for "realistic and consistent speed limits help to keep traffic moving freely and safely".

The guidance and investigation follows research carried out by insurer Direct Line that found three out of four motorists felt the 60mph speed limit was too high, prompting calls to lower the national speed limit to 40mph.

Safety campaigners Brake supports the lowering of the speed limit, but the review has unleashed intense criticism from outspoken drivers' organisations.

"These schemes are road safety nonsense" said Association of British Drivers Nigel Humphries, citing Suffolk county's introduction of 450 new 30mph limits, where the ABD claim instead of lowering deaths, the number of fatalities on the county's roads rose.



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