Drivers could see speed limits reduced to 10mph in certain areas if proposals from the Road Safety Foundation are introduced – but it has been blasted by motorist groups
Motorists could see speed limits reduced to just 10mph even on major roads in a bid to improve safety. A study by the Road Safety Foundation has led to proposals recommending limits to be cut around the country and it has led to an immediate backlash from motorists groups.
It has been suggested that single-carriageway roads, including country roads, should have a limit of no more than 20mph, compared to the current national speed limit of 60mph. While the speed limits should be reduced to just 10mph on all roads by schools, hospitals and where events are taking place that are for example sporting or cultural.
The RSF’s recommendations were specifically targeted at areas with a “particular prevalence of pedestrians and/or bicyclists and/or motorcyclists” and where there is “a heightened vulnerability of pedestrians to impact and injury”.
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The report suggests that 20mph should be used in all other locations where pedestrians and cyclists or motorcyclists mix with cars. 30mph limits should only be used on roads where there are no pedestrians or cyclists.
The RSF explained that its recommended speed limits are “evidence-based, given the laws of physics and the fragility of the human body”.
But Hugh Bladon, of the Alliance of British Drivers, warned the concept of 10mph limits was “so ridiculous it is simply laughable”.
“If you ban all motorised transport, you might reduce deaths and injury a bit, but we should remember that more people were being killed and injured in the days before motorised transport, by horses and their carriages.
“It might be better to ban people from walking or cycling where there is any form of motorised transport,” he told The Times.
Critics have also said that the implementation of such low speed limits would have significant implications for journey times. If the 20mph limit were applied to single carriageways currently set at 60mph, journey times on these roads could potentially triple.
Higher speed limits would still be permitted on roads that have “fully segregated facilities for any pedestrians or bicyclists”, the report added.
Dr Suzy Charman, executive director of the Road Safety Foundation, defended the proposals, said: “We have a clear idea of the speeds [that] would be required to prevent most road deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads.”
“We are not saying that all speeds or speed limits should be set to these speeds, rather that infrastructure needs to be improved or speeds reduced to ensure travelled speeds are better aligned with human tolerances to crash forces.”
The charity did acknowledge that “translating these findings into policy and practice is complex”.