New road safety strategy could have unplanned consequences

An unplanned consequence of the Government's new Road Safety Strategy could be a million new speed limit signs in the countryside, according to analysis by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

You can download a statistical breakdown showing predicted new speed limit sign numbers and costs, broken down for each local authority area (login - all lower case: user name = media; password = journalist).

Ralph Smyth, Senior Transport Campaigner said:

‘After deciding against a blanket 50 mph national speed limit, the Government wants to encourage local authorities to consider introducing lower speed limits locally, which require repeater signs about every 300 yards.  But it has not thought through the national costs and implications. Its piecemeal plans could require a million repeater speed limit signs that would deface the countryside and distract drivers while costing £300 million.'

‘We need to make rural roads safer and all the evidence points to reducing speed limits as the most important single step.  We need a common sense compromise between imposing a new blanket limit and a million new signs, which cash strapped local authorities are unlikely to introduce anytime soon.'

Following research on best practice in other European countries, CPRE is calling for:

• a reduction in the national speed limit for rural single-carriageway roads to 50 mph but allowing local authorities discretion to keep their safest roads at 60 mph;
• powers to introduce 40 mph zones on minor rural roads, based on the success of 20 mph zones on residential roads, neither of which require repeater signs; and
• reducing red tape to make introducing more 20 mph zones on residential streets and Quiet Lanes easier and cheaper.

In May 2009, CPRE set out its new vision for the countryside, which includes a step change in the number of people walking and cycling.  So it is particularly concerning that the Strategy does nothing to improve safety on minor rural roads that form key links for those on foot, cycle or horseback. 

Ralph Smyth concluded:

‘Lowering speed limits on main roads but keeping country lanes at 60 mph will turn them into rat-runs and racetracks.  Let's spend transport budgets where the money is really needed on filling potholes and improving conditions for walking, riding and cycling by lower speed zones, not on unnecessary repeater signs.'

* You can request this information in email form, complete with footnotes and reference links, until 31 July 2009.

Fiona Cowan
30 June 2009