DfT makes move for a 'transport system that is greener, safer and improves quality of life'
The Department for Transport (DfT) has pitched the idea of cutting speed limits from 60mph to 40mph across a number of rural roads in the UK.
Almost half of road deaths take place on rural roads (report from the BBC). The move is part of a wider move by the Government, which said it supports 'speed limits suitable for local conditions.
In its draft guidance the Department for Transport said: "Our vision is for a transport system that is an engine for economic growth but one that is also greener and safer and improves quality of life in our communities. We also want our roads to become safer, less congested and less polluted.
"We want to encourage sustainable local travel and economic growth by making public transport and cycling and walking more attractive and effective, promoting lower carbon transport and tackling local road congestion.
"We want to contribute to wider public health and safety outcomes by contributing to a reduction in road casualties.
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More 20mph areas
The Government has also given greater freedom to local councils to introduce 20mph schemes in urban areas, a move welcomed by sustainable transport advocates like Sustrans.
Joe Williams, policy adviser for the charity, said: “It’s good to see the government encouraging wider use of 20mph limits and zones to make our streets more pleasant places to live, work and play.
“Children and families should have the same right to safety wherever they are. It’s now time for 20mph to become the default speed limit across the UK.”
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7 comments
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :-( They should rename the DfT to "DfK" department for Killjoys.
David French Jul 17th 2012 at 8:58PM
0 2Cars driving at 30mph don't kill people, people wandering into the road without looking does.
anon anon Jul 18th 2012 at 9:55AM
0 0Yes, people wandering into the road can result in deaths - but usually the death of the person who wandered into the road. Drivers not paying attention to the road also killed a few people, I heard. And 30mph probably wouldn't be a problem if everyone (or anyone) stuck to it. Road accidents become more likely to kill incrementally with the speed the accident took place at. Eye-wateringly obvious stuff, really.
Jonathon Harker Jul 18th 2012 at 10:01AM
0 0When a pedestrian gets knocked down in the street my first thought when I hear about it is, "What were they doing in the road anyway?"
David French Jul 18th 2012 at 2:01PM
0 1Probably doing something outrageous like trying to cross the road, the fools! ;)
Jonathon Harker Jul 18th 2012 at 2:27PM
1 0I usually have a good look around to see what's coming before I cross. Generally I avoid crossing at blind bends and the like too ;-)
David French Jul 18th 2012 at 3:02PM
0 2With all due respect to anonanon & Mr French ... in the 1st place the story refers to rural roads not urban, and in the second, the idea that regulation is killjoy activity is misplaced when we are referring to safe speeds of travel on roads, by people either in control (or in many cases, suffering the illusion of being in control) of machines capable of causing death of less well-protected co-users of the road.
Graeme King Jul 31st 2012 at 2:37PM
0 0