30th June 2009

Cllr Sarah Lunnon responds to CPRE's call for lower speed limits 

You report that the Campaign for Rural England is opposed to the  Government's scheme of discretionary lower speed limits as this could lead to thousands of signs littering our countryside (Citizen  25/06/09). They want instead mandatory lower speeds of 50 mph for rural  single track carriageways, 40 mph on minor roads and with authorities  discretion for the safest roads to be 60mph.

The Green party have long campaigned for lower mandatory limits. On major  roads outside built up areas, the maximum speed limit should be 55 m.p.h. like in much of the US, to maximise fuel efficiency and reduce casualties.

In rural areas, apart from trunk roads, the maximum speed limit should  be 40m.p.h. Local communities could set lower limits on country lanes  where pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders are vulnerable. Greens also want 20 m.p.h. limits throughout built up areas, including villages. This is the speed that leads to an increase in walking and cycling. A pedestrian has a 50-50 chance of surviving being hit by a car driving at just above 30mph, but a 95% chance at 20mph.

Reducing speed limits is part of changing our road culture, we also need to rearrange junctions and crossings to ensuring the best possible  provision for cycling and walking. The Government and our County  Council need to be bolder. These current proposals don't go far  enough. And before the Jeremy Clarkson brigade get rattled I'll quote Homer Simpson "Sure, it'll save a few lives, but millions will be late!"

Cllr Sarah Lunnon
Uplands
Stroud