Government ministers have advised councils to reduce speed limits on roads which are accident black spots.
According to the BBC, the ministers want the national speed limit reduced from 60 to 50 miles per hour on selected roads in rural areas and they also are requesting a gradual move towards 20 mph in residential and school areas. The aim of these proposals is to reduce the number of deaths on Britain’s’ roads. Over the past 10 years the government set itself a target of cutting the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by road traffic accidents by 40 % by 2010. This target has already been reached but, with 32,000 deaths still having occurred as a result of accidents on roads, ministers feel more can be done.
The move will be unpopular with many motorists but safety experts state that deaths are not falling fast enough, partly because of poor driving.
If this is the case, then it certainly makes sense for the reductions in speed to be implemented. A large percentage of the population drive at over the current speed limit, with statistics from the department of transport revealing that if a pedestrian is hit at 35 mph they have a 50/50 chance of survival, at 30 mph their survival rate increases to 80% and at 20 mph there is a 97% chance of survival.
When poor driving occurs other road users are at risk and statistics show with great clarity that the injuries people suffer can be markedly less when they are hit at lower speeds. The government should be commended for reaching the targets they have imposed and applauded for continuing to take measures to try and reduce the number of people killed on roads in the UK.
