Government to introduce lower speed limits
Speed limits on residential and A-roads could be cut under a new scheme introduced by the government.
In an attempt to cut road deaths by a third - taking 1,000 off the current annual rate of 3,000 - the government has introduced lower speed limit suggestions but also some peripheral extras.
It is likely the government will double the fine for not wearing a seatbelt to £60, and the Home Office is considering adding cameras to measure the average speed of a vehicle between residential areas, in order to punish those breaking the speed limit.
But the introduction of a 50mph speed limit on A-roads is the change perhaps most likely to have an effect on the cost of running a freight fleet, as lower speed limits could lead to fewer journeys by commercial vehicles.
Edmund King, president of the AA, was quoted by the Independent as saying: "Reducing the speed limit in a blanket manner is the wrong approach as this does not address the specific road safety problems
"Currently local highway authorities can and indeed do reduce the limit to 50mph on stretches of road deemed appropriate. Whatever the limit, drivers should never drive to the limit but should drive at a speed appropriate to the road design and conditions."
