Under proposals to be unveiled by ministers, the speed limit could be raised to 80mph on motorways. At the same time limits on some rural roads could be cut as the Government looks to cut the number of people killed and seriously injured in car crashes.
Later in the year, proposals for an overhaul of speed limits are likely to be unveiled. The Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, has signalled that he is ready to lift the 70mph limit to 80 if it is in the interests of the British economy.
Since taking office, the Government has sought to end what it described as the “war on the motorist” which has seen Whitehall funding for speed cameras dry up shortly after the election.
“If you took just that view, you would have 10mph limits everywhere," "We need to look at the value of safety benefits and the cost in terms of additional journey time," he said. "It is a bit of a no-brainer that is how it should be done," Mr Hammond toldThe Daily Telegraph.
A DfT spokesman said last night: "We need to make sure that we are looking at the right criteria when considering what level speed limits should be set at. This means looking at the economic benefits of shorter journey times as well as considering the implications for road safety,”
52% of traffic on motorways was travelling at more than 70mph, with 37% of cars being driven between 70 and 79mph, research carried out by the Department for Transport in 2009 revealed.
But in proposing to raise the speed limit to 80mph, Mr Hammond is likely to widen the rift between the Conservatives and their Liberal Democrat partners in the coalition. Chris Huhne, the Lib Dem climate change secretary, is understood to be objecting to increasing the speed limit because driving faster consumes more fuel. It is estimated that driving at 80mph consumes 20% more fuel than travelling at 70mph. Some Conservatives believe Mr Huhne is encouraging Green groups, who have accused Mr Hammond of “Top Gear politics” on speed limits.
The 70mph limit was set by Tom Fraser, Labour’s transport minister just before Christmas 1965, after a series of motorway pile-ups.