U-turn signalled on 80mph speed limit

22nd October 2012

Less than a year after transport secretary Philip Hammond declared that an increase in the motorway speed limit to 80mph was needed to “put Britain back in the fast lane”, boosting productivity by reducing journey times, new transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin appears to have signalled a U-turn.

“First and foremost in my mind will be road safety, and I will look at the evidence - there's a consultation taking place on that,” he said.  “But nothing will detract me from what is safe overall, and road safety has to be paramount.  What we have to have in our mind is that speed does kill and most of the very serious accidents that take place on our roads involve people disobeying the speed limits.”

Critics of the proposal had argued that they would lead to more accidents and cost lives.  “We warmly welcome Patrick McLoughlin’s comments that his priority is the safety of road users, and his acknowledgement that managing traffic speed is crucial in preventing needless deaths and injuries,” Julie Townsend, the deputy chief executive of road safety charity Brake, said