Government response "not good enough" on 50mph limit

5.06.41pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 12th May 2006

North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley

North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley has said the Government response to his call for a 50mph rural speed limit is not good enough - and said he will now make the case to the new Environment minister, David Cairns.

Cllr Parsley stated: "We have just endured another week of carnage on our roads. Once again, fatalities and serious injuries have occurred mainly on rural single carriageways in 60mph zones.

"The specific issue is inappropriate speed. Frankly it is rare for 60mph to be an appropriate speed on a rural single carriageway - that is to say, on the vast majority of secondary roads where 60mph is the nominal limit, 60mph is not an appropriate speed to drive at.

"It is not good enough merely to call on drivers to slow down. Many of those killed and injured on the roads are the innocent ones travelling at an appropriate speed - only to be hit or diverted off the road by a faster vehicle.

"The vast majority of people on our roads drive sensibly - but the few who do not are costing us hundreds of lives. Advertising and education help, but in this case nothing beats the full force of the law.

"The police service must enforce appropriate speeds on rural single carriageways - but their chances of doing this are limited by the fact that many people are driving dangerously while remaining nominally within the 60mph limit.

"A 50mph limit - now effectively the case in the Republic - would be much more appropriate and easier to enforce. I remain convinced that we are talking about saving tens of lives each year through this relatively straightforward measure. The only people with anything to fear from such a change are those who are not driving carefully in the first place.

"I will be taking the case to the new minister, and I trust it will be considered more carefully."

ENDS