DfT statement on possible 60mph limit change on | Tech News

The Department for Transport has given an replace on calls to introduce a decrease pace limit on virtually 200,000 miles of English roads. An enormous plan is at present being thought of for the UK’s highway community on what they’re categorised at and if adjustments need to be made.

Recent statistics show people are six instances more more likely to be killed or significantly injured on rural roads verses motorways. The default pace limit is 60mph, typically on very slender and winding roads, which has prompted security fears, to people on horseback in addition to these in vehicles and on bikes.

In a new Parliamentary written query Liberal Democrat Dr Roz Savage requested Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander: “What recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the national speed limit on rural single carriageway roads; and whether he has considered introducing a default speed limit lower than 60mph on unclassified rural roads.”

In reply Lilian Greenwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State within the Department for Transport yesterday (April 15) defined that steerage to native authorities was being up to date – but additionally that new national guidlines had been being thought of. She mentioned: “The Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026, commits the Government updating the best practice guidance Setting Local Speed Limits which outlines how local authorities may introduce lower limits on rural roads where appropriate. The most recent publicly accessible version of this guidance emphasises that Local traffic authorities have the power to introduce speed limits lower than the national limit where local conditions justify this.

“The Road Safety Strategy also looks at exploring whether the proposed rural roads categories are appropriate at a local level and to assessing their potential for national application. Developing a much clearer and more consistent definition of what constitutes a ‘rural road’ could help target safety interventions more effectively, ensuring resources are spent where they can have the greatest impact.”

The Road Safety Strategy doc mentioned that on rural roads susceptible highway customers, similar to pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and kids, ‘remain disproportionately at risk of serious injuries and fatalities’. It provides: “Some of the most high-risk roads in the country are rural single carriageways, with high speeds and limited infrastructure.”

The Strategic Road Network (SRN) in England refers back to the core community of motorways and main “trunk” A-roads managed by National Highways. The report mentioned the SRN has more than 4,500 miles of motorways and A roads, carrying 34% of site visitors in England. It mentioned that these roads are the most secure kind in 2024, there have been 1,931 killed or significantly injured, 7% of the overall for England. It then provides: “Conversely, roads in rural areas are the least safe in terms of fatalities. In 2024 there were 959 fatalities on rural roads accounting for 60% of all fatalities, while only carrying 45% of traffic.

“In 2023, the RAC Foundation published research by Agilysis about the characteristics of a ‘rural road’. This was the first step in breaking down rural roads into several subcategories to better understand how to define these roads. This segmentation helps target safety

interventions more effectively, ensuring resources are spent where they can have the greatest impact. From early 2026, the government will explore whether the proposed rural roads categories are appropriate at a local level and assess their potential for national application.”

Dr Savaga additionally requested: “What guidance is provided to local authorities on setting reduced speed limits in rural areas; and whether he plans to increase the powers available to local authorities to introduce speed limit zones in rural communities.” Ms Greenwood replied this week: “Guidance for local authorities on setting reduced speed limits, including in rural areas, is provided through the Department for Transport’s Setting Local Speed Limits guidance. This makes clear that local traffic authorities may introduce speed limits below the national limit where local conditions justify it, based on factors such as road layout, safety considerations and the character of the area.

“The Road Safety Strategy published on 7 January 2026 committed to update current guidance on local speed limits and speed‑camera use.”

The RAC Foundation Rural highway segmentation report checked out how roads had been categorised and how rural roads in truth included a large selection of varieties and types the idea for a change in categorisation of the community – and probably new pace limits. Bruce Walton, techincal director of Agilysis and Road Safety Analysis, mentioned: “This study is an opportunity to tackle a long-standing challenge in road safety: how to address road danger on rural routes, which are easily overlooked because they are lightly trafficked or run through remote areas.

“The report outlines a mechanism to help engineers and blue light services do this more effectively. It also proposes a practical process which could deliver it, creating the prospect of further research to develop a coherent national approach that provides valuable insight into our sometimes-neglected rural road network.”

Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, mentioned: “The question may seem simple: ‘what is a rural road?’ The answer turns out to be more complex that you might think when interpreting road safety statistics. This report suggests there are at least ten types of ‘rural’ road with specific characteristics, and the only thing they have in common is that they run outside our big towns and cities.”

To learn the rural highway segmentation analysis click on right here.

To learn the Road Safety Strategy printed on 7 January 2026 click on right here.