Introduce and enforce speed limit of 20 mph on all urban roads, 40 mph on rural roads/lanes and 60 mph on all other trunk roads.
Older people hit at 30mph face a 47% fatality risk and are 10 times more likely to die than if the vehicle was travelling at 20mph [1]. In addition at 20mph fewer collisions occur as there is more time to avoid a crash. 20mph zones are effective at reducing the toll from collisions [2], cost as little as £2 per head [3] and are popular with residents and local businesses.
Almost half of all road deaths in 2010 were on single carriageway rural roads with a 60mph speed limit [4]. The department for transport has encouraged councils to implement 40mph zones, however this proposal leaves many country tracks with a speed limit only 10mph slower than on a motorway. Finally 60mph limits are already being considered for the motorway network [5], with higher speeds causing stop-start jams at busy times and increased accident rates and severity.
Speed limit reductions are already being implemented in local areas all over the country and are a cost effective method to increase road safety. However these need to be rolled out across the board to improve safety on all roads.
[2] http://www.livingstreets.org.uk/make-a-change/urgent-actions/show-you-love-20-mph/20-mph-myth-buster
[3] http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/BriefingSheets/20mph_Funding.pdf