Whilst I see where you're coming from, 68% of deaths probably happen with at least one idiotic move involved by somebody who doesn't know the roads they're on, and/or how to adapt their driving to the conditions.

I know you have the experience of B (and less) roads, just as much as I do, but the key here is awareness and anticipation. Two things which are both supposedly taught to people learning to drive. Yes there are tractors and other stuff, but there are also tons of sections where 60mph is perfectly possible and preferable. It takes long enough to get around this place as it is.

This is yet another vote-grabbing headline, right after Jimmy Carr and a billion things before that. Legislation should be a last resort. Education is far better.

Just to put that in perspective


Miles %
Rural 154,303 63
Other 90,701 37
Total 245,004 100

63 % of roads are Rural roads so it shouldn't be a massive shock that 68% of road deaths occur on them.

http://assets.dft.gov.uk/statistics/releases/road-lengths-in-great-britain-2011/road-lengths-2011.pdf
http://assets.dft.gov.uk/statistics/tables/rdl0101.xls

Everyone is the greatest driver in the world, until they die (or worse) in a head-on crash that could have been prevented by them not thinking that they were the greatest driver in the world.

Mark

So what you're saying is that there's 5% more deaths on a rural road compared to other types?

What the official information is saying is that 63% of our total road mileage they classify as rural roads ( major and minor combined ). So the fact that 68% of road deaths occur on rural roads isn't that surprising.

Yes, you've got the folk in their new toys trying out their newest B-road blaster, thinking the country side is empty.
Equally, you've got locals doing 60mph on their way to the shops, only to be surprised to find that there's a horse/badger/deer/cyclist/mud/tree fall/car/livestock on the road that's 'never normally there'.



But if the rural road network was just as safe as the rest of the road network, then there shouldn't be a discrepancy between the figures.
If it's ok to do 60mph on a single carriage rural road, why isn't it ok to do that in, say, suburban London where the roads are little more than single lane?

What I wanna know is what the cause of the accidents was. 68% - it could be that all were related to the driver changing radio stations whilst driving. Is there any evidence to suggest speed was a major factor?

You could drop the speed limit to 20mph and there would still be accidents if the same things kept happening.

One friend was bumped into by another car. She was stationary at some traffic lights and the guy behind her was on his phone. He was creeping the car forwards under clutch control but didn't notice she had stopped. Speed here had bugger all to do with it. He simply wasn't paying attention and no speed camera would have picked it up or prevented it.

In the perfect world I would agree.
The reason for me bringing the road network figures into the discussion was to put the banner headline 68% in perspective.
You also have to take into account times to get emergency services to accidents and then to hospital.

If you are no a length of single carriage way road with a clear line of sight, road conditions are good and population levels are low - why not? Although I guess the chances of getting all those in suburban London is fairly remote.

Totally agree.

But those people aren't gonna slow down because of a posted limit.

Not accidents - fatalities. To be even clearer, 68% of fatalities happened on rural roads, but more specifically, 49% of road deaths happened on single lane rural roads with a 60mph speed limit.



Yes, but you're far more likely to walk away with a stiff neck than being zipped into a body bag.



Yup, this is a factor. It's more difficult for them to reach some parts of the country. But then again, a lower speed accident is more survivable than a high speed one where response time becomes a factor.




Again, I'd agree - there's a world of difference between a straight road somewhere in Norfolk where you can see for miles thanks to there being no hedgerows and some of the roads in the SW where even 20mph is chancing it.
From the article: "Road Safety Minister Mike Penning said it was "vital that speed limits are suitable for local conditions"."
So what we're talking about is dropping the 60mph limit in areas where the road's rubbish, visibility isn't good and are more populous.

The bit I don't get is 60 MPH is a maximum not a must drive at. If the road conditions are crap for what ever reason you slow down accordingly. I drove to Chippenham this morning and excluding the A road stretch I doubt I got up to 40 for than a mile the entire way.

I think they should also ban city people from coming out of the city. Or at least make them wear bright colours and hold a giant red flag to announce their presence.

Perhaps just make massive travelators for cars to costs along on?

Actually, seal everyones front doors, deliver all food by a pipe. Everyone can work from home. Even better, we can build new houses where all the roads and green areas are to solve the housing crisis. You'll be able to walk from Edinburgh to Scotland because it'll be only down the hall...

EDIT: On a serious note. I would strongly support a driving test retake every five years. I see friends who passed their tests and have been driving for the last 6-7 years, they have gotten somewhat complacent.

If my experience of country road driving is anything to do by, speed limits are largely irrelevant as you always get stuck behind either a tractor or a horse box anyway.

Jon

As Steve74 Senior said, "always drive like there could be a tractor or sheep in the road round the next bend"

On my drive to work there are a lot of bends, and every day around one of them you find a horse / cyclist / runner / dog / deer / tractor reversing out into the road.

I always drive so that my breaking distance is lower than my visibility. It's a very simple rule. I like to be able to stop before hitting things. If that means slowing down to 25mph to take a blind corner I know the car can take at 70mph, then so be it.

What bugs the hell out of everyone though is people doing 40mph or slower when you can see the road is clear for half a mile, and usually in the middle of the road so you can't pass them...

Then there's all the people around here who drive vehicles that are really far too BIG for the little roads. FFS why do people buy these stupid monster trucks?

I believe studies have shown it's because they have very small penises.