The proposal to introduce a blanket 50mph limit on 'A' roads is yet
another knee jerk response that fails to recognise the nature of the
problem it seeks to address, says The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG).
Latest official figures show that staying within a speed limit, but
going too fast for the immediate conditions, leads to more than 5% of
all recorded collisions, which is more of a problem for society than
exceeding the speed limit, a factor in just 3% of collisions.
Like the other 40% of collisions involving an error of judgement or poor
reaction, there is more to be gained by addressing vehicle drivers’
attitudes and skills than dumbing down speed limits to the lowest level
the DfT thinks it can get away with.
When speed limits are reduced below levels which make sense to people,
they tend to ignore them and treat other limits with disrespect. MAG
President Ian Mutch said "For some people there is a seductive
attraction to the idea of ratcheting down speed limits on the assumption
that the slower everyone goes the safer they must be. This logic fails
to recognise reality or to find the best balance between reasonable
expectations for mobility and safety. For motorcyclists, the main causes
of death and injury lie with other vehicle drivers' and poor road
surfaces, the government must deal with these issues and not look for
smokescreens such as a 50mph blanket speed limit."
Further information: Ian Mutch 020 8556 6495 theroad@mag-uk.org
Nich Brown: 01788 570066 nich.brown@mag-uk.org
The Motorcycle Action Group – Protecting motorcycling
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