Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of national speed limit guidelines in the context of changes to (a) traffic volumes and (b) developments in vehicle (i) technology and (ii) safety.

The Department for Transport has not assessed the adequacy of national speed limit guidelines in light of changes to (a) traffic volumes and (b) developments in vehicle (i) technology and (ii) safety. However, as part of the Road Safety Strategy (RSS), it has committed to publishing a new edition of the best practice guidance “Setting Local Speed Limits” and updating separate guidance on the use of speed and red-light cameras, following research and consultation.

The RSS will build on published analysis to improve understanding of rural roads by breaking them down into subcategories. This will help to target safety interventions more effectively, ensuring resources are spent where they can have the greatest impact.