Road speed limit 60mph change on 200,000 miles of England roads update as DfT issues response

Road speed limit 60mph change on 200,000 miles of England roads update as DfT issues responseThe Department for Transport is exploring plans that could see speed limits changed amid concerns about accident rateCommentsLifestyleBen Hurst13:55, 16 Apr 2026View ImageRural roads in the UK have a default 60mph speed limit but this could change due to safety fears(Image: Getty)The Department for Transport has provided an update regarding proposals to implement a reduced speed limit across nearly 200,000 miles of English roads. A substantial plan is presently under consideration for the UK's road network concerning their classifications and whether modifications are necessary.‌Latest figures reveal motorists are six times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on rural roads compared to motorways. The standard speed limit stands at 60mph, often on extremely narrow and twisting roads, which has sparked safety concerns for horse riders as well as motorists and cyclists.‌In a fresh Parliamentary written question, Liberal Democrat Dr Roz Savage asked 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 response, Lilian Greenwood, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Department for Transport, yesterday (April 15) clarified that guidance issued to local authorities was being revised – while also confirming that new national guidelines were under consideration.She stated: "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 ha...