The UK’s speed limits are under scrutiny, with a recent study finding that 60 per cent of drivers want the 60mph limit lowered on rural roads. The study, conducted by Parkers.co.uk, found that half of the respondents who wanted the limit reduced suggested trimming it to 50mph, while the rest wanted it slashed to 40mph.
To understand the motivation behind these attitudes, the study asked readers about the roads they feel safest driving on. 43 per cent said they feel the safest on the motorway, while 29 per cent preferred urban roads. Rural roads were polled as being the least safe by a very slim margin, with 28 per cent of respondents saying they felt most comfortable on them.
Rural Road Safety Concerns
Accident statistics from the Department of Transport (DfT) lend further merit to the sentiments expressed in the study. In 2025, 34 per cent of all collisions – and 52 per cent of fatal collisions – were caused by excessive speed. Rural roads are the second most dangerous in the UK, with almost 12,000 people killed or seriously injured on them in 2025.
The data also shows that the problem is more complicated than just lowering the speed limit. A table comparing accident severity against the speed limit of the road the collision occurred on shows that there were far more casualties on 20mph and 30mph roads than there were on 50mph and 60mph roads.
Improving Rural Road Safety
The Parkers study asked respondents what they thought would be the best solution to improving safety on rural roads. Around 30 per cent called for better maintenance, while 30 per cent said reducing speed limits would be the best solution. A significant 36 per cent of respondents said better driver education would solve the safety challenges on rural roads.
According to Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and external communications at IAM RoadSmart, drivers should remember that 60mph is a limit, not a target, and adjust their speed to conditions and hazards. Jack Cousens, head of policy for The AA, supports targeted rural speed limit reductions, but only if data can prove an area is more prone to accidents.
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The National Police Chief’s Council also emphasized the importance of personal responsibility for safety, saying that every road user must take into account factors such as the weather, road surface, visibility, and other road users when deciding on an appropriate speed. By driving safely for the conditions, drivers can help reduce the risk of being involved in a collision and make the roads safer for everyone.
In countries like Finland and Sweden, driver education has been proven to work in reducing accident rates. Their driving tests are designed to raise entire nations of skilled drivers, requiring learners to prove an understanding of how to read rural road surfaces and avoid wildlife. This approach could be beneficial in the UK, where drivers are willing to resist blunt-force approaches to improving road safety.
A record 400,000 drivers signed a petition protesting the introduction of a blanket 20mph urban speed limit in Wales, showing that British drivers are willing to resist such approaches. The problems start when drivers take liberties with the roads they’re designed to control, rather than the speed limits themselves being the issue. The Department of Transport’s accident data is damning, with 60mph roads being the deadliest in the UK, but tackling the matter with sharper tools, such as improving driver education, may be the most sensible way to reduce accident rates.
The Department for Transport will need to consider the findings of the study and the accident statistics when deciding on the best course of action to improve rural road safety. With 60 per cent of drivers wanting the 60mph limit lowered, it’s clear that something needs to be done to address the concerns of rural road users.
Council Authority to Adjust Rural Speed Limits
The Road Safety Strategy lets local councils lower speed limits where safety benefits are shown. Rural routes could be included if collision numbers have risen. Councils must provide evidence of expected crash reductions before a change is approved.
