Shropshire to get new single speed limit policy
A single policy for speed limits is to be introduced across Shropshire in an attempt to cut the number of accidents in the county.
Under the new policy, town and parish councils will be able to raise concerns about roads in their area and highlight improvements they want to see.
But Shropshire Council has warned its budget for the new policy will be just £250,000 this year, compared to £340,000 spent on road safety in 2011.
In the past there have been five different highway policies set by Shropshire Council, covering village speed limits, rural and urban speed limits, vehicle activated signs and road safety within local town planning.
The Government wants local authorities to develop local solutions to traffic and speed management so reducing the extent to which it is involved nationally.
A report to Oswestry town council on Wednesday says road safety can be influenced by highway design and speed management, maintaining the roads and targeting driver behaviour.
It says: "A single road safety policy will result in an annual programme of schemes rather than a predefined list, more flexibility on a site by site basis, a consistent approach county wide, a requirement to demonstrate community support and the opportunity to use local funding."
In Britain the accident rate has dropped over the past 15-20 years, thanks in part to improvements in car technology and safety features.
Shropshire has already seen a larger reduction than nationally. In 2005 there were more than 225 people killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents in Shropshire. By 2011 this had dropped to just under 125 although figures rose slightly in the winter of 2011/12. Shropshire Council's target is for the figure to drop to under 100 by 2017.
The report says: "The total value of prevention of reported road accidents in Shropshire in 2010 was £50,662,100 while reported road accidents are estimated to have cost £11,297,550."
The new policy will see Shropshire Council working with West Mercia police and other organisations. Town and parish councils will be able to submit a prioritised list of up to five road safety concerns to local traffic engineering teams, three times a year.
