Speed Limits

Mr. Lidington
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to allow a local highways authority to decide not to install a national speed limit sign at the end of a lower speed limit zone if (a) such a decision can be justified by the rural nature of the road and (b) the road concerned is a cul-de-sac.

Dr. Ladyman
Local highway authorities have the power to set speed limits at an appropriate level. All changes of speed limit are required by law to be clearly signed to allow drivers ample time to adjust their speed accordingly.

Drivers are required to know the speed limit in force at any given time and the Department would not wish to mislead them into thinking a lower speed limit was in force, irrespective of the circumstances. It is also important to retain national consistency.