§ 26. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now restore the 70 mph speed limit in force before the recent fuel emergency.
§ Mr. MulleyMy hon. Friend will know that the 70 mph limit was restored on motorways last Friday. There is still need for economy in the use of petrol, and for that reason it is not yet possible to restore the 70 mph speed limit on other roads.
§ Mr. WhiteheadMay I congratulate my right hon. Friend on resisting the extensive lobbying for a permanent 50 mph speed limit? Does he agree that the high cost of petrol is likely to be a much greater incentive to voluntary saving by motorists than the limits temporarily enforced during the state of emergency, which grossly overtaxed the police and were in any event widely violated after the first week or so?
§ Mr. MulleyI am much obliged to my hon. Friend. I agree with him that 1257 it would be wrong to abuse this emergency for a drastic change in the level of speed limits.
§ Mrs. KnightWill the right hon. Gentleman confirm whether there was a reduction in the accident rate on the motorways during the 50 mph period?
§ Mr. MulleyYes, I can confirm that the figures for December show that there was a fall of about 9 per cent. We do not have the figures for January and February yet, but in addition to the lower speeds there was a great deal less traffic, particularly during the petrol shortage last December.