Speed Limits

HC Deb 02 July 1975 vol 894 cc1457-8

16. Mr. Alan Clark

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied with the working of the three-tier speed limit.

Dr. Gilbert

The effect of the present speed limits is being closely studied and I shall make a statement before the order imposing them expires on 30th November.

Mr. Clark

Does not the Minister agree that the lower two of these limits are now almost universally ignored, that the effect on fuel saving, which at the time of their introduction was admitted to be very small, is now virtually non-existent and that the only effect of these restrictions is to exacerbate the relations of the motorist with the police and to increase the work load of the police?

Dr. Gilbert

Certainly the various points which the hon. Gentleman makes fall to be considered when the question of renewing the order arises. I would not accept the hon. Gentleman's contention that the limits are totally ignored. There are cases of police prosecution, certainly, but I think that the generality of motorists accept the need for energy conservation. If these limits have had the effect of reducing average speeds by only, say, 5 mph, we shall expect to have got an annual saving of about 50 million gallons of petrol.

Mr. MacCormick

Is the Minister aware that when I recently questioned his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on this subject I elicited the information that throughout the seven crofting counties of Scotland there is less than one mile of dual carriageway road? It seems a little restrictive on the people of these sparsely populated areas, where the roads are not busy, to be restricted to a speed of 50 mph all the time.

Dr. Gilbert

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman will accept that it would be difficult to impose speed limits for Scotland which were different from those for other parts of the country.

Mr. Fox

I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his new position—an inspired move, at this time, from the Treasury. Does he accept that the improvement in the road casualty figures for 1974 is attributable mainly to the reduction in the volume of traffic rather than the imposition of these limits?

Dr. Gilbert

I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman's remarks. I certainly draw inspiration in my present position. However, among the factors affecting accident rates must be the level of vehicle speed, and that in turn must be affected by the price of petrol as well as by speed limits.