Dozens of rural speed limits could be chopped

Dozens of rural A and B roads across Oxfordshire could have their speed limits reduced as part of a council review.

Oxfordshire County Council said 60 roads could see lower limits over the next year as part of its Vision Zero scheme - which aims to end road deaths in the county.

It comes after the council reduced 60mph speed limits on four roads near Witney to 20mph over road safety fears for "injury or death" amid "massively" increased traffic.

Gareth Epps, the authority's transport chief, said the review was about "making sure speed limits are safe and appropriate" across the county.

"Oxfordshire's last major A and B road speed limit review was carried out 15 years ago, so this review is much needed," he explained.

Changes already made as part of the review include lowering national speed limit sections to 50mph or 40mph.

It has also seen other measures including junction changes implemented, and is separate from the council's Quiet Lanes scheme.

The county council said interested parties, including Thames Valley Police, would be consulted on the proposals later this month.

Members of the public will then be able to offer their opinions on the 60 proposed changes later this year.

Epps said: "Every death is one too many."

He added that recent government statistics showing that the number of serious and fatal collisions in Oxfordshire were falling had "strengthened our resolve to push on and make conditions safer on more of our rural roads".

The review follows large speed limit decreases that were approved for the villages of Fordwells and Asthall Leigh, near Witney, last week.

Epps ratified the changes following support for the decrease from local residents.

During a public consultation, one said: "In the last few years the volume, size and significantly the speed of the vehicles passing through has increased enormously."

"On many occasions the speed of some vehicles would cause serious injury or death if they were to strike a resident walking along," they added.

Another said the changes were "long overdue".