The government is issuing new guidance aimed at improving safety on rural roads, including proposing lower speed limits and physical road changes to protect cyclists. Under current rules, many country lanes are derestricted and can be driven up to the national speed limit of 60 mph. The guidance would reduce speed limits on these rural roads to 20 mph.
Alongside the proposed speed reduction, the government tells local councils to make infrastructure adjustments. Reported measures include narrowing roads and installing bollards, with the intent of improving separation between vehicles and vulnerable road users, particularly cyclists. The guidance is directed at councils, which would need to implement any changes through local decision-making and roadwork planning.
The proposal reflects a shift toward using both speed management and traffic-calming designs to reduce risk on rural routes. The reports do not specify a timetable for adoption or quantify expected outcomes, but they describe the package as part of a broader approach to cycling safety.
