Does anyone else find it madness that winding, often single track country roads are at a speed limit of 60mph? I understand it is partly because it is difficult to enforce any speed limit out on countryside roads, but surely putting a speed limit of 40-50 would be much more appropriate.

The amount of animals I see killed when driving the roads is huge, and there are often accidents where people have been driving fast round blind bends on single track roads.

Are they really?! That's astonishing. I remember going down some roads in the Lake District where I would not want to go over 10 mph, never mind rocketing along at 60 mph. Certain roads in Dartmoor also come to mind, with those stone walls lining the road...

Kingfisher

Hi all

Just back from a fabulous week in East Anglia, saw lots of birds - more about that later though.

I agree that there should be a blanket speed limit of 40 mph on narrow country roads, not only for the safety of other road users, including pedestrians, but for wildlife. Some time ago, I read a very sensible suggestion about this - as most songbirds are used to danger at a maximum of around 40 mph - which is the speed of an attacking sparrowhawk, then they are more likely to get out of the way of vehicles at that speed, ergo, less road kills.

As I drive a LDV Convoy van (our motorhome), I am always very wary on country lanes because of idiots coming the other way at too higher speed to stop in time, cos there's no possibility of me getting out of their way!

Welome back wild canon, looking forward to hearing about the birds!

There should definitely be a lower speed limit on country roads, even if it was impossible to enforce. Some people might not slow down at all, but others would take notice of the speed limit and perhaps realise that those road are very dangerous if you are going too fast.

I'm sure many human lives, as well as other animals, would be saved.

I know some people who will carelessly drive down these windy roads at high speeds because they imagine it is less likely to encounter anything than on a main road.
Unfortunately, road signs are not always enough to make some people stop and think. Perhaps if speed cameras or some other form of tracking device were to be put around these areas?

I have to say I'm against speed cameras on quiet country roads, but in favour of a lower speed limit. If you have a lower speed limit then most people will drop their speeds, even if it is not all the way to the actual speed limit.

I hate to see any animal killed, and people should have the sense to realise that country roads are not safe to drive fast on, but please no more speed cameras! I can't imagine anything more frustrating than driving down an empty country lane a 5mph over the limit and getting 3 points and a fine.

If it saved human and animals lives I wouldn't be against a few speed cameras on country roads - I suspect I'm in a minority though. The main thing is to lower the speed limit first, because I think that would be more beneficial.