A REVIEW of speed limits on the county’s main roads needs to get a move on ahead of new government targets to cut collision and accident numbers, a key Herefordshire Council committee has heard.

Among ideas put to the environment scrutiny committee are 30mph being the norm through villages, 20mph in residential estates and more speed indicator display (SID) signs installed on town and parish council advice.

But members said that a 2011 target for reviewing speed limits on A and B roads was “too generous”. Instead, the committee called all 50mph limit roads to be reviewed by August this year at the latest, and 30mph roads by at least the end of the year.

The council was already looking at a review of road speeds ahead of government guidelines announced earlier this month. These guidelines – which set 10 year safety targets and tough new measures to cut road deaths alone by at least a third – are broadly similar to evidence presented to the scrutiny committee.

A 30mph limit through villages, for instance, is now a national policy priority. Current council policy has supported such a limit, but subject to criteria being met.

Speed management is an essential element of the council’s road safety strategy, as outlined in the Local Transport Plan. The council investigates requests for limits against set criteria used to determine their deterrent potential.