Abstract
When analysing road accident statistics, it has been common practice to regards roads having 30 and 40 mph speed limits as being, to a considerable extent, equivalent in urban areas. However, differences appear. An analysis of these differences suggest the need to clarify more precisely what is being differentiated. The urban-rural concept would appear to distinguish macroscopically between town and country, whereas speed limit bands may be more directly related to the dynamic traffic and driving situations.