The UK Government Transport White Paper of 1998 included a commitment to review speed policy. This paper discusses the review, which was launched on 23 October 1998. The review aims to establish how best speed policy can reflect government objectives relating to environment, economy, and quality of life, while reducing the numbers of people killed and injured on British roads. Its challenges are to establish what vehicle speeds are necessary to meet these objectives, the suitability and acceptability of the measures needed to achieve them, and the role of speed limits here. The first stage of the review is to establish relevant issues through consultation with the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) and other government departments, and, at the same time, review existing research on traffic speed and its effects and analyse current practice and legislation. The second stage will involve people and organisations that can offer an informed opinion. The third stage will draw conclusions and prepare a report for Ministers. Speed limits pose various problems; for example, people demand lower speed limits, but tend to exceed them when driving. In urban areas, consideration needs to be given to what vehicle speeds are appropriate, and in rural areas to what vehicle speeds are desired. The possible role of enforcement in changing driver attitudes and behaviour could be studied.
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