New transport minister backs 80mph speed limit

Date: 20/10/2011

The government's proposed 80mph motorway speed limit has received backing from the new transport secretary Justine Greening.

MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields, Ms Greening has recently taken over the role from Philip Hammond, who has been appointed to the role of defence secretary.

She said: "The 70 mile an hour speed limit has been in force for a long, long time. A lot has changed in road management and vehicle safety and vehicle technology," the Daily Mail reports.

The current limit was set in 1965, when transport technology was not as advanced as it is today, and 75 per cent more people were killed on the roads every year.

Upgrading the motorway speed limit was first discussed last month, with a consultation on the matter scheduled for later this year. It is hoped that the new speed system can be implemented in 2013.

Along with plans to increase the motorway speed limit the government also wants to restrict drivers in many urban and built up areas to no more than 20mph.