Residents of rural villages in Buckinghamshire are renewing calls for a reduced speed limit on country lanes, arguing that the current national speed limit of 60mph poses significant safety risks for pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders. The campaign follows numerous reported near misses and collisions on narrow, single-track roads lacking pavements, where residents and visitors must share space with fast-moving vehicles.

Local residents describe daily hazards, with one saying her husband has had to take refuge in hedgerows while running to avoid approaching cars. The same resident recounted a recent meeting with a traffic officer prompted by community concerns. Despite a packed village hall and multiple accounts of accidents and near collisions, the officer reportedly dismissed calls to lower the speed limit, citing the belief that drivers do not travel at 60mph on these lanes and highlighting the cost and logistical challenges of changing signed speed limits.

The resident expressed frustration that while comprehensive 20mph zones are enforced on urban roads such as Cromwell Road in west London—where wide carriageways and protected pedestrian pathways exist—rural areas remain excluded from similar protections. She questioned the disparity in road safety measures that leave rural children and residents vulnerable compared to their urban counterparts.

These concerns extend beyond locals to the many walkers and young people who use these roads to access popular countryside areas. During the Duke of Edinburgh Award season, groups of teenagers were observed navigating rural lanes where speed limits abruptly increase to the national standard after certain points, raising safety concerns for these unsupervised young participants.

The issue gained renewed attention after Phil Jones, who played a leading role in establishing Wales’ blanket 20mph speed limit policy, contributed to a review recommending similar measures for England’s country lanes. While the 20mph scheme in Wales faced criticism from some quarters, it is expected to find support among residents of English rural communities.

Incidents cited by residents underscore the risks: a young girl’s pony was fatally injured by a fast-moving vehicle on a Surrey lane in June, and a delivery driver reportedly crashed into a neighbor’s car on a narrow lane while traveling at speeds up to 60mph. In the latter case, the driver’s speed was legally permissible but considered unsafe by local standards.

Local councils have been urged to reconsider speed regulations on these roads, but so far, responses have been limited. Officials argue that changing speed limits involves costly surveys and infrastructure upgrades, and that driver behavior does not typically reach the maximum permitted speed.

For many rural residents, the absence of pavements and the necessity of using narrow lanes to connect footpaths and bridleways make the current speed limits untenable. The ongoing debate highlights tensions between safety concerns and resource constraints faced by local authorities in managing rural traffic.