Revised speed limits on cards

A key element of the changes is more flexibility for local decision-making, and a wider range of factors will now be considered.

According to the county council, the changes will particularly benefit rural areas, and allow county councillors greater flexibility when taking decisions on local concerns.

The guidelines have been approved by Cllr Tex Pemberton, the county cabinet member for highways and transport, who said the criteria for West Sussex went further than a guidance note to local authorities published last year by the Department for Transport.

"There has been concern that the old criteria were too rigid and did not enable special circumstances to be taken into account," he said.

"These would include sites with a persistent history of injury accidents or the needs of vulnerable road users such as the elderly, disabled, children, cyclists and equestrians."

The guidelines will be used by the county council's network of county local committees when they take decisions about possible changes to speed limits in the areas they cover.

They could lead to more reductions from 60mph to 50mph on A and B roads or down to 40mph on minor rural roads, particularly where there is a history of road casualties. Further changes to speed limits may also be possible in rural villages, according to the county council.

As part of a national requirement, the county council is reviewing the speed limit on all its A and B roads, with any changes due to be implemented by 2011.

Cllr Pemberton said: "This work has already started, and we will be reviewing these roads on a priority basis starting with those routes with the highest casualty rates."