A COMMON sense approach to speed limits is vital, says national breakdown provider Start Rescue as Road Safety Week begins.

"We need to be sensible when restricting speed limits," said Lee Puffett, managing director of Start Rescue. "Where there are proven records of repeat incidents in residential areas, the speed should be reduced to protect all road users, including our recovery agents who are helping motorists every day. Around schools, hospitals, and in towns and villages, it makes sense to lower limits."

Road Safety Week by Brake, the road safety charity, asks "Why do we still think it's okay to speed?"

Mr Puffett added: "We support Road Safety Week because it's never okay to speed. Local councils and residents must work together to find solutions that always keep road safety in mind."

Reduced speed limits in urban areas are proven to lower fatalities and serious injuries - the risk of a fatal pedestrian collision drops from 20 per cent at 30mph to 2.5 per cent at 20mph according to RoSPA, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

In 2021/2022, UK police forces issued more than 2.3 million Fixed Penalty Notices for speeding offences, the highest number on record.

"We want to see everyone using the roads safely and in safety," said Mr Puffett. "Lower speed limits should be considered when the road narrows and twists. There is no point introducing a 20mph limit on a wide open country road, so a sensible evidence-based approach is required, not necessarily a blanket ‘one size fits all' method."

Start Rescue has a 4.4-star rating on Trustpilot, a five-star Defaqto rating and has achieved Which? Recommended Provider status for five years running. Start Rescue also has a 97 per cent recommendation rate from customers helped at the roadside.

Launched in 2009, Start Rescue is an integral part of the nation's fourth largest breakdown and recovery service, Call Assist, which now has more than two million UK customers.