People and groups in East Anglia are being asked on their views on lowering speed limits on rural and urban roads to help save lives.

People and groups in East Anglia are being asked on their views on lowering speed limits on rural and urban roads to help save lives.

The Department of Transport has launched a three-month consultation on guidance on how reducing speed limits can save lives and improve the quality of people's lives.

The consultation is examining rural and urban speed limits and will be used to help local authorities set speed limits.

In the rural speed management section of the consultation papers is a proposal to bring in 40mph limits for single carriage roads where there are many bends, junctions or accesses, substantial development or a number of vulnerable road users.

It could also cover national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and minor rural roads.

For high quality strategic A and B roads with few bends, junctions or accesses a speed limit of 60mph is recommended.

A 5omph limit is suggested for lower quality A and B roads that have relatively high number of bends, junctions or accesses.

Rural roads present the highest risk accounting for 68pc of fatalities in 2010. Nearly half of these deaths took place on roads with a 60 mph limit.

In urban areas the government suggests 20mph limits can be in areas where 'pedestrian and cyclist movements are high, such as around schools, shops, markets, playgrounds and other areas, where vehicle movement is not the primary function'.

The consultation ends on October 5.

It is not looking at national limits of 30mph on street lit roads, 60mph on single carriageway roads and 70mph on dual carriageways and motorways.

The consultation can be found www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-32