Speeding motorists are striking fear into the hearts of country dwellers, a new survey has found.

Paul Hepworth

The Rural Traffic Fear Survey, compiled by the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), found 65 per cent of people felt threatened by traffic, either all or some of the time, while 91 per cent of people called for country lane speed limits to be cut.

The CPRE is now calling for the Government to introduce powers for local authorities to designate "quiet lanes" for walkers, horse riders and cyclists, reduce country lane speed limits to 40mph and 20mph through villages, and for all rural local authorities to tackle traffic in the countryside.

"People's activities and freedom are being curtailed. The chance to walk, cycle or ride along a country lane without fear is being lost," said Paul Hamblin, CPRE's senior transport campaigner.

Catriona Cook, of the British Horse Society, who once had a minor accident when her horse lashed out at a speeding car, said:

"I think it's great, although all these things have got to be policed."

Paul Hepworth, press officer for the Cyclists Touring Club, North Yorkshire Area, expressed a similar view.

"I can see some enforcement problems, it's up to people to observe speed limits," he said. Mr Hepworth, pointed out that SUSTRANS, the Bristol-based company, was building a network of cycle lanes across the country, linking minor roads together.

A total of 1,022 people across England were questioned for the survey earlier this year.

A large number of respondents, 72 per cent, called for the creation of "quiet lanes", a suggestion met with some enthusiasm by the Ramblers.

"I think many country lanes are no-go areas for walkers and riders," said David Leyshon, North Yorkshire area footpath secretary.

"It's time walkers and riders were able to use these roads in safety," he continued. He added that local authorities had, over the years, taken bends out of country roads, making them faster.

Coun Peter Sowray, chairman of environmental services at North Yorkshire County Council, saw the benefits of council's being allowed to set speed limits.

"This is a national decision, the Government has got to introduce the legislation. We would be interested in introducing a 20mph speed limit in certain places, such as outside schools, although I think it would be difficult for the police to implement them," he said.

Geoff Mackley, the campaigns secretary for the North Yorkshire Branch of the CPRE, agreed with the survey results.

"The CPRE believe walking and going to school and shopping should be done on specially-built paths away from roads, especially with the geography in North Yorkshire where market towns often have large numbers of satellite villages nearby. We constantly campaign to reduce speeds on country roads and reduce the number of journeys people make because 75 per cent of car journeys are under five miles," he said.

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