Local Assembly member speaks out over A40 Speed Limit after serious Road Traffic Accident

4.18.14pm GMT Mon 20th Nov 2006

Michael German AM with local road safety campaigners in Monmouth

Following a serious road traffic accident on the A40 at Monmouth today, local Assembly Member Michael German said: "Every expert will tell you that the higher the speeds on a road the higher the risk of fatalities and injuries in accidents."

He added: "My sympathies go to the families of the people injured. Once is enough, and this accident is one of several in the last couple of years. The A40 is a classic example of where the speed is too high and reducing it to 40mph through Monmouth would be the sensible thing to do."

County Cllr. Phil Hobson, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats on Monmouthshire County Council, said: "This is a section of a major trunk route where local and long distance traffic meet and where heavy goods vehicle mingle with cars. Maintaining the national speed limit is plain crazy. We will continue to campaign to get the speed limit reduced to 40mph."

Local campaigners have been lobbying to get the speed limit reduced form the present 70mph to 40mph since 2003. Several hundred signatures have been collected throughout Monmouth and the surrounding area. The Welsh Assembly Government has yet to state its intention for the speed limit on the A40 through Monmouth.