Quiet Lanes, Greenways and rural traffic calming
Quiet Lanes and Greenways
Greenways are routes designed for shared use and largely exclude motorised vehicles. They are in and around towns, cities and the countryside. Quiet Lanes are minor rural roads, already lightly trafficked, where extra traffic measures will improve their attractiveness for non-motorised users whilst maintaining access for motorised vehicles.
Rural road safety and traffic calming
Natural England wants to see a vibrant countryside where local character, landscape, and heritage are enhanced and links between people and places are facilitated.
Rural road safety and traffic calming are essential elements to achieving this vision; without safe, well designed rural roads that cater for all their users, the countryside will remain inaccessible to many. We want to see safe rural roads that create a conduit rather than a barrier to accessing and enjoying the countryside, and that complement rather than degrade rural character.
Urban road safety and traffic calming measures undoubtedly work to reduce speeds and accidents but they can also degrade the rural environment, impacting on landscape, local character, views and heritage and urbanising our countryside.
The challenge for Local Highways Authorities is to develop a strategy and a set of measures that address rural road safety but also enhance and conserve the countryside. Many are already working hard to achieve this - below are links to case studies where local practitioners have sought to meet both road saftey and environmental objectives. We would like to see this holistic approach to achieving safety and environmental objectives applied everywhere, not just in designated landscapes, but on every rural road. It is road safety practitioners in Local Highways Authorities, in partnership with their stakeholders, who can lead the development of innovative rural road safety policies and measures that complement our countryside.
Traffic Calming in rural areas- case studies
Latton Village Traffic calming, removal of white lines
Involving communities in enforcement
Reducing collisions with cows, Minchinhampton
Earl Soham Local Safety Scheme
Coddenham 20mph zone
Solar powered vehicle activated signs
Locally sourced oak timber village entry signs
