The vast majority (79%) of people in the UK would like to see speeds on single-lane rural roads reduced from 60mph when they pass through villages or hamlets, according to a new Cycling UK survey conducted by YouGov show that close to.

Support for calmer speeds was high across all demographic groups (67-90%) in UK adults, supporting calls from Cycling UK, Living Streets, the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS) and the British Horse Society to reduce speeds on some rural roads to create a safer rural network.

The survey also found that 78% of respondents supported speed being reduced on narrow and winding roads. Roughly 8 in 10 (78%) of those who supported this reduction stated that speed limits should be cut ‘by at least half' (down to 30-10mph) when passing through rural communities.

It also found that support for calmer speeds was even stronger with women and older people, with 86% of women wanting slower rural traffic through villages and hamlets compared to 71% of men. Similar figures were seen for reductions on narrow and winding roads, with support from 85% of women and 71% of men.

Results showed that 90% of over-65s supported lower limits on rural roads in villages, compared to 67% of people aged 18 to 24, with 86% of older people and 68% of younger people supporting the same reduction on narrow and winding roads.

With the Government's Road Safety Strategy, published earlier this year, committing to reducing fatalities on rural roads, Cycling UK has stated that it hopes this ‘new evidence of public support' will provide the Government with ‘the confidence it needs to progress this immediately'.

Sarah Mitchell, chief executive of Cycling UK, said: ‘These findings demonstrate the overwhelming public support for calmer rural speeds. They should give the government the confidence to move forward and ensure that different speed limits apply on different types of rural roads. It's what people want, and it will make all our journeys and communities safer.

‘The Government's Road Safety Strategy sets out a welcome target to reduce the appalling number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 65% by 2035 but achieving that target requires immediate action. It's unacceptable that rural roads account for 60% of road deaths and half of all cyclist deaths. Ensuring we have calmer speeds on roads manifestly unsuitable for a 60mph limit is something the Government should expedite, and few road safety interventions have this level of public support.'

Catherine Woodhead, chief executive of Living Streets, said: ‘Slower speeds save lives. If someone is struck by a vehicle at 60mph they have a 10% chance of survival. This increases with every mile driven slower.

‘Through Living Streets' work with schools and communities, we know that unsafe speeds in rural areas put people off walking, including stopping children from walking to school. Where roads pass through villages, a 20mph speed limit would save lives and increase the number of families who can enjoy the many benefits of an active start to the school day – that's a win-win.'