Let's face it, escaping the rigours of riding in the town or city is a frequent desire, and unfortunately a less frequent reality. But when we do break free from the built up surroundings all too often illusions are shattered on peaceful country lanes barely wide enough to accommodate a car.

Stuart Wilson's concerns are such that he's thrown his weight behind a campaign in Norfolk to see these country lanes made safer, by very simple means indeed...

---

Country Lanes were not built for speed, rather they were constructed originally for horse and cart. This was the mode of transport when the vast network of narrow country lanes developed; people say that they are a single car width but the reality is that they are cart width and were designed and constructed with that in mind.

It didn't matter that there were high hedges, blind corners and hill summits as speed was simply not an issue. Today, however, these self same lanes are host to the motor vehicle which is capable of infinitely faster speeds and human nature being what it is they will be driven inappropriately if there is no restriction or sanction.

Such law as there is applies the national speed limit of 60mph for non-dual carriageways to such roads except for short streches through some villages if they are lucky. Some take this as a green light to drive at a higher than safe speed. The only sanction is the option that the Police have to charge people with careless or dangerous driving if their speed is excessive to the prevailing conditions. However this usually only happens after an accident when it may be too late to save innocent people from injury or death.