Speed limit on rural roads to be dropped to 50mph

A plan to lower the speed limit on rural roads has been welcomed by the British Horse Society (BHS) — but the organisation would like the limit dropped even further.

The Department of Transport is looking at changing the speed limit from 60mph to 50mph for “non built-up single-carriageway roads”.

The BHS has been lobbying for reduced speed limits on rural roads to protect riders for some time.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (19 March, ’09)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now