by Nick Lillitosnlillitos@thekmgroup.co.uk

Any change to set an 80mph speed limit on the M20 needs to be carefully considered, as accidents are a “regular occurrence”.

That's the view of Trudy Dean (Lib-Dem), Kent County Councillor for Malling Central, who has written to the Department for Transport urging caution.

Mrs Dean, who is also chairman of West Malling Parish Council, quoted Kent County Council’s figures on the crash rate of the M20 section between junctions four (West Malling) and eight (Leeds).

They show that in the last five years there were two fatal accidents between J4 and J8. Serious accidents (non fatal) numbered 23 and there were 246 minor ones.

Cllr Dean said: "Hold-ups on the motorway are frequent and commonly bring the traffic to a standstill in Maidstone, the county town which lies south of junctions five, six and seven.”

She added that four large new housing developments were planned in Tonbridge and Malling and two of them were already under way. They will be served by the A228 which joins the M20 at junction 4.

"I ask that you take these points into account when making your choice of pilot areas for increased speeds,” said Mrs Dean in her letter.

The Department of Transport has yet to take a final decision on the proposal. It thinks the current 70mph restriction is out of date because improvements in technology means cars are a lot safer and a faster speed limit might have a positive economic impact.

Any trial would take place on motorways where variable speed limits are currently in place. The M20 has these between junctions 4 and 7 (Detling).
Two years ago it became one of only three motorways in the UK where police can alter the speed vehicles are allowed to travel.