A HALF a million-pound funding boost will help improve safety on roads across East Sussex.

The money, part of East Sussex County Council’s capital programme, will be used to assess all A and B roads to ensure speed limits are appropriate, and identify areas where they could be reduced.

Over the next three years, the project will see more than 25 stretches of road benefit from speed limit reductions or measures that will increase the effectiveness of existing speed limits.

Areas that could benefit from additional work will be identified using real-time speed data from GPS trackers fitted in modern vehicles, recent speed surveys and permanent vehicle counters.

Potential improvements include extensions or reduction in speed limits, Vehicle Activated Signs, road surface treatments, and new signage and lining.

Cllr Claire Dowling, lead member for transport and environment, said: “This funding will enable us to carry out a systematic assessment of the main road network across East Sussex and put together an evidence-based plan of how we can ensure speed limits are effective.

“It is important that we use the funding where we can have the greatest impact.  The outcome of the assessments will be carefully considered to allow us to prioritise schemes which will be implemented across the county.”

The Speed Management Programme funding was agreed at the Lead Member for Transport and Environment meeting on Monday, March 13 as part of the county council’s capital programme towards Local Transport Improvements.  The £500,000 funding will cover three years.

Ends.