Chief Minister Howard Quayle has not ruled out the introduction of a national speed limit in the future.

The current policy is not for a national speed limit, but that will be reconsidered as part of an overall review of road safety.

Mr Quayle was asked in Tynwald this week to outline the policy basis for derestricted roads in the island.

He said: ’The Department of Infrastructure’s traffic speed management policy was brought into place following a public consultation undertaken in 2007 on the department’s proposal to introduce an all-island national maximum speed limit.

’As a result of that consultation, policy regarding derestricted road states that a road will remain derestricted unless a road safety issue that can be addressed by the introduction of a speed limit is identified.’

He added: ’This policy was reconfirmed in 2012 but will be reviewed as we progress the road safety strategy that was approved by Tynwald last year.’

Kate Lord-Brennan MLC pointed out the government’s commitment to tackling climate change and said higher speeds generally meant higher emissions. She added that travelling by bicycle might be ’more appealing and less intimidating’ if there was a national speed limit.

’Speed significantly increases the chance of being injured or killed in a collision,’ she said.

The Chief Minister acknowledged Mrs Lord-Brennan’s comment but added: ’We went out to the public on this very topic, on the Department of Infrastructure proposals to introduce an all-island national maximum speed limit.

’A clear majority of 58% indicated that they would not support the introduction of a maximum speed limit. Based upon the feedback received, the department decided not to introduce an all-island speed limit.’

In terms of emissions, he said the best method of keeping them down was to maintain a steady speed, but that was not practical on the island’s roads.

He reiterated the policy would be reviewed as party as progress was made on the road safety strategy.