AS matters stand, the speed limits on Island roads are a mixture of the sensible, the acceptable and the downright idiotic.

The upper limit of 40 mph is entirely appropriate – even if it makes something of a nonsense of Porsche or Ferrari ownership – but it can seem as if other limits have been assigned by lottery.

In some country lanes little more than one vehicle wide it is permissible to drive at 40 mph, but some stretches of what passes for the open road in Jersey have 30 mph limits.

Against this background, the review of speed limits carried out by four States Members and now in the hands of Transport Minister Mike Jackson was without doubt timely and appropriate.

In essence, the recommendations following from the review simplify the present situation, retaining the maximum of 40 mph and suggesting a 30 mph limit for urban areas and a 20 mph limit for housing estates, other residential areas and green lanes.

Deputy Daniel Wimberley, meanwhile, would like to take matters even further, urging the States to opt for a 20 mph limit for all urban areas.

This might be anathema to anyone unable to curb the boy racer instinct, but it does promise one tremendous benefit. Crash statistics gathered over many years indicate that pedestrians involved in traffic accidents are far more likely to be severely injured or killed by vehicles travelling at 30 mph than at 20 mph.

In spite of favouring the lower limit for all urban areas, Deputy Wimberley is in agreement with the recent review over the issue of green lanes, saying that their limit should be increased from 15 mph to 20 mph.

There is sense in this proposal, in as much as it is easier to drive at 20 mph than 15 mph and, therefore, it is likely that the higher limit would be observed by more motorists.

However, the counter-argument that driving at 15 mph involves a greater level of concentration and is, accordingly, more appropriate for zones where pedestrians, cyclists and riders should take precedence, also smacks of good sense.

Although Transport are now considering the speed limit review – and, no doubt, Deputy Wimberley’s dissenting view – the department is eager to hear more from the public.

This is as it should be. All Islanders are road-users and, as a consequence, should have the right to air their opinions on the speed limit issue.

With another three weeks available to register a view, there is still time to make an impact on a policy that will affect us all.