HIGHWAY bosses are facing calls to impose a 50mph speed limit on one of Hampshire busiest roads.

The call to cut the limit on the “dangerous” A31 dual carriageway comes after accident figures have been revealed.

Councillors in the New Forest will decide today whether to demand a reduction from the 70mph limit currently in place on the A31 between Picket Post and St Leonards, near Ringwood.

It comes just months after recovery vehicle driver Terry Booth was killed on the road at Poulner Hill.

It follows new statistics showing that more than 60 accidents took place on the busy three-mile stretch in only two and a half years.

Now New Forest District councillors will debate whether they should move for a reduction in the speed limit to improve safety on the route. Cllr Michael Thierry, who tabled the proposal, said residents in his Ringwood ward had long called for action.

He said: “I think I would classify it as an extremely dangerous stretch of road.

“It is not an unreasonable request to ask whether we should now be looking at 50 mph from Picket Post. I feel that it is a motion worth bringing to the council – it would make that road safer. Without any doubt at all, speed has been significant in some of the accidents.”

Roadside technician Terry Booth was recovering a broken down Peugeot 306 in June when the vehicle was in collision with a Chrysler Voyager. The 58-year-old died instantly.

Highways Agency bosses recorded 63 crashes along the section of road from July 2005 to December 2007 including one fatality and seven crashes classed as serious.

Moves to reduce the speed limit have been welcomed by Hampshire-based motoring group, the AA – though they also added a note of caution.

Spokesman Andrew Howard said: “If you are going to do it, you should apply new speed limits only to the bits that really need it and make sure that the reason why it is implemented is made clear to the driver.”

The Highways Agency says it would only be part of a wider consultation process if they were asked to reduce the limit.

Members of New Forest District Council are due to discuss making the request at a full meeting this afternoon.

Daily Echo: New Forest Council map showing recent accidents on the busy A31 near Picket Post. New Forest Council map showing all the accidents on the A31 between Picket Post and St Leonards near Ringwood