The proposals went before the Highways Policy Development Group yesterday when councillors were due to decide whether to support neighbouring East Midlands councils which are pushing to lower the national speed limit on all single carriageway roads.

Concerns have been raised about the cost of putting up new signs on large stretches of road following a review of limits if there are redesignations and the national limit were to remain at 60mph.

The Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership has welcomed a reduction to 50mph across the county's entire network where the current limit is 60mph.

However, former traffic police officer Keith Peat, from the Lincolnshire branch of the Association of British Drivers, believes the status quo should be maintained.

He said: "By doing nothing they will save an awful lot of taxpayers' money.

"But speed is not the main killer or accident cause – it is because of this one trick policy pony that deaths on Lincolnshire's roads are higher than 14 years ago."

Mr Peat believes proposed changes would be fuelled by concerns about money.

He said: "It's really all about economics and shareholders.

"It is far too costly to have more police patrols, which are the only effective way of managing accident causes. Simply driving above an arbitrary number on a board is not one of those causes of accidents."