Who knows how dangerous a road is? Probably the people who use it every day and live near it.

So we welcome the Highways Agency’s u-turn on the A31.

Just three weeks ago they announced the busy commuter route was not sufficiently dangerous to warrant a reduction in the speed limit.

Ringwood Town Council had pressed for a lowering of the speed limit from 70mph to 50mph between Picket Post and the Ashley Heath roundabout.

And more than 1,000 people had signed a petition calling for this measure and other safety features.

Now the Highways Agency say they will review the speed limit.

The death of 16-year-old Jade Clark just days after the Highways Agency made their initial announcement may have sparked the change of heart.

Let’s hope the Highways Agency can see that as the Spur Road has a 50mph limit it would just be an extension of that.