Once away from the snarl-ups of urban traffic and the watchful eyes of cameras and police patrols, many drivers think it is their right to open the throttle on country roads.

But the highways that criss-cross the hills and moorland around the Bradford district are not invitations to leave common sense behind. Indeed, country roads can be far more dangerous than those within the city and surrounding towns.

The stretch of Otley Road around Eldwick is a prime example, and one that has claimed three lives in the last few years. It has blind bends and steep drops that can make the unwary motorist lose control - especially if they are travelling at high speeds.

So it will come as a relief to the majority of law-abiding and sensible road users who travel this stretch that new safety measures will soon be in place.

The speed limit will be reduced from 50mph to 30mph. While this might annoy some drivers who like to let rip along this road, it will surely be safer given the sudden bends and changeable terrain.

There will also be double white lines in place to prohibit overtaking on the worst sections of the road, cutting down on the opportunity for head on smashes which can - and do - prove fatal.

Local residents and councillors have been campaigning for such measures for a long time, and it is good to see their perseverance finally paying off.

No doubt there will be many who object to the measures, and might even ignore them. But with the restrictions in place, these selfish drivers can be prosecuted for flouting the law - and it might well save lives into the bargain.