Speed limits on seven roads where 17 people have been killed are being cut to 50mph.

Oxfordshire County Council has ordered the cut from 60mph to 50mph in a safety drive on the B4027 from Holton to Islip, A329 from Milton Common to Thame, B4012 from Thame to Postcombe, B4011 from Ambrosden to Borstall, B4437 from Charlbury to Wootton, A417 from Faringdon to Wantage, and A361 from Shilton to Lechlade.

During the past five years, there have been 17 fatalities on seven stretches, including five on the A361 between Bradwell Grove and Lechlade.

Jenny Koester, 14, died after being knocked down by a van just yards from her home.

The Faringdon Community College pupil was killed after getting off the school bus on the A417 near Faringdon in January, 2004.

Her father Glyn said last night: "I welcome this new speed limit. But it will only make a difference if drivers cut their speed, and I urge all drivers to do so."

An inquest heard that, before the accident, the van driver reduced his speed from 60mph to 40mph on the stretch of road which had a 60mph limit. The driver was not charged with any offence.

David Robertson, the council's cabinet member for transport, said: "Police and road safety officers have recommended safety limits for these roads which all have a history of serious and fatal accidents.

"We want drivers to slow down, so that if they do have an accident, it will not be as serious as those in the past. We know 50mph speed limits reduce accidents. Last year, we had a high number of accidents in Oxfordshire and the causes of many of those were down to speed."

Research conducted by highways officers has shown a 30 per cent reduction in accidents on other routes where 50mph speed limits have been introduced.

Anthony Kirkwood, who compiles Oxfordshire's road accident statistics, said the first 50mph speed limit was introduced in the county in 1989.

He added: "There are now about 30 50mph speed limits in place across Oxfordshire. The general picture is that they certainly work and, in some cases, provide extremely good reductions in the number of accidents."

Formal public consultation on the proposed speed limits was carried out between December 15 last year and January 12.

The Association of British Drivers is opposed to 50mph limits.

Spokesman Hugh Blaydon said: "I do not want to be restricted by a 50mph sign on a decent stretch of road in the early hours of the morning when there is no traffic and perfectly good driving conditions."

Last year, 68 people were killed in crashes on Oxfordshire's roads - almost as many as for the previous two years combined.