Reports that the speed limit will be raised to 80mph on motorways to shorten journeys and help boost the economy have been described as "speculation" by the Department for Transport.
A review of road safety is expected to conclude that the increase from the current 70mph limit should be made official, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
The newspaper said there is understood to be a "broad agreement" within the coalition Government and civil servants over the issue, with the only question being the timing of the announcement.
A condition would be likely to be that an 80mph limit would be more strictly enforced, to prevent the usual speed rising to 90mph, the newspaper said. There would also be more 20mph zones in residential areas.
A Department for Transport spokesman described the report as "speculation".
He said: "We need to make sure that we are looking at the right criteria when considering what level speed limits should be set at.
"This means looking at the economic benefits of shorter journey times as well as considering other implications such as road safety and carbon emissions.
"Any proposal to change national speed limits would be subject to full public consultation."
