Change to motorway speed limit

[Pinkie15]

See the government are looking to raise the speed limit on motorways to 80.

Anyone think it will actually happen ?

[zrchris]

just seen this on news.....they may as well 70mph is a thing of the past. i think it may happen

[carl747]

Old news mate been looking into it for last 5 years it's worth remembering the motorway speed limit is still classed as a temporary measure

Don't think it will happen

[peteT16]

Nah, don't think it will happen, the road safety brigade will kick off, and it'll just die a death imo.

[smithy1135]

When the speed limit is 70, people drive at 80-90, so upping the speed limit is probably only going to lead people to drive 90-100. Im all for it, but the logic behind it is pretty limited IMO.

[Neilbaker86]

As far as I'm aware, the plan would be to raise the limit to 80mph but enforce it much more strictly to stop people doing 90mph. So at the minute it's offically 70mph and and the police wont do anything until you go past 80mph ish, and they want to change it so they don't do anything until you get past 80mph ish, no doubt spending millions of pounds of tax payers money undertaking various meetings and committees on policy, and then another load of tax payers money 'educating' the public to the change.

[Punx0r]

I pray to the fairies at the bottom of the garden that it will happen.

[Limecat]

I dream of the day when it's a mixture between Germany/Saudi Arabia, no motorway speed limits and no Women on the road.

Speed AND no accidents FTW!

[radddogg]

I dream of the day when it's a mixture between Germany/Saudi Arabia, no motorway speed limits and no Women on the road.

Speed AND no accidents FTW!

QFT

[SubCat001]

Bad idea IMO.

Most congestion on motorways is caused by people trying to drive at 80+mph two feet behind the car in front. Upping the speed limit wont change that, if anything it will make it worse.

Attitudes need to change before the speed limit can be increased. The money would be better spent informing people of the exsistance of the two lanes on their left.

[peteT16]

Yep, the 2 empty lanes to the left of the one people insist on hogging

[russ220]

i cant imagine how it would work on the M42 around solihull, the level of driving is just fail.

if ever i have to use it when its busy i just cruise with the lorries, its actually safer and just as quick as the other lanes, plus you have more room and can keep a constant speed going



to describe how people drive in the other two lanes during busy periods would go something like this:

ACCELERATE ACCELERATE, BRAKE LIGHTS BRAKE LIGHTS, ACCELERATE ACCELERATE, BRAKE LIGHTS BRAKE LIGHTS



you can actually see the other lanes gaining half a car length, braking hard, dropping back half a car length, accelerating again, gaining half a car length, braking hard, dropping back half a car half....and so on

[stefaclese]

There may be a good chance of it happening, after all everywhere else in Europe has a limit of around 80ish. Really did facepalm last night while watching Question Time when people on the panel tried saying you use more fuel at 80mph and Dimbleby claiming 54mph was the optimal mpg speed

[Punx0r]

You do generally use more fuel at higher speed, but increased speed leading to decreased journey times also has an economic benefit, simply because time = money.

Ideally this would be combined with some improvement in driver training. That might be asking a bit much, though. Also increasing the HGV limit on single carriageways from 40 to 50mph would be good. That really would make the roads safer.

[stefaclese]

It is very variable though and depends on so many differing factors that it is ridiculous to make statements like this. Different cars have different drag characteristics, different engines operate most efficiently at different rpm, cars have very different gearing etc etc. If anything I find my car does its optimal consumption cruising at 80mph, north of 90 and it really does drop off (largely down to drag I'd imagine).

[radddogg]

Also increasing the HGV limit on single carriageways from 40 to 50mph would be good. That really would make the roads safer.

I assume you mean by reducing the number of overtaking accident? If so, then you may be missing something. Overtaking a vehicle travelling at 40 is a lot easier and quicker than overtaking one at 50. Also a head on at 50 will have more fatalities than the same at 40. Also, HGVs going 50 on a single carriageway may be more likely to lose control, also the extra width and length will magnify any errors in judgment. Yeah, actually its a sucky idea.

[Din]

Dont care if they do or dont really... wont stop me doing 80 on the motorway when the conditions are right eitherway

[*ASHY*]

i cant imagine how it would work on the M42 around solihull, the level of driving is just fail.

if ever i have to use it when its busy i just cruise with the lorries, its actually safer and just as quick as the other lanes, plus you have more room and can keep a constant speed going



to describe how people drive in the other two lanes during busy periods would go something like this:

ACCELERATE ACCELERATE, BRAKE LIGHTS BRAKE LIGHTS, ACCELERATE ACCELERATE, BRAKE LIGHTS BRAKE LIGHTS



you can actually see the other lanes gaining half a car length, braking hard, dropping back half a car length, accelerating again, gaining half a car length, braking hard, dropping back half a car half....and so on

I think you missed something it's more like:

ACCELERATE ACCELERATE, BRAKE LIGHTS BRAKE LIGHTS, ACCELERATE ACCELERATE, CHANGE LANES LIKE YOUR IN FORMULA ONE, DON'T INDICATE, BRAKE LIGHTS BRAKE LIGHTS, CHANGE LANES LIKE YOUR IN FORMULA ONE, DON'T INDICATE, ACCLERATE ACCELERATE.

It is very variable though and depends on so many differing factors that it is ridiculous to make statements like this. Different cars have different drag characteristics, different engines operate most efficiently at different rpm, cars have very different gearing etc etc. If anything I find my car does its optimal consumption cruising at 80mph, north of 90 and it really does drop off (largely down to drag I'd imagine).

Partly agree, but I think for the most part with most vehicles regardless of gearing it's a case of drag versus speed that 56mph seems to be optimal.

[Punx0r]

56mph seems to be a mythical figure, but I think it simply comes from the old method of measuring fuel consumption.

Different cars have different drag characteristics

Please share with the world if you know of one whose aerodynamic drag decreases with speed! Even with the various idiosyncracies of fuel economy with various engines, I'd be pretty surprised if any car was more efficient at 80mph than 20mph. I'm not trying to be pedantic, but of all the arguments that could be made in favour of a higher speed limit, increased fuel economy has got to be the worst!

I assume you mean by reducing the number of overtaking accident? If so, then you may be missing something. Overtaking a vehicle travelling at 40 is a lot easier and quicker than overtaking one at 50. Also a head on at 50 will have more fatalities than the same at 40. Also, HGVs going 50 on a single carriageway may be more likely to lose control, also the extra width and length will magnify any errors in judgment. Yeah, actually its a sucky idea.

Yes, fewer desparate overtaking manoeuvres. Driving at 40mph in a 60mph limit is just offensive and people *will* overtake posthaste. A truck doing 50-55mph is much more tolerable.

The difference in overtakability of a truck doing 40mph compared to one doing 50mph will be marginal. As will the survivability of a head-on crash. Collisions at free-travelling speed are rare, anyway. I'll buy you a pint if you can find an example of such a collision attributed to a truck doing 50 (which many do) instead of 40.

Which brings me onto your final point: A truck doing 50mph isn't likely to veer out of the control. They don't on dual carriageways or motorways. Or on single carriageways when they choose to break the limit.

[bjrespect]

we all travel to close

90% off us just in here cant react fast enough at 50 never mind 80

70 is fast enough

although i wont lie im all for some foot down action at night

[Limecat]

we all travel to close

90% off us just in here cant react fast enough at 50 never mind 80

70 is fast enough

although i wont lie im all for some foot down action at night

It's clear to me at this moment in time...

...that baby your bird is about to drop isn't yours!

You are clearly a HOMOSEXUAL!

[*ASHY*]

we all travel to close

90% off us just in here cant react fast enough at 50 never mind 80

70 is fast enough

although i wont lie im all for some foot down action at night

Well it might get those Micra drivers up to 69 in the middle lane instead of 59. Will still get X5 drivers completely ignoring the limit either way and tear-assing down the fast lane as usual.

[bjrespect]

ha ha i mean in rush hour and commuting times

plus the disco struggles above 70 lol

and the disco always sits in outside lane foot to(through the rusty floor) floor ha ha

[Pinkie15]

Yes, fewer desparate overtaking manoeuvres. Driving at 40mph in a 60mph limit is just offensive and people *will* overtake posthaste. A truck doing 50-55mph is much more tolerable.

The difference in overtakability of a truck doing 40mph compared to one doing 50mph will be marginal. As will the survivability of a head-on crash. Collisions at free-travelling speed are rare, anyway. I'll buy you a pint if you can find an example of such a collision attributed to a truck doing 50 (which many do) instead of 40.

Have to agree with this. About 10 miles of my commute is national speedlimit single carriageway, there's 3 pretty safe overtaking points, i.e half mile plus straight, no side turnings and no hidden dips. If I'm behind an artic doing 50 -55 then unless these three overtaking zones are empty I'm not too bothered "queuing" behind it. Don't ask me why, but if it's doing 40 I find myself thinking, "come on, come on" I'll get past you in a mo, even in some of the less safe passing places.

Was once about 3 -5 meters from having a 60 mph head-on on this road cos some t1t in a yellow Focus decided he'd overtake a slow moving artic on a blind bend (ironically outside a pet crematorium). Scared the bejeezus out of me, I actually had to stop for about 10 mins in a layby to get over that one.


As others have said though I think the biggest issue on roads is the general poor standard of driving, people hogging the middle/outside lane at 65, seem to not know there's an inside lane, never using indicators (seems especially popular with Peugeot drivers).

I've only driven motorways in France, but lane discipline there seemed soo much better, everyone seemed to pull in after completing their overtake. Then again they were also a lot less busy than a UK m-way. (not to mention the only place I've seen a lass sunbathing topless in a MG-F !!!! (on the cote d'azur m-way))

I've also heard that a lot time brake lights are on isn't necessarily cos someones braking, they're just dabbing the brakes to cancel the cruise control using brake peddle instead of turning it off with the control buttons (come on plod surely that's careless driving).

[Limecat]

ha ha i mean in rush hour and commuting times

plus the disco struggles above 70 lol

and the disco always sits in outside lane foot to(through the rusty floor) floor ha ha

I remember when you used to be cool.

Now you aren't buff, you're bird is gonna drop for your window cleaner/milkman and you drive a glorified pikey bus!

[Punx0r]

Glorified?

I've seen a lass sunbathing topless in a MG-F !!!!

Pics or GTFO

[radddogg]

Pinkie, i dab the brakes to cancel cruise control. Its either that or blind the person in front when the stiff button makes you flash the headlights. Vauxhall owners will know what i mean.

[rovex]

we all travel to close

90% off us just in here cant react fast enough at 50 never mind 80

70 is fast enough

although i wont lie im all for some foot down action at night

It's clear to me at this moment in time...

...that baby your bird is about to drop isn't yours!

You are clearly a HOMOSEXUAL!

Well this homosexual disagrees, 70 is like walking, its painful.

In the 420T 70 was dead boring, it was chomping at the bit wanting to go faster. I get bored, lose interest and wonder off into dream world at 70. In the ZT its not so bad, but still way to slow. If you cant handle 80, you shouldnt be driving. Actually most drivers shouldn't be driving come to think of it.

[radddogg]

we all travel to close

90% off us just in here cant react fast enough at 50 never mind 80

70 is fast enough

although i wont lie im all for some foot down action at night

It's clear to me at this moment in time...

...that baby your bird is about to drop isn't yours!

You are clearly a HOMOSEXUAL!

Well this homosexual disagrees, 70 is like walking, its painful.

In the 420T 70 was dead boring, it was chomping at the bit wanting to go faster. I get bored, lose interest and wonder off into dream world at 70. In the ZT its not so bad, but still way to slow. If you cant handle 80, you shouldnt be driving. Actually most drivers shouldn't be driving come to think of it.

I think you are right in certain situations like late at night or at quieter times, but I think a more sensible approach would be a variable speed limit depending on the traffic and conditions. 50-60 in busy periods up to 80-90 during quieter periods.

[Sheaf]

I cant see that it'd be a good idea myself.

As said, people will just drive even faster and people do just drive too close with the present limits.

Personally I stick to 70(ish) when on the motorway anyway and dont do the normal 80. When on a long journey (which most motorway journeys are) it's just more relaxing that sitting trying to do an extra few mph and having the stress of brake accelerate brake accelerate etc etc.

Plus, I loose maybe 5mpg doing 80 or so, so for the tiny time saving I dont really care.

Straight line speed is boring anyway, I'd rather legally do 60 round a twisty A road than 100 on a motorway, much more fun.

Plus, you'll just end up with people in crappy underbraked cars doing silly speeds just to keep up with the flow of traffic.

[SubCat001]

Well this homosexual disagrees, 70 is like walking, its painful. If you cant handle 80, you shouldnt be driving. Actually most drivers shouldn't be driving come to think of it.

TBH I can't be bother to do more than 60mph on the Motorway these days. The difference in journey times is often minutes and fuel savings reasonable. On top of that I find the experience far more relaxing.

If you cant handle 80, you shouldnt be driving.

TBF it depends on what car you are driving. I've driven cars were 150mph seems almost boring and others were 60mph is hair raising.

[Sheaf]

On top of that I find the experience far more relaxing.

Exactly. Going fast for the sake of it just results in a far less relaxing journey.

[radddogg]

On top of that I find the experience far more relaxing.

Exactly. Going fast for the sake of it just results in a far less relaxing journey.

Getting old!!!!

[Sheaf]

Pretty much.

[mg-richard]

modern diesel engine drivers will be tearing along, its so easy to do 80-90mph in a diesel effortlessly, even a 1.5 kia rio....