Motorway speed limit could be raised to 80mph

[Pyscho_Si]

Speed limits on the motorway could be increased to 80mph in a bid to increase productivity, Philip Hammond, the transport secretary, has suggested.

Mr Hammond said that safety might no longer be the sole consideration in judging how fast cars can go and that gains to the economy from shorter journey times should also be taken into account.
Britain's maximum speed limit has been 70mph since 1965 and is lower than most in continental Europe.

Mr Hammond, who drives a Jaguar XJ saloon said: "We need to do this on a pretty rigorous cost-benefit basis. At the moment there are a clear set of criteria for making these decisions. Perhaps we ought to ask if we are using the right set of criteria."

There were 132 deaths on British motorways in 2009, the last year for which full figures are available. In France and Italy the maximum speed limit is 81mph. In Ireland, Spain and Portugal it is 75mph.

Mr Hammond has also signalled he will address the issue of fuel prices in next month's Budget.

(Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8350157/Motorway-speed-limit-could-be-raised-to-80mph.html)

 

[[TW]Fox]

Mr Hammond has also signalled he will address the issue of fuel prices in next month's Budget.

Yea, by 'postponing' a duty rise, nice one.

Or perhaps introducing a 'stabiliser' to 'stabilise' the price at the level it is now.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Yea, by 'postponing' a duty rise, nice one.

Or perhaps introducing a 'stabiliser' to 'stabilise' the price at the level it is now.

Yup, whatever the measure it won't actually decrease fuel prices and will probably only "stabilise" them for a very short period to keep tbhe majority of people quiet.

Wouldn't be against an increase in the speed limit. Only problem is you will have many people going well over 80. Doesn't the law allow you for 10% + 1 generally? Certainly will get places quicker. Will burn more petrol too.

 

[Rich_L]

Does he not realise the majority of people drive at 80 on the motorway already? Hope he isn't expecting too big a productivity increase

 

[Moeks]

...yea, but then people will start doing 90 instead, so sure it'll happen

 

[Pyscho_Si]

Personally, I'm for the French/Spanish system.... a higher speed limit in good conditions a lower one when it starts to rain. To be honest I don't think this will make much difference during the peak times especially on the M6/M1 when 70 mph is a target rarely reached.

 

[ScarySquirrel]

How about minimum speed limits in certain lanes? And if you're caught doing under the minimum speed limit your car automatically explodes.

 

[Booner!]

How about keeping all larger vehicles in the first lane? or prevent lorry's from overtaking on dual carriageway's like the A34. This would allow the traffic to flow much better?

 

[Pyscho_Si]

How about keeping all larger vehicles in the first lane? or prevent lorry's from overtaking on dual carriageway's like the A34. This would allow the traffic to flow much better?

I agree that on duel carriageways, on an incline lorries should be banned from overtaking. Additionally, how about enforcing the legal 60MPH speed limit for white van drivers on duel carriageways. I'm under the illusion that most transit drivers don't know the legal speed limit on a duel carriageway.

 

[Rroff]

Bad idea IMO sure modern cars can handle it but your average person can't.

Tho on the flip side I'd fully support a system whereby drivers can exceed the speed limit in the outside lane ("when safe to do so") after completion of an extra driving test, tho it would be a bit complicated to police.

 

[mrk]

Bad idea IMO sure modern cars can handle it but your average person can't.

Tho on the flip side I'd fully support a system whereby drivers can exceed the speed limit in the outside lane ("when safe to do so") after completion of an extra driving test, tho it would be a bit complicated to police.

An extra driving test?!


If someone can't drive at 80 then they should just crash and burn ¬_¬

 

[Dabbles]

After the many years of the 'speed kills' argument they will struggle to get general public support for an increased speed limit anywhere.

 

[Rroff]

An extra driving test?!


If someone can't drive at 80 then they should just crash and burn ¬_¬

Unfortunatly they will likely crash and burn taking someone innocent with them. Sad truth is for every person that can safely drive at 80mph theres another 3-5 who really should not be behind the wheel at those kinda speeds.

 

[DreXeL]

Unfortunatly they will likely crash and burn taking someone innocent with them. Sad truth is for every person that can safely drive at 80mph theres another 3-5 who really should not be behind the wheel at those kinda speeds.

If somebody is that bad they can't safely drive at 80, then they shouldn't be on the roads at any speed. What makes you think such a person would be safe at 70mph, but not safe at 80?

 

[Freefaller]

How about keeping all larger vehicles in the first lane? or prevent lorry's from overtaking on dual carriageway's like the A34. This would allow the traffic to flow much better?

Or do like they do on the continent but restrict overtaking to certain times of day.

 

[Locky]

I'm all for the increase in the speed limit, the current limit is for cars that needed to be started via a handle

I'm also for banning lorries overtaking each other on duel carriage ways.

 

[Johnnytoxic]

raise the limit to 80 and everyone will want to do 90.

You could get away with doing 85 without a speed ticket.

 

[Rroff]

If somebody is that bad they can't safely drive at 80, then they shouldn't be on the roads at any speed. What makes you think such a person would be safe at 70mph, but not safe at 80?

Thats my point, they aren't really safe at 70 let alone anything more, its not so much they are bad drivers as such, but the amount of people I see crusing at 80mph talking on the phone, doing make up, chatting to someone in the back seat, yada yada and reacting late to traffic changes ahead would make for a lot more accidents with a higher speed limit and shorter times to react.

 

[Saytan]

rigourous enforcement of lane discipline would be a good start.

 

[Conscript]

I'd rather see more enforcement/better education of lane discipline and braking distances to be honest. No point having the speed limit at 80 when it will be ruined by someone doing 65MPH in lane one, 67MPH in lane two then 70MPH in lane three.

Then again if the speed limit was raised, it might encourage people to get a move on when they go to overtake, rather than performing the situation above and causing a rolling roadblock for a mile or two.

Edit: Beaten by a hair!