Moterway speed limits.

[TripleT]

Surely the same can be said about the 70mph limit though? There's always going to be cars that can out-brake another.

What you wanna ask yourself is, how much better can cars brake now-a-days than when the limits were introduced? Yes there's more cars on the road but technology has really come on since then.

Unless they were dangerous mentalists back then?!

 

[MJ]

Well i am not against increasing the speed limit, i would love to see it increased but i do wish everybody would stop refering to the autobahn.

Wiki

The German autobahns are famous for being some of the few public roads in the world without blanket speed limits for cars and motorcycles. Lack of blanket speed limits does not appear to negatively impact the road safety of autobahns compared with other German roads or motorways in other countries. Perhaps this is due in part because traffic can be heavy enough to restrict speeds to little above the typical motorway speeds found elsewhere. Certainly, speed limits do apply at junctions and other danger points, like sections under construction or in need of repair. Speed limits at non-construction sites are generally 100 km/h (62 mph) or 120 km/h (75 mph); construction sites have a usual speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph) but may be as low as 60 km/h (37 mph) or even 40 km/h (25 mph). Certain stretches have separate, and lower, speed limits used in cases of wet lanes.

I have been on the autobahn and honestly you don't see many cars goin over 75-80MPH just like here tbh.

 

[Enfield]

*Waits for RG-Tom*

 

[MJ]

Also i remember watching megastructures a while back and there roads are a lot more maintained than ours also they have to have driving lessons on the autobahn so then they learn strict lane discipline etc, which some people over here are just not taught and just don't know.

 

[nutcase]

I'm not suggesting it isn't capable - I'm sure it is, but I'm just saying that a Fiesta built in '94 is old.

My 1978 car is capable of 125mph, has disc brakes all round, and has more structural integrity than many modern cars. Not that I'd do 130 on a public road mind. Age of a car is irrelevant. Condition and specification can be however.

 

[andy2k]

God ive missed a lot!

So you lot genreally think ill be fine?

 

[NickXX]

My 1978 car is capable of 125mph, has disc brakes all round, and has more structural integrity than many modern cars. Not that I'd do 130 on a public road mind. Age of a car is irrelevant. Condition and specification can be however.

Yes, but surely you know that your car is the exception rather than the rule. Age is a very good indicator, it is far from irrelevant.

Does your car have Traction control, stabilty control, Anti-lock breaks, Dynamic stability control, Electronic Brake assistance?

 

[L0rdMike]

Yeah driver skill.

 

[Enfield]

Does your car have Traction control, stabilty control, Anti-lock breaks, Dynamic stability control, Electronic Brake assistance?

What point are you trying to make exactly?

 

[L0rdMike]

What point are you trying to make exactly?

Prob that cars with out these are death trap and everyone is going to die doing 100 in them?

 

[NickXX]

God ive missed a lot!

So you lot genreally think ill be fine?

Ah yeah, forgot what this thread was about!

I imagine you'll be fine. If you were doing an indicated 75, it's likely that in reality you were doing 70mph or even less.

 

[NickXX]

What point are you trying to make exactly?

He implied that his car was as safe as a modern one, I delved a little deeper into that implication.

 

[andy2k]

Ah yeah, forgot what this thread was about!

I imagine you'll be fine. If you were doing an indicated 75, it's likely that in reality you were doing 70mph or even less.

Thanks for that! Just seems people are using this thread to show off all there cars.

I feel safe driving my rover 214 at 90 then the steering is impossible!

 

[NickXX]

Prob that cars with out these are death trap and everyone is going to die doing 100 in them?

Not saying that at all, I will point out however at the afformentioned driver aids do make for a safer driving experience though.

 

[nutcase]

Yes, but surely you know that your car is the exception rather than the rule. Age is a very good indicator, it is far from irrelevant.

Does your car have Traction control, stabilty control, Anti-lock breaks, Dynamic stability control, Electronic Brake assistance?

I still disagree. It is one of the better cars for spec, but then it is still from an age where they were built to last - and that equals strength. Certainly it is one of the few cars to have discs all round, but then rear discs are more of a luxury than a necessity.

All those other things you mention aren't needed at all. If they were, surely all you'd see is older or lower specced cars with crumpled fronts or lying in ditches? Driver aids like that, in my opinion, encourage reckless driving. Same with airbags. I hate them, they scare me. Trusting electronics not to blow something up a foot from your face when you're driving along. Hmm, no thanks. I'll just wear my seatbelt, thanks

 

[MJ]

I still disagree. It is one of the better cars for spec, but then it is still from an age where they were built to last

I agree a couple of months ago i saw a brand new kia picanto (which can sit on a motorway at 90 all day long) smash into a 1992 BMW 5-Series. The BMW drove off and probably just needed to replace a few panels the kia :/ well the ambulance wasn't for the BMW i saw him drive off. Thank god for ABS and Dual Airbags eh

 

[Trojan]

Depending on conditions, 100mph can be absolutely fine, or it can be hideous high. On a quiet stretch of motorway when the roads are dry and there is good visibility, 100mph is perfectly safe. On a busy wet road however 100mph should be out of the question.

What we really need are variable limits, though how they could be successfully applied, I've no idea!

So for example if I am behind you and it's a 100mph limit and you need to brake hard for whatever reason, I am probably quite likely to go into the back of you.

Then that's your fault for driving too close to the car in front.

 

[The_Dark_Side]

The 70 limit was brought in when car technology was not as it is now and 70 is not a realistic figure now I think.

driver technology hasn't moved on though,that's part of the problem.

A raise would be nice I often do about 80.

i'd be very surprised if this doesn't happen within the next 5 years.

Why are all the Germans not dead?

a few reasons i can think of.
since their construction there have been certain sections of autobahn without a speed limit.their motoring population is used to it.(poor way of phrasing it but you get the gist)
the unrestricted sections of autobahn are typically more than 3 lane and wider lanes at that.
the thought of unrestricted two lane motorways in the UK really worries me.

*ahem* how do the germans manage to cope with unlimited speed limits then?

the feeling in Germany is changing and the number of unrestricted roads is getting smaller.there is also pressure concerning the isle of man which i also believe won't stay limit-free.

To be honest i would say it should be 100mph dry, 80mph wet. Then just recommended that if your car does not feel safe at higher speeds, the 70mph is perfectly acceptable in the slow lane and maybe middle lane.

i can't tell you how un-surprised i was to find you're under 20.
leave people to judge for themselves and things get real ugly real fast.
IMHO you're showing your lack of understanding and experience by even suggesting an 80mph limit in wet conditions.

and I didn't bet they have a lower accident limit BECAUSE of the higher speed, i just said they have a higher speed limit (well, no speed limit in places) and still manage to have less accidents, as there is more discipline.

accident rates in germany are comparable with ours although their testing standards are much higher and their motorway network is much better.it was after all primarily constructed to enable military traffic to be moved across country.
so better roads and more stringent testing standards which result in a higher level of driving standards but as our accident rates are similar it is a logical conclusion that the un-restricted side of things acts as a negative against the better roads and better driving points.

People KNOW people in the left lane will be doing in excess of 150

when i find the URL for the "modern fiction forum" i'll post the link to you.
most people do NOT drive at 150mph+ in that lane.
SOME do,not most and definitely not all.

 

[Berger]

So even though German Autobahns with no speed limit have a lower accident rate on it then compared to other motorways in Europe?

To be honest i would say it should be 100mph dry, 80mph wet.

Wouldnt work, how do you define what a wet road is and what a dry road is.

 

[The_Dark_Side]

I have been on the autobahn and honestly you don't see many cars goin over 75-80MPH just like here tbh.

i was hoping someone else would make a post along those lines.
it makes me laugh the number of people that genuinely believe that over in germany on all unrestricted sections of autobahn,the outside lane is entirely populated by drivers flat out at 296mph@22000 RPM.

sorry for the reality check boys and girls,but goto germany and you will find it's not quite like that.
most drivers stick to 80/90...you won't see many cars travelling @over 120/130MPH that often.
sure it's more often than here,but it's a long way from a regular occurance.