UK Speed Limits

[TW]Fox;30339621 said:
My only real issue is the plethora of 50 limits everywhere. They almost never seen appropriate, it's either a completely normal NSL road that has been spoiled or often it's a road that should perhaps be a 40 even.

Every 50 limit seems either too slow or too fast, never 'just right'.
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Completely agree. Most of the time I've been driving in a 50 zone it really feels like it's been made a 50 for no apparent reason. There's no evidence to suggest there have been an excessive amount of accidents on these roads and there's almost always been clear visibility with nice long straights and minimal bends. I agree on the leave it at 60 or just make it a 40. Problem is on most of these roads that are set to 50, most people I encounter seem to drive at 40 anyway so that'd probably result in the majority doing 30 for some reason :)

Other than those though, I think they're fine for the most part. I've been bored enough to test the theory a few times with my commute from home to work (Portsmouth to Bracknell) which is 58 miles on the route I take of which 35 miles is dual carriageway/motorway. Realistically attempting to do 80 or even 90 on the A3 with normal traffic conditions only saved a maximum of 5 minutes on the entire commute, something that could easily be swallowed up by traffic etc on the single carriageway parts anyway. It's just not even worth the effort there so I just stick to 70.

I appreciate that there is a more noticeable difference doing 80/90 on something like a 200 mile journey on an all-motorway or dual carriageway route late at night (you'd save 20 minutes at 80mph and about 45 minutes at 90mph), so it would be nice if the motorways were de-restricted or had a higher limit after a certain period of time but realistically, that's never going to happen.

As mentioned previously, I think the standard of driving, particularly lane discipline, is the biggest problem on motorway/dual carriageways these days rather than the speed limits themselves. Unfortunately I don't think that's something that'll ever change now that it would appear people are just too selfish and arrogant on the roads.
 
Phemo said:
As mentioned previously, I think the standard of driving, particularly lane discipline, is the biggest problem on motorway/dual carriageways these days rather than the speed limits themselves. Unfortunately I don't think that's something that'll ever change now that it would appear people are just too selfish and arrogant on the roads.
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Germans seem to have impeccable lane discipline. When driving in Germany I've very rarely seen someone stay out in an overtaking lane for a second longer than they have to when there is the possibility of safely moving back over. Checking your rear-view mirror to see a car approaching you at 150mph+ is enough of an incentive to not hang out in the overtaking lanes for too long I guess :D

During the day I've rarely been on a motorway in the UK and it been possible to go much faster than 70 due to the volume of traffic. Overnight is a different story, but funnily enough in Germany some of the de-restricted stretches of autobahn have overnight speed limits to reduce noise pollution.

Instead of increased speed limits I'd like to see lots of these signs on the motorways instead:

No_Overtaking_By_Lorries_Between0900_And1800.png
 
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geekman said:
30 limit dual carriageways are the worst, followed closely by VSL motorways set to 40/50 for no apparent reason.

This was a classic one near where I used to live - you can even see the camera van parked in the distance on streetview. 30 limit, and they often used to park the van further back so they'd get people just as the limit changed from 40 to 30. When I knew they were there, I'd hog the outside lane doing 30, was funny to watch people's reactions changing from anger / impatience to putting the window down and thanking me at the next set of traffic lights :p

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.4...Hg!2e0!5s20120601T000000!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
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That 30mph limit looks totally appropriate though. Pedestrian crossing, houses, school crossing. Why would it not be a 30?
 
Speed limits seem to be mostly irrelevant. Bigger roads are too busy at most times, local roads are full of 40mph idiots, slow areas (Schools etc) again suffer from people blindly still doing 40mph.

I hardly ever, these days, have a chance to reach speed limits.

Then there's the people who still believe limits are 50/60/70 for single/dual/motorway roads.

Education, education, education is what is required - but as someone said earlier that won't happen.
Andi.
 
Don't forget about the co2 impact.
Raising the limit will cause cars to use more fuel to keep at that speed.
This then has an impact which the government would account for in any debates and in turn refuse.
 
It's only the 50s that I take issue with really, and some 40s. The A33 from Basingstoke to Reading is a 50 and there's no reason it should be. It's a clear road with good visibility and has no reason to be anything lower than 60.
 
Diagro said:
Don't forget about the co2 impact.
Raising the limit will cause cars to use more fuel to keep at that speed.
This then has an impact which the government would account for in any debates and in turn refuse.
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That's what annoys me though. So it's a problem if people drive 10mph faster on motorways but it's acceptable those of us working in London etc breathe in toxic fumes walking around and commuting to work. I would love to see a complete ban on diesel cars in London. Since the VW scandal it's really bothered me just how much gunk you breathe in as a pedestrian. It's ridiculous to persuade people to accept an Aventador emits less harmful fumes to human health than a TDI Polo or a black cab.
 
I suppose it depends on NOx and particulate emissions of the two vehicles. Without any data to back it up I can see the Aventador emitting less of these than an older E5 or E4 compliant Polo. CO2 output is off the chart though.

OK, just did some research.

The Aventador emits 370g/km of CO2, 12mg/km of NOx, and no PM10 particulates.
A (E6 compliant) Polo 1.4 TDi emits 97g/km of CO2, 43mg/km of NOx, and no PM10 particulates

So it all depends on whether you view CO2 or NOx and being more harmful to your health.
 
There should be speed minimums, too many people in this area drive at 40mph... 40 in a 60, 40 in a 50, 40 in a 30 people like that should be banned from the road.
 
Rilot said:
I suppose it depends on NOx and particulate emissions of the two vehicles. Without any data to back it up I can see the Aventador emitting less of these than an older E5 or E4 compliant Polo. CO2 output is off the chart though.

OK, just did some research.

The Aventador emits 370g/km of CO2, 12mg/km of NOx, and no PM10 particulates.
A (E6 compliant) Polo 1.4 TDi emits 97g/km of CO2, 43mg/km of NOx, and no PM10 particulates

So it all depends on whether you view CO2 or NOx and being more harmful to your health.
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My understanding is that CO2 is bad for the environment/global warming etc - but NOx is extremely damaging to humans when inhaled.
 
People who slow to 50 for a 50MPH section of an A road, and then don't get back up to 60 again after the section ends because they don't know what the NSL sign means, should be stopped and ticketed.
 
Rilot said:
It's only the 50s that I take issue with really, and some 40s. The A33 from Basingstoke to Reading is a 50 and there's no reason it should be. It's a clear road with good visibility and has no reason to be anything lower than 60.
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The 3 lane bit at the Reading end with a 40 limit is ridiculous.

Personally I'd support raising the motorway speed limit to 90mph & perhaps NSL dual carriageway to 80. De-criminalise what many do safely & in spite of the law.
 
Rilot said:
I suppose it depends on NOx and particulate emissions of the two vehicles. Without any data to back it up I can see the Aventador emitting less of these than an older E5 or E4 compliant Polo. CO2 output is off the chart though.

OK, just did some research.

The Aventador emits 370g/km of CO2, 12mg/km of NOx, and no PM10 particulates.
A (E6 compliant) Polo 1.4 TDi emits 97g/km of CO2, 43mg/km of NOx, and no PM10 particulates

So it all depends on whether you view CO2 or NOx and being more harmful to your health.
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You forgot to multiply the VW's emissions by x4 :P
 
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Speed limits in this country will never change. They will never go up, despite the fact it was a Conservative manifesto policy. One of the simplest reasons being, emissions. Drive faster, legally, will increase the UKs already ludicrous CO2 output.
 
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