Would you support a 100mph motorway speed limit?
Discussion
The existing motorway speed limit was set in 1965. Back then there were much fewer cars but the majority were closer to their limits at 70 and a crash at that speed would likely be fatal. 55 years later, there's a lot more traffic but the cars are much more capable and safer.
With the advent of smart motorways that can change the speed limit according to the conditions, it seems to me that a quiet motorway in dry daylight conditions could easily support a 100mph limit. I very much doubt that this is any more of a risk than 70mph in 1965.
I know that this would never happen as the risk-averse general public are winning every argument when it comes to speed in the UK. The police love clamping down on speed as it's the easiest thing to enforce and prosecute. The government are all about reducing emissions so they wouldn't condone it either.
But what about PHers? Would you choose to have a variable speed limit with 100mph max if you had the choice?
With the advent of smart motorways that can change the speed limit according to the conditions, it seems to me that a quiet motorway in dry daylight conditions could easily support a 100mph limit. I very much doubt that this is any more of a risk than 70mph in 1965.
I know that this would never happen as the risk-averse general public are winning every argument when it comes to speed in the UK. The police love clamping down on speed as it's the easiest thing to enforce and prosecute. The government are all about reducing emissions so they wouldn't condone it either.
But what about PHers? Would you choose to have a variable speed limit with 100mph max if you had the choice?
Yes. Variable limits should also be able to over 70 when conditions allow. However, 90 is more realistic- firstly because there’s something ‘unacceptable’ about 100 in this country (I have no idea why), and secondly because all the variable limit signs only seem to have space for two digits.
No, 70/75 is already fast enough.
I'd focus more on enforcing lane etiquette than allowing cars to go faster. What you could do however, is have certain sections of a motorway with higher top speed allowances - they could even charge for the privilege. For example, the M6 toll section could have higher limit speed limits included in the toll price.
I'd focus more on enforcing lane etiquette than allowing cars to go faster. What you could do however, is have certain sections of a motorway with higher top speed allowances - they could even charge for the privilege. For example, the M6 toll section could have higher limit speed limits included in the toll price.
Magnum 475 said:
Yes. Variable limits should also be able to over 70 when conditions allow. However, 90 is more realistic- firstly because there’s something ‘unacceptable’ about 100 in this country (I have no idea why), and secondly because all the variable limit signs only seem to have space for two digits.
Yes but no but yes but no? You cant decide.
And you dont know why.
Why even post?
Its a Yes from me anyway.
I decided!
No, not with the roads being as busy as they are and with as many HGV’s on the motorways. Imagine where two HGV’s are overtaking one another at 55mph and all the traffic is squeezed into the outside lane - the speed differentials would be quite big, and some people wouldn’t necessarily have the aptitude to slow down to suit the situation.
As you say risk adversity trumps all today. It'll be our downfall.
And like said you need to sort driving standards first, which under the declining, simple target obsessed policing has declined hugely in the last couple of decades.
I observed a cop with a hairdryer for the first time in years the other day enforcing a 30 just after it drops from a 50 not so far from my house. If he'd bothered to turn around and look the other way he'd have been looking at two mini roundabouts where you're constantly being carved up by road users either too arrogant or stupid and straightlining the junction. But no.... 10%+2 is apparently the only thing that's wrong today.
And like said you need to sort driving standards first, which under the declining, simple target obsessed policing has declined hugely in the last couple of decades.
I observed a cop with a hairdryer for the first time in years the other day enforcing a 30 just after it drops from a 50 not so far from my house. If he'd bothered to turn around and look the other way he'd have been looking at two mini roundabouts where you're constantly being carved up by road users either too arrogant or stupid and straightlining the junction. But no.... 10%+2 is apparently the only thing that's wrong today.
Part of the problem in this country is the speed difference between cars and lorries. Other EU countries have lorries too, of course, but their relatively smaller number of vehicles per Km of road thins them out a bit. When you get two elephants racing at 0.5mph difference for mile upon mile, the remaining traffic is funnelled into only one lane of a 3-lane motorway. The fast the cars go, the more difficult the funnelling becomes.
But, I wouldn't want to see speed limits increased for lorries so maybe increase our car-limits to match the EU which is about 85mph. It definitely allows for better progress without giving licence to idiots.
But, I wouldn't want to see speed limits increased for lorries so maybe increase our car-limits to match the EU which is about 85mph. It definitely allows for better progress without giving licence to idiots.
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