50 mph Motorways

[JSG]

Found this on the BBC news site this morning. Apparently slower speed equals less traffic - must remember that next time I'm doing 4 mph on the M25 / M4.

Only good point is that an increase in limit to 80 mph is being considered 'at other sites'. That'll be a 1 mile stretch of the M6 by the RAC building in Birmingham on all days of the week without a 'd' in them then.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1663000/1663861.stm

[hertsbiker]

hmmm. Best get rid of motorways then! ;-)

When are we going to lose the bus lane on the M4, and get back to 70mph???!! limit only dropped 'cos buses can't merge at 70.

[philshort]

Could be worse. Apparently the optimum speed for maximum traffic flow is 17mph.

The bods who calculate this stuff seem to actually believe the stopping distances quoted in the Highway Code, and these are programmed in as part of the model. As speeds increase, so do distances between cars - inordinately so if the Highway Code is to be believed - and so the traffic volume decreases.

This is the theory behind the variable speed limits on the M25. Now if you make the speed limit 50, you get the benefits without the cost, and as a bonus you get more people speeding when the traffic flow is lighter, so what was a costly traffic management system now becomes an effective revenue stream! Whee-hey!

Anyone care to bet that this won't happen?

[WalterU]

quote:
Anyone care to bet that this won't happen?

no. In today's world, only pessimists are true realists.

Rgds, WalterU

[hertsbiker]

sounds like the only answer is for us to invest in technology to beat them - OR campaign even LOUDER to get the cameras banned. Actually I advise both, 'cos you'll need your V1 & Geo if Bliar stays in power much longer.

[Jason F]

If Blair stays in power the only thing we`ll need is Bus Tickets cause No One but Police and Govt officials will be able to afford cars, and have the license to drive em...

[apache]

writing, walls, etc

[nonegreen]

Traffic would be zero at infinite speed, therefore at zero mph the number of cars is infinite and the emmisions are also infinite, so self fulfilling prophesy by the greens for the greens etc.. Save up stand for parliament as a nonegreen and save the planet.