The National Speed Limit
Discussion
Being serious now: what does everyone think this should be?
I drove up the M6 the other night and the average speed was around 100 - many others were bustling along at positively Germanic velocities.
I was, of course, delighted.
What about the possibilities of variable limits which change according to conditions? And if so, should there even be an upper limit?
Many of us have sampled the delights of sustained European 'Canon/Gumballing' as it were, so what's the problem in Blighty?
Isn't it time the authorities embraced the notion of higher speeds and did the decent thing?
I drove up the M6 the other night and the average speed was around 100 - many others were bustling along at positively Germanic velocities.
I was, of course, delighted.
What about the possibilities of variable limits which change according to conditions? And if so, should there even be an upper limit?
Many of us have sampled the delights of sustained European 'Canon/Gumballing' as it were, so what's the problem in Blighty?
Isn't it time the authorities embraced the notion of higher speeds and did the decent thing?
De-restrict everything outside of urban areas, set "sensible" and possible variable limits in urban areas then police for reckless/dangerous.
This would require a thinking plod, rather than a rule-book plod though.
OTOH, just ignore the ones we've got, get a Geodesy and keep yer eyes peeled!
This would require a thinking plod, rather than a rule-book plod though.
OTOH, just ignore the ones we've got, get a Geodesy and keep yer eyes peeled!
quote:
Being serious now: what does everyone think this should be?
My opinion, based on tens of thousands of kilometers
at over 200 kmh ( == 124 mph), is that de-restrict is
the way to go.
Occasional bits of 80 mph limit where needed, and mostly
de-restricted the rest. Free roads for free people,
other wise there is no point in buying a fast car in the UK.
quote:
Many of us have sampled the delights of sustained European 'Canon/Gumballing' as it were, so what's the problem in Blighty?
The problem is that we aren't vocal enough. The
folks that make the laws (politicans) don't perceive that
there are any votes in this.
Me, I'd vote for the devil if he promised speed limit
free roads.
quote:
Isn't it time the authorities embraced the notion of higher speeds and did the decent thing?
Sanity & politicians are strangers. Even though
a Ford Escort is a much better car than the
Ford Anglia, and only 200 folks die per year on UK motorways,
politicos still can't see what's staring them in the face.
I think the ABD estimate 500 million quid a year could
be saved by motorway de-restrict.
When motorways are not busy, derestrict them between junctions. Maintain 70 mph for the half a mile before and half a mile after all junctions.
Having travelled through Germany in a 996tt I experienced a revelation. Whenever a car overtook the car infront they immediately pulled back over, leaving the overtaking lane free.
The reason for this is a totally different mind set to the selfish barstewards we have in the UK. In Germany You must check before you pull out as there could quite legally be a car travelling at 175+ in the overtaking lane. If you have a car behind you pull over, he wants to go faster and is entitled to do so, let him/her by.
In the UK the mindset is **** you, I'm straddling the speed limit so you are not passing me. This leads to a dangerous tail back of traffic in the outside lane, with barely any traffic in lanes 1 and 2.
Ban lorries from overtaking each other during rush hour periods. They all travel at 56 +- half a mph anyway.
This frees up the 2nd lane and stops the concertina effect in lane 3.
DAZ
>> Edited by Dazren on Thursday 18th July 19:33
Having travelled through Germany in a 996tt I experienced a revelation. Whenever a car overtook the car infront they immediately pulled back over, leaving the overtaking lane free.
The reason for this is a totally different mind set to the selfish barstewards we have in the UK. In Germany You must check before you pull out as there could quite legally be a car travelling at 175+ in the overtaking lane. If you have a car behind you pull over, he wants to go faster and is entitled to do so, let him/her by.
In the UK the mindset is **** you, I'm straddling the speed limit so you are not passing me. This leads to a dangerous tail back of traffic in the outside lane, with barely any traffic in lanes 1 and 2.
Ban lorries from overtaking each other during rush hour periods. They all travel at 56 +- half a mph anyway.
This frees up the 2nd lane and stops the concertina effect in lane 3.
DAZ
>> Edited by Dazren on Thursday 18th July 19:33
quote:
When motorways are not busy, derestrict them between junctions. Maintain 70 mph for the half a mile before and half a mile after all junctions.
Having travelled through Germany in a 996tt I experienced a revelation. Whenever a car overtook the car infront they immediately pulled back over, leaving the overtaking lane free.
The reason for this is a totally different mind set to the selfish barstewards we have in the UK. In Germany You must check before you pull out as there could quite legally be a car travelling at 175+ in the overtaking lane. If you have a car behind you pull over, he wants to go faster and is entitled to do so, let him/her by.
In the UK the mindset is **** you, I'm straddling the speed limit so you are not passing me. This leads to a dangerous tail back of traffic in the outside lane, with barely any traffic in lanes 1 and 2.
Ban lorries from overtaking each other during rush hour periods. They all travel at 56 +- half a mph anyway.
This frees up the 2nd lane and stops the concertina effect in lane 3.
DAZ
>> Edited by Dazren on Thursday 18th July 19:33
YEESSSSSSSSSsssssssssssssss!!!!!!!
Totally agree that the problem here is the people that hog the outside lane at or around the speed limit, if we were trained/educated to drive as you have to in Germany, we could all afford to have the outside lane as a derestricted zone....
However would we have a traffic jam of cars that are all restricted to 155mph, travelling in the fast lane prohibiting anyone overtaking them at 160+?
Dream on.
However would we have a traffic jam of cars that are all restricted to 155mph, travelling in the fast lane prohibiting anyone overtaking them at 160+?
Dream on.
top thread, like it.
By the way, I announce my policy of undertaking as standard from now on, and no limits for all. Vote for me!
And fines for travelling at less than 75% of any posted limit, with a "slow gatso" to enforce it. Top idea, no?!!
Special "you MUST go fast roads, not for biddie lanes, metro-ban zones". You get the picture.
C
By the way, I announce my policy of undertaking as standard from now on, and no limits for all. Vote for me!
And fines for travelling at less than 75% of any posted limit, with a "slow gatso" to enforce it. Top idea, no?!!
Special "you MUST go fast roads, not for biddie lanes, metro-ban zones". You get the picture. C
Inspired by the musings herein I ventured out for a spot of 'investigation' last evening.
My findings heavily support the notion of derestriction based entirely on conditions. Oh yes, and horsepower.
As the old meister himself was oft heard to proclaim, following the wizardry of the great arrowsmiths, Wilson, Deller, Lowe & The Cockney King Himself - "One hundred and eiighty!!!
Quite right too.
My findings heavily support the notion of derestriction based entirely on conditions. Oh yes, and horsepower.
As the old meister himself was oft heard to proclaim, following the wizardry of the great arrowsmiths, Wilson, Deller, Lowe & The Cockney King Himself - "One hundred and eiighty!!!
Quite right too.
There is a good weight of evidence that supports the concept Dazren has floated that says derestriction actually makes for safer driving as people are more aware of their environment.
Personally my own contribution is ban all Geordie drivers (and Makums too). Apologies to any North Easteners on the board but the driving is appalling. For example; the correct procedure for joining a carriageway is, apparently, to drive to the bottom of the slip road and then stop. Apply handbrake and turn on indicater. Proceed to then sit at bottom of afore mentioned slip road for the next 20 minutes waiting for a gap that isn't going to happen because all your moronic compatriots are nose to tail in the inside lane (at 20 in a 50) despite the outside lane being completely empty. Finally decide to just pull out anyway except don't put your foot down or anything as that would be a bit scary/helpfull. Shake head and tut loudly at ensuing pile up behind you as 6 MOT failures all smash into the back of each other.
Repeat procedure for roundabouts and any junction the slightest bit more complicated than traffic lights.
Personally my own contribution is ban all Geordie drivers (and Makums too). Apologies to any North Easteners on the board but the driving is appalling. For example; the correct procedure for joining a carriageway is, apparently, to drive to the bottom of the slip road and then stop. Apply handbrake and turn on indicater. Proceed to then sit at bottom of afore mentioned slip road for the next 20 minutes waiting for a gap that isn't going to happen because all your moronic compatriots are nose to tail in the inside lane (at 20 in a 50) despite the outside lane being completely empty. Finally decide to just pull out anyway except don't put your foot down or anything as that would be a bit scary/helpfull. Shake head and tut loudly at ensuing pile up behind you as 6 MOT failures all smash into the back of each other.
Repeat procedure for roundabouts and any junction the slightest bit more complicated than traffic lights.
quote:
There is a good weight of evidence that supports the concept Dazren has floated that says derestriction actually makes for safer driving as people are more aware of their environment.
Personally my own contribution is ban all Geordie drivers (and Makums too). Apologies to any North Easteners on the board but the driving is appalling. For example; the correct procedure for joining a carriageway is, apparently, to drive to the bottom of the slip road and then stop. Apply handbrake and turn on indicater. Proceed to then sit at bottom of afore mentioned slip road for the next 20 minutes waiting for a gap that isn't going to happen because all your moronic compatriots are nose to tail in the inside lane (at 20 in a 50) despite the outside lane being completely empty. Finally decide to just pull out anyway except don't put your foot down or anything as that would be a bit scary/helpfull. Shake head and tut loudly at ensuing pile up behind you as 6 MOT failures all smash into the back of each other.
Repeat procedure for roundabouts and any junction the slightest bit more complicated than traffic lights.
Sounds like you've been to my neck of the woods here on the south coast too. I'm telling you, some of those old ba$tards heven't been off the Island for years! This is no lie! >> Edited by .mark on Friday 19th July 09:02
quote:
Personally my own contribution is ban all Geordie drivers (and Makums too).
What a cheek.
I'm from Gateshead. When I drive down to London, the standard of driving starts to deteriorate as you reach Northamptonshire sort of area, and goes steadily downhill until you reach the M25, where its abysmal.
Driving around Newcastle is positively serene in comparision.
Another point - on a long motorway journey, I often get tired of swapping all three lanes to get past middle lane stragglers, so just drive down the inside of them. I was watching Question Time many many years ago and I'm sure I remember the then transport minister stating ther was no traffic law in the UK that prevented this behaviour. Is this true?
quote:
Having travelled through Germany in a 996tt I experienced a revelation. Whenever a car overtook the car infront they immediately pulled back over, leaving the overtaking lane free.
The reason for this is a totally different mind set to the selfish barstewards we have in the UK. In Germany You must check before you pull out as there could quite legally be a car travelling at 175+ in the overtaking lane. If you have a car behind you pull over, he wants to go faster and is entitled to do so, let him/her by.
In the UK the mindset is **** you, I'm straddling the speed limit so you are not passing me. This leads to a dangerous tail back of traffic in the outside lane, with barely any traffic in lanes 1 and 2.
Dont't you believe it Daz, you also get the "policeman" mentality, usually 190D Mercs where there's a speed limit. Also you now get the numpties/greenslime and other unmenschen waving the "Schoolmarm" finger at you after they've slowed you from 250 to their numpty 110kph!
quote:
Ban lorries from overtaking each other during rush hour periods. They all travel at 56 +- half a mph anyway.
This causes the biggest tailbacks you could believe (on two lane Mways as are the majority in D) because numptymum sitting in her shopping basket overtakes the trucks at 101kph and refuses to go back into the inside lane, because "there might be another truck within the next 299km"!
quote:only on 3 laners and germany has few!!!
This frees up the 2nd lane and stops the concertina effect in lane 3.
AND you also get the idiots (on the few 4 laners) who refuse to leave the 3rd lane when doing 130kph ("the inside lanes are for trucks" mentality) and you're tipping down doing 300+ with a couple of other cars, then numpty 2 tries to overtake in the 4th lane doing 131kph and won't react to your flashing them when approaching at light speed. Just the lazy middle finger or the deliberate foot off the gas and stay alongside numpty no 1!!!!! just to piss you off.....
GRRRR
So that rules you out of either category then SPN 
I accept that not all are guilty and by definition the fact you frequent this board probably makes you less of a culprit. Yes driving up here is more "serene" but that is because everyone is so damn slow and incapable of being aware of their surroundings. The number of times I've been pulled out on, chopped up is scary but this also happens in London the difference is darn sarf they know you're there but do it anyway, up here they didn't even see you. To add insult to injury they then give you that "you're in the wrong" look.
I accept that not all are guilty and by definition the fact you frequent this board probably makes you less of a culprit. Yes driving up here is more "serene" but that is because everyone is so damn slow and incapable of being aware of their surroundings. The number of times I've been pulled out on, chopped up is scary but this also happens in London the difference is darn sarf they know you're there but do it anyway, up here they didn't even see you. To add insult to injury they then give you that "you're in the wrong" look.
Ref NSL though, it should be done as in Germany, as Germany has the LOWEST accident/fatality rate on motorways IN THE WORLD!!!!!
A speed limit must have its justification and the M25 like the Cologne or Milan ring (traffic amounts) has it. But other pieces of motorway..... open them up! Like the M6 north of Lancaster, one can do 150mph there with total safety.......... and no doubt many other stretches of GB motorway. Variable electronic speed limits (due to T-density) are also VERY good.
A roads, again ONLY where really justified lower than 70mph, dual carriegeways (without crossing traffic) 80-90mph (in Germany without limit as Autobahn similar)
Cornish/Devon/Dorset lanes 40mph.... as the locals can't drive their tractors/Maxis/Marinas faster anyway.....
BUT BLiar and his cronies will not do anything as they're pandering to the greenslime in the hope of getting more votes....
A speed limit must have its justification and the M25 like the Cologne or Milan ring (traffic amounts) has it. But other pieces of motorway..... open them up! Like the M6 north of Lancaster, one can do 150mph there with total safety.......... and no doubt many other stretches of GB motorway. Variable electronic speed limits (due to T-density) are also VERY good.
A roads, again ONLY where really justified lower than 70mph, dual carriegeways (without crossing traffic) 80-90mph (in Germany without limit as Autobahn similar)
Cornish/Devon/Dorset lanes 40mph.... as the locals can't drive their tractors/Maxis/Marinas faster anyway.....
BUT BLiar and his cronies will not do anything as they're pandering to the greenslime in the hope of getting more votes....
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