Arguments for raising the UK motorway speed limit

[Phatboy317]

Mave said:

Well they can move at different speeds hence elephant racing. Anyway, you tend to expect all traffic in lane 1 to move at a similar speed. Do you think the separation between traffic in lane 1 would be greater if the speed limit for lorries were raised?

Yes, limiters aren't perfect so they can move at slightly different speeds.
Go back to the early '90s before the limiters were brought in, and elephant racing was a rare phenomenon.

[Mave]

I don't understand your point- limiters or no limiters, the lorries would still be bunched up I lane 1 due to overall capacity. Whether the traffic in lane 2 was doing 56, 70, or 100 mph wouldn't have made you a gap in lane 1 to exit through.

[Devil2575]

ORD said:

What in the name of Blod are half of you talking about?!

There is no sensible argument against increasing the speed limits to at least 80mph. It is simply an example of vocal pressure groups fking up policy for everyone else.

If 70% of the driving public want to see the limit increased, as per the OP, then it isn't vocal pressure groups that are the problem. The issue is that the 70% need to speak up. If 70% of all licence holders signed a petition to say they wanted an 80mph limit it would get the politicians attention. Voter apathy is the real issue. People need to stop complaining about things being done to them and start taking some responsibility for the situation they find themselves in.

[Phatboy317]

Mave said:

I don't understand your point- limiters or no limiters, the lorries would still be bunched up I lane 1 due to overall capacity. Whether the traffic in lane 2 was doing 56, 70, or 100 mph wouldn't have made you a gap in lane 1 to exit through.

When you get vehicles travelling at slightly different speeds, the slightly faster ones eventually catch up with the slower ones, and if it's difficult to overtake they tend to bunch up. You often see platoons of lorries, even when the traffic is quite light.

If you have freedom of movement in lane 2 then you can decide if you have enough time to get past the line of lorries before your exit, or to tuck in behind them.

[Mave]

Phatboy317 said:

When you get vehicles travelling at slightly different speeds, the slightly faster ones eventually catch up with the slower ones, and if it's difficult to overtake they tend to bunch up. You often see platoons of lorries, even when the traffic is quite light.

If you have freedom of movement in lane 2 then you can decide if you have enough time to get past the line of lorries before your exit, or to tuck in behind them.

Ok, well I don't believe that lorries travelling close together in lane 1 is due to speed differential with lane 2, I believe it is due to quantity of traffic, so we'll just have to disagree on that point :-)

[Phatboy317]

Mave said:

Phatboy317 said:

When you get vehicles travelling at slightly different speeds, the slightly faster ones eventually catch up with the slower ones, and if it's difficult to overtake they tend to bunch up. You often see platoons of lorries, even when the traffic is quite light.

If you have freedom of movement in lane 2 then you can decide if you have enough time to get past the line of lorries before your exit, or to tuck in behind them.

Ok, well I don't believe that lorries travelling close together in lane 1 is due to speed differential with lane 2, I believe it is due to quantity of traffic, so we'll just have to disagree on that point :-)

It's because the small speed differential between the lorries makes it difficult for them to pass each other, which also tends to discourage them from doing so.

But I agree - this discussion has probably run its course.

[LoonR1]

Phatboy317 said:

They're physically limited to around 56mph - they can't go faster if they wanted to, so they all move at around the same speed.

Look what effect it has.

Edited by Phatboy317 on Saturday 21st February 00:13

How do they manage to catch each other up then? If they all move at or around the same speed, then they'll all remain at or around the same distance apart.

[Phatboy317]

LoonR1 said:

Phatboy317 said:

They're physically limited to around 56mph - they can't go faster if they wanted to, so they all move at around the same speed.

Look what effect it has.

Edited by Phatboy317 on Saturday 21st February 00:13

How do they manage to catch each other up then? If they all move at or around the same speed, then they'll all remain at or around the same distance apart.

Even if there's only a 0.1mph difference they'll eventually catch up. And they catch up quicker when those ahead temporarily slow down for any reason.

Edited by Phatboy317 on Saturday 21st February 13:09

[Dammit]

You use a hell of a lot less fuel if you tuck up behind the vehicle in front, if you are and the vehicle in front are both limited to ~56mph and you are looking out for each other then you have a decent amount of trust which enables you to maintain a smaller gap than you would with a random.

[LoonR1]

Phatboy317 said:

LoonR1 said:

Phatboy317 said:

They're physically limited to around 56mph - they can't go faster if they wanted to, so they all move at around the same speed.

Look what effect it has.

Edited by Phatboy317 on Saturday 21st February 00:13

How do they manage to catch each other up then? If they all move at or around the same speed, then they'll all remain at or around the same distance apart.

Even if there's only a 0.1mph difference they'll eventually catch up. And they catch up quicker when those ahead temporarily slow down for any reason.

Edited by Phatboy317 on Saturday 21st February 13:09

It'll take a long time though

[robinessex]

Leave the speed limits as they are, and drive around with a dirty number plate!!