RE: 70mph, no more
Monday 4th March 2002
70mph, no more
Transport Minister John Spellar recently ruled out an increase in the motorway speed limit to 80mph. He's refusing an increase saying that it is unjustifiable on environmental and safety grounds.
Discussion
Unjustifiable?? Has this man never been on a motorway?? The nanny state lives on........
Towns, cities and villages I can understand the need to control vehicle speeds, with the traffic density and the potential for pedestrians to walk in front of vehicles. But motorways, come on!
The average car now has capabilities way beyond anything ever envisaged when the "temporary" limit (I read that on here I think - is it true that 70 was a temporary law?) so why can't we be trusted to control them safely at speeds beyond this arbitrary limit - is there an arguement here under Human Rights that we are being unfairly constrained.
As for the environemtal issue - puuurleeease. When they shut down all the farms (I know they're trying) and close all the coal fired power stations and switch to renewable resources then I'l beleive they're serious about the environment. How can you take these people seriously?!
Towns, cities and villages I can understand the need to control vehicle speeds, with the traffic density and the potential for pedestrians to walk in front of vehicles. But motorways, come on!
The average car now has capabilities way beyond anything ever envisaged when the "temporary" limit (I read that on here I think - is it true that 70 was a temporary law?) so why can't we be trusted to control them safely at speeds beyond this arbitrary limit - is there an arguement here under Human Rights that we are being unfairly constrained.
As for the environemtal issue - puuurleeease. When they shut down all the farms (I know they're trying) and close all the coal fired power stations and switch to renewable resources then I'l beleive they're serious about the environment. How can you take these people seriously?!
) politics were as sensible as the Italians...Hi Thom
re the temp 70 limit , was it not true that the licenceing hour for pubs were a temp arrangement during the 1st WWar , and look how long the UK had to wait to get them eased back to be a little closer to the rest of Europe
So what chance the temp speed limits being repealed within 70-80 years
>> Edited by marki on Friday 8th March 08:04
re the temp 70 limit , was it not true that the licenceing hour for pubs were a temp arrangement during the 1st WWar , and look how long the UK had to wait to get them eased back to be a little closer to the rest of Europe
So what chance the temp speed limits being repealed within 70-80 years
>> Edited by marki on Friday 8th March 08:04
Hmmm.... Anyone who's ever practiced emergency stops from 70mph plus will realise that it's a very different experience from what you learnt when you were 17. People don't seem to appreciate how long it takes to stop a car at high speed, and you average numpty has probably never done a full-on 80-0 stop. That's why so many people swerve, spin, crash and die on motorways which should actually be extremely safe.
It's all very well for us in our light cars with powerful brakes but the government have to consider the millions of numpties in overladen poorly maintained vehicles.
I say increase the speed limits anyway and let natural selection take care things.
Bonce
It's all very well for us in our light cars with powerful brakes but the government have to consider the millions of numpties in overladen poorly maintained vehicles.
I say increase the speed limits anyway and let natural selection take care things.
Bonce
quote:
That's why so many people swerve, spin, crash and die on motorways which should actually be extremely safe.
Bonce
Good point Bonce, but given that you can qualify for a driving licence despite having spent absolutely no time on a motorway nor any education on motorway roadcraft, is it any wonder ?
You're only going to learn about stopping at that speed / cadence braking and so on if you can be bothered to take some sort of advanced driving course.
I've always thought this was a major failing of the driving lessons / test I did 13 years ago.
>> Edited by GregE240 on Friday 8th March 10:09
70 mph is decades out of date.
Only 200 or so folks get killed per year on UK motorways.
Given that there are 30 million or so car drivers,
and we average about 12,000 miles a year, I'm sure
you can do the maths. You've got more chance of
winning the lottery.
Oh well, no point buying a fast car in the UK.
Pity, because I'm sure the chancellor would much
appreciate all that extra tax revenue, and the car industry
could do with selling us more expensive machines.
Only 200 or so folks get killed per year on UK motorways.
Given that there are 30 million or so car drivers,
and we average about 12,000 miles a year, I'm sure
you can do the maths. You've got more chance of
winning the lottery.
Oh well, no point buying a fast car in the UK.
Pity, because I'm sure the chancellor would much
appreciate all that extra tax revenue, and the car industry
could do with selling us more expensive machines.
Aren't most of those in fog/bad weather anyway, when its a case of too close to the car in front rather than too fast. Either that or the driver nods off (hands up all those who done that particular little trick).
From what I've heard/seen, most people are comfortable with motorway speeds of up to 100 anyway - anything more and the speed differential to the numpties is too much. Hold a refereundum (drivers only allowed to vote) and see what happens then......
From what I've heard/seen, most people are comfortable with motorway speeds of up to 100 anyway - anything more and the speed differential to the numpties is too much. Hold a refereundum (drivers only allowed to vote) and see what happens then......
I think there is a strong case for raising the motorway limit to 80mph or perhaps slightly more, if weather etc... is OK. I have owned many cars over the years, including an early Mini and a Morris Minor, both of which had woeful (by todays standards) drum brakes. I am in no doubt I could stop my Elise from 120mph in a shorter distance than either the Mini or Moggy could stop from 70mph. And as for the environment... just how much cleaner are todays cars, compared to the saloons of the 1960s/70s? Nuff said.
Xplod, you, me and most people on here know and understand that fast driving can still be safe driving..
I think the Govt are using the fact that Everyone speeds (hell, my MUM does 90mph) and so they have a heck of a good revenue collection service under the guise of 'safety'
Esselte, that is quite true, and one thing that often concerns me is that if I am doing say 60 cause of the conditions (its pouring rain) I can either get overtaken by a lorry or have it glued to my bumper flashing and tooting..
I think the Govt are using the fact that Everyone speeds (hell, my MUM does 90mph) and so they have a heck of a good revenue collection service under the guise of 'safety'
Esselte, that is quite true, and one thing that often concerns me is that if I am doing say 60 cause of the conditions (its pouring rain) I can either get overtaken by a lorry or have it glued to my bumper flashing and tooting..
FFS I regulary get up to the ton with my 206, and it's a safe as anything. I don't tailgate. Leave big gaps. No problems. I regulary exceed 120 on bikes, and never a problem. Apart from numpty drivers.
All my past accidents have been at 30mph or less, and no one got hurt. Ever think we've been lied to?
C
All my past accidents have been at 30mph or less, and no one got hurt. Ever think we've been lied to?
C
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