If there were no speed limits...
Discussion
I often drive along thinking "why is this a 40/50" etc. Then start drifting into thinking what speed would I actually be doing here if there were no limits and of course no other traffic in the way. I find on most open sweeping single carriageway A-roads I'd feel happy and safe to be travelling at 90/100mph but probably not a lot more than that on the majority.
Built up areas would be subjective completely depending on surroundings, time of day, etc. On the whole though I'd probably not exceed 40.
Motorways (when quiet of course), 130-140 would be a nice cruising speed. Of course this depends on what you are driving but in my own car that's where I'd be.
Most 50 limits have been 60 at some point so 90/100 again.
Personally I feel very 'held back' on most roads and just wondered if others feel the same?
Built up areas would be subjective completely depending on surroundings, time of day, etc. On the whole though I'd probably not exceed 40.
Motorways (when quiet of course), 130-140 would be a nice cruising speed. Of course this depends on what you are driving but in my own car that's where I'd be.
Most 50 limits have been 60 at some point so 90/100 again.
Personally I feel very 'held back' on most roads and just wondered if others feel the same?
there are a few roads - like well sighted A roads which for some reason have a blanket 50mph on, where i think i'd comfortably do 65-70.
on a derestricted, quiet motorway, i'd probably do maybe 85. i did try setting the cruise control to 110 once and it felt unneccessary to be cruising at that speed, and it was drinking fuel.
around town, i occasionally think 30mph is too much - suspect my actual speed is closer to 25mph.
on a derestricted, quiet motorway, i'd probably do maybe 85. i did try setting the cruise control to 110 once and it felt unneccessary to be cruising at that speed, and it was drinking fuel.
around town, i occasionally think 30mph is too much - suspect my actual speed is closer to 25mph.
8IKERDAVE said:
Motorways (when quiet of course), 130-140 would be a nice cruising speed. Of course this depends on what you are driving but in my own car that's where I'd be.
I genuinely can't comprehend why you'd need to be going that fast. Speed is not a sole cause of accidents, obviously and I'm not saying it would be unsafe in 100% of instances where you'd be doing it.
But to 'cruise' at 140mph is.....baffling. If a tyre let's go, if a moron pulls out off a slip road....heck, if the motorway curve and camber is sharper than you forsee...
That's the mother and father of all accidents right there.
I can't think of a road or circumstance where I'd need to 'cruise' at more than 90 and that wouldn't be often, with the amount of traffic around nowadays.
Often I would rather be pushing on at over 60 on an NSL SC, but it very much depends on the road. Many round here are unrestricted yet you would struggle with safely doing more than 20... Yet some see a derestricter and decide "now I will drive at 60". With no speed limits there would be a lot of squashed pedestrians, cars with horses parked on top of them, and many fields with cars planted in them round here.
I read somewhere that motorways were (possibly still are) engineered to a design speed of 100 mph. That might not be explicitly written in the standards but I suspect if you drill down you can derive it from the specs of corners and such.
I'd be quite happy with a quid pro quo on motorways, where variable speed limits are imposed and rigidly enforced during times that traffic speed should be reduced (e.g. it's lashing it down or there's too much traffic to go fast safely), but in return we get a much higher limit (say, 120mph in good weather) and anyone using a phone or otherwise not paying attention whilst driving should be made to eat their entire vehicle before they are allowed to drive again.
Certain roads seem to attract competent drivers making progress at certain times of night without incident (a good sign is when you see someone doing 100mph past you and actually making proper observations rather than camping out in the outside lane or changing lanes in front of faster traffic because they can't comprehend someone driving faster) whilst those same roads are frequently brought to a standstill by people playing with their phones or playing silly buggers over a merge point at lower yet legal speeds.
I read somewhere that motorways were (possibly still are) engineered to a design speed of 100 mph. That might not be explicitly written in the standards but I suspect if you drill down you can derive it from the specs of corners and such.
I'd be quite happy with a quid pro quo on motorways, where variable speed limits are imposed and rigidly enforced during times that traffic speed should be reduced (e.g. it's lashing it down or there's too much traffic to go fast safely), but in return we get a much higher limit (say, 120mph in good weather) and anyone using a phone or otherwise not paying attention whilst driving should be made to eat their entire vehicle before they are allowed to drive again.
Certain roads seem to attract competent drivers making progress at certain times of night without incident (a good sign is when you see someone doing 100mph past you and actually making proper observations rather than camping out in the outside lane or changing lanes in front of faster traffic because they can't comprehend someone driving faster) whilst those same roads are frequently brought to a standstill by people playing with their phones or playing silly buggers over a merge point at lower yet legal speeds.
There are plenty of drivers out there who can't even manage NSL on a single carriageway.
It's entirely road dependent. For example, take the A41 between the M54 and A5; physically the road is much wider than it needs to be, with generally good sight lines and either long straights or long sweeping bends. You could easily do 70/80, despite it being NSL-SC at 60. However, through in the generally busy lay-bys, the field entrances and tractors, the concealed entrances, suddenly the potential hazards mean while you could physically do 80, it's not safe because the hazards present.
I think this is often the case, what speed you could do physically versus what speed above the posted limit you could do safely are two different things.
It's entirely road dependent. For example, take the A41 between the M54 and A5; physically the road is much wider than it needs to be, with generally good sight lines and either long straights or long sweeping bends. You could easily do 70/80, despite it being NSL-SC at 60. However, through in the generally busy lay-bys, the field entrances and tractors, the concealed entrances, suddenly the potential hazards mean while you could physically do 80, it's not safe because the hazards present.
I think this is often the case, what speed you could do physically versus what speed above the posted limit you could do safely are two different things.
I have to be honest, I don't like to drive fast, as in, at high speeds. It just increases danger and fuel consumption and isn't exactly fun either. If you are able to cruise at 140mph, it means you are on a boring road and just trying to munch miles until you can get to your destination. Personally, I don't think it is worth it. An 85mph cruise is sufficient to get anywhere on a motorway or duel.
As for A-roads, I am usually happy at NSL but trying to carry as much consistent pace as possible corner to corner, I don't go for my limit on the straights, just try to carry pace through the bends, far more fun and far safer than trying to max out every straight possible.
As for A-roads, I am usually happy at NSL but trying to carry as much consistent pace as possible corner to corner, I don't go for my limit on the straights, just try to carry pace through the bends, far more fun and far safer than trying to max out every straight possible.
Between about 1930 and 1935 there were no UK speed limits. I saw some figures somewhere for accidents in built up areas in Oxfordshire comparing the 2 years before with the 2 years after the limit was introduced. It was something like a 3% drop, though the period coincides with the opening of the North Oxford bypass and the introduction of pedestrian crossings.
Another consideration; former three lane SCs... We have a fair few round here, and some knobs treat them as if they are still three lanes (if you have never seen this, think of one of those Russian dashcam vids where someone is overtaking into oncoming traffic).
When faced with a closing speed of 200mph, the graceful swoop to the left whilst muttering "t
t" could become a panicked swerve onto the shoulder, or worse.
Again, speed isn't the culprit though, it's stty driving.
When faced with a closing speed of 200mph, the graceful swoop to the left whilst muttering "t
t" could become a panicked swerve onto the shoulder, or worse.Again, speed isn't the culprit though, it's s
tty driving.I‘ve driven on a lot of roads where there are no speed limits or there is zero chance of being detected speeding.
My speed is tempered based on my ability to see what’s coming. I’ve used this strategy since I started driving and it has worked out pretty damn well over decades and a huge number of miles.
To answer the OP I generally drive above the speed limit, but sometimes way under it.
My speed is tempered based on my ability to see what’s coming. I’ve used this strategy since I started driving and it has worked out pretty damn well over decades and a huge number of miles.
To answer the OP I generally drive above the speed limit, but sometimes way under it.
8IKERDAVE said:
I often drive along thinking "why is this a 40/50" etc. Then start drifting into thinking what speed would I actually be doing here if there were no limits and of course no other traffic in the way. I find on most open sweeping single carriageway A-roads I'd feel happy and safe to be travelling at 90/100mph but probably not a lot more than that on the majority.
Built up areas would be subjective completely depending on surroundings, time of day, etc. On the whole though I'd probably not exceed 40.
Motorways (when quiet of course), 130-140 would be a nice cruising speed. Of course this depends on what you are driving but in my own car that's where I'd be.
Most 50 limits have been 60 at some point so 90/100 again.
Personally I feel very 'held back' on most roads and just wondered if others feel the same?
Congratulations. You have conclusively proven why we have speed limits in this country.Built up areas would be subjective completely depending on surroundings, time of day, etc. On the whole though I'd probably not exceed 40.
Motorways (when quiet of course), 130-140 would be a nice cruising speed. Of course this depends on what you are driving but in my own car that's where I'd be.
Most 50 limits have been 60 at some point so 90/100 again.
Personally I feel very 'held back' on most roads and just wondered if others feel the same?
Pick me a piece of A road in this country on Google maps that you seriously believe 90/100mph is a sensible speed when other people are out using the roads, by that I mean not 2am on a Sunday morning, and when was the last time you were on a motorway were there was such little traffic that 130/140 mph was even possible? Mine was about 20 years ago!
ETA: by A-road, I assume you mean single carriage way A-road
Edited by Megaflow on Friday 21st October 15:07
The problem is that there are a lot of objects to hit apart from other unpredictable road users, and as the KE goes up with the square of the speed even if the risk of a crash is not high the consequences rapidly become dreadful the faster you go.
Whilst 20mph across all towns and cities seems a bit draconian, 20 around schools etc and 30 elsewhere is enough. On motorways, where there are crash barriers and everyone is gong the same way (hopefully) 80mph and on A/ B roads it depends on the conditions and layout but max of 60mph I would have thought.
Whilst 20mph across all towns and cities seems a bit draconian, 20 around schools etc and 30 elsewhere is enough. On motorways, where there are crash barriers and everyone is gong the same way (hopefully) 80mph and on A/ B roads it depends on the conditions and layout but max of 60mph I would have thought.
Earlier in the week on greatest hits radio they where warning of Hampshire doing a clamp down on speeding as in the last year there have been over 1600 serious accidents and nearly 200 of them were partly due to speeding!! so man maths thats less that 15% so what causes all the other 85% of accidents??
Sadly it will never happen as you will still have that uber driver in the fast lane at 60 mph having no idea of where they are going or that there are hundreds of cars behind them.
Sadly it will never happen as you will still have that uber driver in the fast lane at 60 mph having no idea of where they are going or that there are hundreds of cars behind them.
8IKERDAVE said:
I often drive along thinking "why is this a 40/50" etc. Then start drifting into thinking what speed would I actually be doing here if there were no limits and of course no other traffic in the way. I find on most open sweeping single carriageway A-roads I'd feel happy and safe to be travelling at 90/100mph but probably not a lot more than that on the majority.
Built up areas would be subjective completely depending on surroundings, time of day, etc. On the whole though I'd probably not exceed 40.
Motorways (when quiet of course), 130-140 would be a nice cruising speed. Of course this depends on what you are driving but in my own car that's where I'd be.
Most 50 limits have been 60 at some point so 90/100 again.
Personally I feel very 'held back' on most roads and just wondered if others feel the same?
I guess you must believe that you would be driving safely at those speeds?Built up areas would be subjective completely depending on surroundings, time of day, etc. On the whole though I'd probably not exceed 40.
Motorways (when quiet of course), 130-140 would be a nice cruising speed. Of course this depends on what you are driving but in my own car that's where I'd be.
Most 50 limits have been 60 at some point so 90/100 again.
Personally I feel very 'held back' on most roads and just wondered if others feel the same?
What about everyone else, road junctions, slower vehicles ?
Why the need for speed ?
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