Speed limits will rise to cut journey times

[Debaser]

I’m amazed Highways England state a positive side to increased speed limits.

https://news.sky.com/story/motorway-speed-limits-p...

[Kawasicki]

Debaser said:

I’m amazed Highways England state a positive side to increased speed limits.

https://news.sky.com/story/motorway-speed-limits-p...

Why doesn’t everyone just leave earlier?

[Fox-]

The main benefit to this is not the increase in journey times but the removal of being tailgated and overtaken in narrow lanes by 56mph trucks sat on the limiter when you're observing the 50mph limit.

[voyds9]

Kawasicki said:

Why doesn’t everyone just leave earlier?

Why doesn't everyone travel by horse and cart, more relaxing and free manure

[Chris32345]

Great so people can get through the 20 miles of roadworks 2mins quicker happy days

[sociopath]

Ive never been that bothered about the 50mph limit itself, just the interminably long sections where no work is being done.

If they were better focussed in the use of the restrictions it wouldn't be an issue

[Debaser]

Kawasicki said:

Why doesn’t everyone just leave earlier?

Just imagine how low limits could be, if only people would plan ahead more.

[Munter]

Fox- said:

The main benefit to this is not the increase in journey times but the removal of being tailgated and overtaken in narrow lanes by 56mph trucks sat on the limiter when you're observing the 50mph limit.

That was my thought too. Finally an end to tailgating trucks in the roadworks. (Apart from when you're immediately behind another truck obviously, then it'll still be your fault the truck behind can't do the speed it wants.)

[JeffreyLebowski]

Fox- said:

The main benefit to this is not the increase in journey times but the removal of being tailgated and overtaken in narrow lanes by 56mph trucks sat on the limiter when you're observing the 50mph limit.

This absolutely. To be honest I'd be just as happy if they just reduced the lgv limit to 40mph and left cars at 50mph or restricted trucks to the inside lane through roadworks.

[Dr Jekyll]

JeffreyLebowski said:

Fox- said:

The main benefit to this is not the increase in journey times but the removal of being tailgated and overtaken in narrow lanes by 56mph trucks sat on the limiter when you're observing the 50mph limit.

This absolutely. To be honest I'd be just as happy if they just reduced the lgv limit to 40mph and left cars at 50mph or restricted trucks to the inside lane through roadworks.

Perhaps I'm being radical here, but why not enforce the 50 limit against trucks the same way they enforce it for cars. This '50 for cars, 56 for trucks' regime makes no sense whatsoever.

Secondly, if someone is so utterly stupid as to believe tailgating at 50 will somehow get them to their destination noticeably sooner than driving 2 seconds behind at the same speed, then they shouldn't be allowed to have a licence.

[FlyingPanda]

Dr Jekyll said:

Perhaps I'm being radical here, but why not enforce the 50 limit against trucks the same way they enforce it for cars. This '50 for cars, 56 for trucks' regime makes no sense whatsoever.

I guess this will have been mentioned before, but AIUI the trucks are using more accurately calibrated speedos and are probably sitting at a ‘true’ 50mph, whilst those in cars are sitting at an indicated 50 which is probably more like 46.

[citizensm1th]

FlyingPanda said:

Dr Jekyll said:

Perhaps I'm being radical here, but why not enforce the 50 limit against trucks the same way they enforce it for cars. This '50 for cars, 56 for trucks' regime makes no sense whatsoever.

I guess this will have been mentioned before, but AIUI the trucks are using more accurately calibrated speedos and are probably sitting at a ‘true’ 50mph, whilst those in cars are sitting at an indicated 50 which is probably more like 46.

Yep truck speedometers have to be accurate due to the use of tachometers, the difference between some cars sat at an indicated 50 and a truck is remarkable.

The m1 roadworks between Northampton and mk have been 60 for some time and you still get idiots sat at 50.

[matjk]

I did the long M1 section the other day and it was horrible . I ended up being trapped in the middle lane for a bit with a long train of trucks all tail gaining each other on the inside lane doing 54mph and a mahosive one right on my arse ,
I was doing 55 trying to get passed as my exit was coming up in a few miles . I use Waze so I know my speed exactly. It’s a very uncomfortable feeling

[syl]

Kawasicki said:

Why doesn’t everyone just leave earlier?

To stop people getting up earlier in the summer they go as far as changing the bloody clocks!

[Munter]

FlyingPanda said:

I guess this will have been mentioned before, but AIUI the trucks are using more accurately calibrated speedos and are probably sitting at a ‘true’ 50mph, whilst those in cars are sitting at an indicated 50 which is probably more like 46.

50/51 on the GPS (57 Speedo) will see a truck tailgating after 5 or so minutes in a stretch of roadworks. The trucks know they a speeding when they do it.

[Teddy Lop]

Dr Jekyll said:

Perhaps I'm being radical here, but why not enforce the 50 limit against trucks the same way they enforce it for cars. This '50 for cars, 56 for trucks' regime makes no sense whatsoever.

Secondly, if someone is so utterly stupid as to believe tailgating at 50 will somehow get them to their destination noticeably sooner than driving 2 seconds behind at the same speed, then they shouldn't be allowed to have a licence.

it is enforced the same way, enforcement for a 50 limit is 57mph AIUI, a HGV has a calibrated 56mph limiter so most just keep it pinned regardless, wheras other road users will have to pick/maintain a speed which will typically be slightly less. Hence tailgating, you couldn't deliberately create a better setup.

[FlyingPanda]

I think there is also an assumption (correct or otherwise) that the average speed cameras have a bit of leeway built in, so travelling at a ‘true’ 54mph is probably OK.

I tend to set my cruise control for an indicated ‘limit plus 10%’ which keeps me free of trucks and (touching wood hopefully) hasn’t seen me pick up any tickets so far.

I have driven through a lot of the trials whilst commuting from Cheshire to Hertfordshire and noticed that I do feel noticeably more alert at 60 than 50 though...

[anonymous-user]

A positive move and re-establishes the norm where cars typically travel faster than lorries, it also removes the default of lorries tailgating cars.

[cossy400]

Ill await the flaming but.

Lorry speedos are calibrated more accurately that cars as we already know.

So 50 in a car in more like 46.

So if the limits now raised to 60 a truck will plough on through at 56 BUT a car is still only going to be doing that even if registering 60mph.

So the issue of lorries on your back door could still be an incoming gripe.

[megaphone]

HGV limits are 60mph. Not all are limited at 56mph.