So who thinks 140mph is acceptable on a motorway?
Discussion
OK. I've been reading a few posts on lately and I've found a general consensus that people here would be happy if the motorway speed limit was raised to well over 100mph. (In some cases 140mph!!!)
I don't mean to step on anyones toes but do you really believe this is a safe attitude towards driving even if conditions are clear, dry and "safe"!?!?!?
Ask the majority of people and you'll find very few have even gone over 100mph let alone want to have other cars flying around them at those speeds.
I'm no angel when it comes to speed as I've gone well over the 150mph barrier (4am on an empty motorway on a warm summers night), but it was a one off on a motorcycle and to tell you the truth, I would never do it again on a public road.
The one car I passed must have thought a cruise missile past him and I'm sure it gave him a fright so how could you justify doing that everyday to other motorists!?
It would scare unexperienced ones (and there are plenty), and do you really believe boy racers are capable of doing those speeds safely in their 1.4 novas?!
On top of that, it's an unfortunate fact but most motorists also see speed limits as a target and not a limit as they are meant to be. Not everyone has a vehicle that can drive entirely safely at 100mph let alone 140mph so all i'm saying is rethink what you all believe would be a sensible limit for todays modern motorways.
I say 85mph.....and that's at a push!
(I usually do about 65-70mph in the outer lane and I get 35mpg in a BMW 323 - and yes, even BMW drivers can drive sensibly!)
So why the rush!?
I don't mean to step on anyones toes but do you really believe this is a safe attitude towards driving even if conditions are clear, dry and "safe"!?!?!?
Ask the majority of people and you'll find very few have even gone over 100mph let alone want to have other cars flying around them at those speeds.
I'm no angel when it comes to speed as I've gone well over the 150mph barrier (4am on an empty motorway on a warm summers night), but it was a one off on a motorcycle and to tell you the truth, I would never do it again on a public road.
The one car I passed must have thought a cruise missile past him and I'm sure it gave him a fright so how could you justify doing that everyday to other motorists!?
It would scare unexperienced ones (and there are plenty), and do you really believe boy racers are capable of doing those speeds safely in their 1.4 novas?!
On top of that, it's an unfortunate fact but most motorists also see speed limits as a target and not a limit as they are meant to be. Not everyone has a vehicle that can drive entirely safely at 100mph let alone 140mph so all i'm saying is rethink what you all believe would be a sensible limit for todays modern motorways.
I say 85mph.....and that's at a push!
(I usually do about 65-70mph in the outer lane and I get 35mpg in a BMW 323 - and yes, even BMW drivers can drive sensibly!)
So why the rush!?
I'd prefer a gentalman's agreement was honored over here, and we had unrestricted sections of road. I'd like to see an 'above 100mph only' lane on the motorways to accomodate this (the M4 could easily be modified from the useless bus lane there).
However, I also think that there should be a 20 limit outside schools and minimum limits on every A road in the country.
There is no rush, but driving slowly bores the pants off me. And I find that in an area liberally sprinkled with scameras I don't actually drive, but watch the speedo - I'm sure I felt a trolly go under the car when I sprinted upto Stoneleigh the other weekend!
However, I also think that there should be a 20 limit outside schools and minimum limits on every A road in the country.
There is no rush, but driving slowly bores the pants off me. And I find that in an area liberally sprinkled with scameras I don't actually drive, but watch the speedo - I'm sure I felt a trolly go under the car when I sprinted upto Stoneleigh the other weekend!
as a blanket limit rise, i dont think it would be fun.. as a staggered limit rise over a number of years, I dont see an issue with it.
Works in Germany.
I WOULD like to see some limits on WHOM can do speeds tho.. but accept this would be much harder to police, and would quite likely be unworkable.
some staggered limit for car type / driver experience..
X yrs license held = X speed limit
X + 2 = Limit + x etc
I dont want to see fiestas trying to do 140mph, but I dont mind seeing 911's doing 140..
but, how to police such a limit.
Some cars can safely do 140 (with an adequate driver) some cars cant, and even attempting to is dangerous.
dont know how .de deals with this.. maybe they just rely on peoples 'common sense'
but still, should the limit be raised, yes, over time, with enough PR and Warning to drum the message into the numpties and seniors that its now OK to exceed the 'old limit'
Works in Germany.
I WOULD like to see some limits on WHOM can do speeds tho.. but accept this would be much harder to police, and would quite likely be unworkable.
some staggered limit for car type / driver experience..
X yrs license held = X speed limit
X + 2 = Limit + x etc
I dont want to see fiestas trying to do 140mph, but I dont mind seeing 911's doing 140..
but, how to police such a limit.
Some cars can safely do 140 (with an adequate driver) some cars cant, and even attempting to is dangerous.
dont know how .de deals with this.. maybe they just rely on peoples 'common sense'
but still, should the limit be raised, yes, over time, with enough PR and Warning to drum the message into the numpties and seniors that its now OK to exceed the 'old limit'
200mph can be safe, depends on where you do it.
As for Novas doing 140 get a grip
Most cars do 120, which means they are basically doing 7000rpm at that speed.
So if the limit was 120, would they really do that?
No
They will do a speed that is comfortable for them.
I wouldn't do 120 in my mazda, or even the rover for that speed for any length of time, maybe a short burst every now and then.
Mainly cos I don't want to blow up my engine. I also suspect that not many people do.
As for Novas doing 140 get a grip
Most cars do 120, which means they are basically doing 7000rpm at that speed.
So if the limit was 120, would they really do that?
No
They will do a speed that is comfortable for them.
I wouldn't do 120 in my mazda, or even the rover for that speed for any length of time, maybe a short burst every now and then.
Mainly cos I don't want to blow up my engine. I also suspect that not many people do.
beanbag said:
(I usually do about 65-70mph in the outer lane and I get 35mpg in a BMW 323 - and yes, even BMW drivers can drive sensibly!)
So why the rush!?
Your not a FLF (Fast lane F**kwit) are you beanbag-people sitting in the outside lane at 65 should have their cars crushed-the second offence with them inside them.
As to the main point of your post yes there needs to be a limit quite a bit lower than 140 MPH.
JagLover said:
beanbag said:
(I usually do about 65-70mph in the outer lane and I get 35mpg in a BMW 323 - and yes, even BMW drivers can drive sensibly!)
So why the rush!?
Your not a FLF (Fast lane F**kwit) are you beanbag-people sitting in the outside lane at 65 should have their cars crushed-the second offence with them inside them.
As to the main point of your post yes there needs to be a limit quite a bit lower than 140 MPH.
Ok.....I apologise. I got my lanes mixed up. I do 65-70mph in the "left hand lane". Sorry! But still I have the right to use the outer lane at those speeds so long as I am overtaking a slower vehicle. After which, I pull over to the left hand most lane that's free and safe to get to.
>> Edited by beanbag on Friday 11th March 18:27
It isn't inherently safe or dangerous to do 70 mph, or 140 mph. The degree of risk depends on many factors other than speed. In some situations 30 mph is dangerously fast. Does this mean nobody should ever be allowed to go over 30 mph because sometimes it can be dangerous? Same goes for 60, 70, 100, 140 mph. Unless you can prove that it is NEVER safe for anyone to exceed that speed under any circumstances, there's no justification imo for imposing an absolute speed limit.
IMO if your driving is dangerous you should be charged with dangerous driving, not charged with exceeding x mph or holding an electronic gadget to your ear or eating a piece of fruit. If your driving is NOT dangerous then the fact your speed was x mph is irrelevant.
IMO if your driving is dangerous you should be charged with dangerous driving, not charged with exceeding x mph or holding an electronic gadget to your ear or eating a piece of fruit. If your driving is NOT dangerous then the fact your speed was x mph is irrelevant.
If there weren't limits, then 140mph would be fine. And I don't mean that in the stupid sense!
Drivers on our motorways do not expect other drivers to be travelling at such speeds, which means 140mph is dangerous. Misjudgement could, nay, would be fatal.
Travel 140mph on a motorway where speeds are much higher, or the limit is eliminated altogether, and I believe there is less risk. I have done 130mph on an Italian motorway and it seemed that the majority of cars were doing at least 90/100mph. I even got overtaken.
Ultimately anyone can drive fast in a straight line - as fast as their cars will let them. It's the 70mph-ers who are doing half the speed than you are who are at risk.
>> Edited by titiany on Friday 11th March 18:35
Drivers on our motorways do not expect other drivers to be travelling at such speeds, which means 140mph is dangerous. Misjudgement could, nay, would be fatal.
Travel 140mph on a motorway where speeds are much higher, or the limit is eliminated altogether, and I believe there is less risk. I have done 130mph on an Italian motorway and it seemed that the majority of cars were doing at least 90/100mph. I even got overtaken.
Ultimately anyone can drive fast in a straight line - as fast as their cars will let them. It's the 70mph-ers who are doing half the speed than you are who are at risk.
>> Edited by titiany on Friday 11th March 18:35
heebeegeetee said:
Why not just let the traffic govern the limit?
This is exactly what already happens if the truth were told.
Traffic finds its own natural speed, just like water in a stream.
Put obstuctions like speed limits in the way and it disrupts the natural flow and causes the problems we are all well aware of.
As for motorway speed limits...nah. Dont need them and never did.
Minimum limits for each lane would be good for traffic flow though.
pwig said:
200mph can be safe, depends on where you do it.
As for Novas doing 140 get a grip
200mph is NEVER safe on a public road and hardly more on a racetrack! Your having a laugh aren't you?! Get real!
And my point about Novas is not about them doing 140mph. Its the boy racer chavs who try to get them to go as fast as when they are simply not safe at speeds over 100mph. That goes for a lot of other cars on the road right now.
Let me think:
Fiestas, Novas, Corsas, Focuses, older Skodas, Polos, older golfs.....and I could go on. The list is plentiful.
I don't also mean to be a killjoy but driving on a public highway was never meant to be an adrenaline pumping thrill. If you want that, go to a racetrack or find a windy road and buy a 125!
I believe people do tend to drive to whats comfortable for them (and the car). When im in the Lotus then ive said it before 140mph or even 150mph is safe as long as im not changing a CD & there isnt anyone else about, when im in the Smart 60mph is about fine. It is, and we all know this, down to the car, driving experience, road conditions & location & state of mind, are you tired at night or fresh 1st thing in the morning that all adds up to weather a speed is safe or not.
How can that be policed fairly? There isn't really anyway it can. So its a game, dont crash, dont get caught & stay lucky...
How can that be policed fairly? There isn't really anyway it can. So its a game, dont crash, dont get caught & stay lucky...
beanbag said:
200mph can be safe, depends on where you do it.
As for Novas doing 140 get a grip
200mph is NEVER safe on a public road and hardly more on a racetrack! Your having a laugh aren't you?! Get real!
Prove it.
beanbag said:
And my point about Novas is not about them doing 140mph. Its the boy racer chavs who try to get them to go as fast as when they are simply not safe at speeds over 100mph. That goes for a lot of other cars on the road right now.
So you max your car out? So what? You aint gonna sit there all day on the rev limiter now are you?
beanbag said:
Let me think:
I don't also mean to be a killjoy but driving on a public highway was never meant to be an adrenaline pumping thrill. If you want that, go to a racetrack or find a windy road and buy a 125!
The public road has ALWAYS been used as a thrill, go to any decent stretch of tarmac on a sunnny sunday afternoon. They dont call it the thrill of the open road for nothing.
titiany said:
It's the 70mph-ers who are doing half the speed that you are who are at risk.
But that's the speed limit today. I've already got 6 points for speeding (2 seperate occaisions), and I don't want anymore.
So I refuse point blank to go above 85mph! On top of that, if I drive at 85-95mph as I used to all the time, I get 28-30mpg.
At 65-70mph (legal limit), I get between 35 and 38mpg! That's a big difference and saves me a fortune every month! So i don't want to go faster than that!
If you forced people to go faster, then not only would it make the majority of people uncomfortable on motorways, it would also push the cost of motoring through the roof!
edc said:
My main issue with raised limits is the differential between the fastest cars and the slowest vehicles. The differntial and closing speeds could be large. 200mph if the car and conditions are capable but not whilst passing other cars at 65 or when close on approaching other cars
That's what I was trying to say, but I didn't quite manage it!!!
. Totally agree.
titiany said:
My main issue with raised limits is the differential between the fastest cars and the slowest vehicles. The differntial and closing speeds could be large. 200mph if the car and conditions are capable but not whilst passing other cars at 65 or when close on approaching other cars
That's what I was trying to say, but I didn't quite manage it!!!
Totally agree.
And there's no way to police this issue, thus, a lower maimum limit is enforced. Imagine if somebody was doing 200 on the outside of the 4 lane M25 and somebody entering by sliproad swept straight out to lane 4, having looked in mirrors and seeing nothing (this is the sort of numpty driving that happens), that could be a 120+ impact
pwig said:
pwig said:
200mph can be safe, depends on where you do it.
As for Novas doing 140 get a grip
200mph is NEVER safe on a public road and hardly more on a racetrack! Your having a laugh aren't you?! Get real!
Prove it.
Go ahead.....drive at 200mph on todays motorways. Frankly an attitude like that gets no sympathy from me if you end up in a coffin.
beanbag said:
And my point about Novas is not about them doing 140mph. Its the boy racer chavs who try to get them to go as fast as when they are simply not safe at speeds over 100mph. That goes for a lot of other cars on the road right now.
So you max your car out? So what? You aint gonna sit there all day on the rev limiter now are you?
[/quote]
Kids are not responsible. You really think they give a monkeys about maxing their engines out!? No.
[quote=beanbag]
Let me think:
I don't also mean to be a killjoy but driving on a public highway was never meant to be an adrenaline pumping thrill. If you want that, go to a racetrack or find a windy road and buy a 125!
[/quote] The public road has ALWAYS been used as a thrill, go to any decent stretch of tarmac on a sunnny sunday afternoon. They dont call it the thrill of the open road for nothing.[/quote]
Yeah! A nice windy road at national speed limits! That's a thrill. I've ridden very powerful motorbikes and 60mph can be a thrill if you take a sharp corner at that speed and come out with your knee down. Same goes for a car. Take a corner at 60mph in a 60mph zone, feels great.
Anyone can do 150mph in a straight line. Their not necessarily safe doing so but they can! Oh what a thrill!
Beanbag.
I never really go above 85mph if I can help it. But sadly not because I'm moral or stingey. I just don't want to get nicked.
My car is capable of doing speeds far exceeding the limits in the UK utterly comfortably. Fuel consumption, for me, is not a priority. I don't really do enough long journeys to want to worry about saving a few quid.
If every car on the road today was capable for carrying 100mph comfortably, then I don't believe that raising the limit to higher speeds would be such an issue.
I never really go above 85mph if I can help it. But sadly not because I'm moral or stingey. I just don't want to get nicked.
My car is capable of doing speeds far exceeding the limits in the UK utterly comfortably. Fuel consumption, for me, is not a priority. I don't really do enough long journeys to want to worry about saving a few quid.
If every car on the road today was capable for carrying 100mph comfortably, then I don't believe that raising the limit to higher speeds would be such an issue.
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