maximum speed on motorway?
Discussion
DomesticM said:
I seem to be in the minority. My Megane averages about 20mpg at 80mph so I tend to sit at 65mph on cruise control which gets me about 35mpg. I only use motorways during quieter times (late at night or very early hours) so I don't have to worry about holding people up while slowly overtaking lorries. I find it to be way less stressful than driving faster as I don't have to worry about middle lane hoggers and looking out for police.
I do the same. I enjoy making progress on more interesting NSL roads, but the motorway is boring whether you're doing 60mph or 80mph so I'll usually just sit with the cruise at 65mph, relax, and enjoy the extra 15% MPG. Does your MPG on your megane really decrease by 40% between 65mph and 80mph though!? It must have the aero dynamics of a brick!
To all those who say “plod will never take notice at 80-85” how do you explain my just having to attend a SAC for doing 79 in very light mid afternoon traffic on a 6-lane section of the A1M in fine weather?
Also why oh why do others chose to travel long distances at 5-10mph under the speed limit & hold up traffic? Surely, the difference between 65-70 is no less “relaxing”? Unless you’re in a shed.
If I ruled the world: I’d add 2 new rules of the road: (1) HGVs not allowed to overtake if less than 3 lanes. 2) On motorways you must give way to traffic approaching from behind as soon as possible.
Discuss 👹.
Also why oh why do others chose to travel long distances at 5-10mph under the speed limit & hold up traffic? Surely, the difference between 65-70 is no less “relaxing”? Unless you’re in a shed.
If I ruled the world: I’d add 2 new rules of the road: (1) HGVs not allowed to overtake if less than 3 lanes. 2) On motorways you must give way to traffic approaching from behind as soon as possible.
Discuss 👹.
Gremlin500 said:
why oh why do others chose to travel long distances at 5-10mph under the speed limit & hold up traffic? Surely, the difference between 65-70 is no less “relaxing”? Unless you’re in a shed.
1) If you drive a city car or an older vehicle then driving at 60mph is often a lot more relaxing than driving at 75mph. My mk1 MX-5 was doing close to 4000rpm at 75mph so was much more pleasant at slower speeds on the motorway.2) Fuel economy starts to drop off rapidly over 60mph. Some people might prefer to trade a few minutes of their time for a reduced fuel bill.
3) On the motorway, you've very rarely holding anyone up by driving under the speed limit. Lane 1 is usually full of lorries anyway so if slower drivers are using the lanes properly then they'll spend a lot of their time there. Besides, motorway capacity increases at lower speeds (hence why many sections of smart motorway lowering speed limits at peak times), so slower drivers are arguably doing you a favour there.
nonsequitur said:
NordicCrankShaft said:
Cruise control, 75-80, sit back, relax.
Until.....?2. About a mile further on they overtake you, pull back in and SLOW down.
3. Repeat step 1, and guarantee step will 2 will happen.
As Bruce used to say "Good game good game"
Basil Brush said:
Speed Badger said:
I usually travel at around 67mph. I once did a regular late night journey halfway round the M25 and into Surrey, usually hardly any traffic. I tried an experiment; One time I did the journey at mostly an average speed of around 65mph, another journey at 85mph. It saved me about 4 minutes or so. Kinda felt its pointless ever since to risk my life and others for 4 minutes.
Why do you think you are automatically risking your life and others by doing 85 instead of 65/67?ANY form Road, Motorway, Rail, Air or Sea travel (as a 'vehicle' driver and/or passenger, or as a Pedestrian and/or (Motor) Cyclist) is obviously a risk many people are prepared to, and/or have take every single day - otherwise stay at home or walk every where (and that also comes with different risks), if you want/need to have any kind of job affording you any kind of decent living standards.
I also know personally how much 'fun' it can be to go 'fast' (in or on the right 'vehicle' in the 'right' conditions, so as to possibly only endanger yourself, and not even add cost to nhs if you do have an 'accident'.
If 'Basil Brush' had seen the results I have seen of 'accidental' vehicle collisions - even at 30 mph, never mind at ANY speed higher than that (legal or otherwise), I would hope he/she would have the common sense to drive at least within the posted speed limits (and LOWER than that in bad weather or 'heavy traffic') rather than stupidly assume that '85mph' is no more dangerous than '65/67 mph'.
'Excess Speed' (above posted speed limits, or against common sense due to current vehicle, road or weather conditions) IS or CAN be necessarily dangerous 'by itself', and unfortunately that excess speed is NEVER experienced in isolation because there is ALWAYS some human element of 'bravado', or inexperience, or unknown or 'unexpected' poor conditions of road, weather, vehicle that is being driven 'too fast' for its own condition, and especially the unknown experience and/or reactions of the 'other road users present at the time' and/or conditions of their vehicle', that can and DOES result in 'accidents'. These 'accidents' can and do also often happen when only one vehicle is involved for same/similar reasons.
The speed limits are there for a 'good reason':
((and yes I know newer vehicles ARE usually 'SAFER', because they are built better & can stop quicker - but they are also a lot faster too, & unfortunately many human brains are NOT able to CATCH up, never mind KEEP up with these developments!))
Since I passed both motorcycle and car tests over 28 years ago (& fork lift driver tests four times) have seen 1,000's of examples of the kind of bad driving, that I saw on EVERY SINGLE JOURNEY I made (six days a week) of drivers:
Failing to use MIRROR, SIGNAL MANOUVER on just about ANY or EVERY occasion when they should be using it (giving time for at least THREE indicator flashes, but perhaps no more than seven or eight (depending on road and/or traffic speed) - i.e.
1) At EVERY SINGLE junction you travel through or EVERY SINGLE road you drive on, if you are turning left or right at that junction (especially including roundabouts),
2) Changing lanes to right or left on a dual carriageway or motorway,
3) Slowing, then stopping to park at a layby, or ANY other kind or 'rest stop' or to pull into a driveway or 'private road', or anywhere else away from the road you are on,
4) Slowing down and/or stopping when experiencing a potential 'breakdown' emergency - in which case 'hazard lights' would be appropriate,
5) Or potentially making ANY kind of 'manouver' when you are NOT slowing down, stopping to park, turning or changing lanes - in which case USE YOUR MIRRORS MORE OFTEN - especially in the case of passing slower or parked vehicles (like horses, cyclists, mopeds, taxis or delivery vans or emergency vehicles) or when observing dozy or lazy pedestrians who can't be bothered to cross the road in a safer place like a fixed crossing point with lights, even when they ARE present.
I have also lost count of the number of times I have witnessed:
Drivers driving so fast in the wet and/or in slushy snow that you ruin visibility for drivers behind you and to each side on motorways and dual carriageways as well as 'single carriageways',
and
Drivers using their bloody fog lights ALL THE TIME, even when it is NOT foggy, and even worse when it IS raining, or VERY wet after it has BEEN raining;
Also drivers who drive in the dark with no lights on (or just their 'side or fog lights') or continue to drive with 'faulty' headlights, faulty brake lights, or indicators that don't work properly or at all - either too fast or too slow on stay on without flashing - possibly 'indicating' (no pun intended) a faulty relay or blown bulb or blown fuse.
People who park at all kinds of angles, on pavements, at the roadside, in designated car parks - but in DISABLED ONLY spaces (when neither they or their passenger are disabled), or in spaces for taxis, spaces for emergency vehicles, at electric vehicle charging points (when they are in a gas engine powered car), or they are NOT in a taxi or an emergency vehicle, or in motorcycles only bays, when they NOT on a motorcycle, or on double or single yellow lines or red lines, or those who stop on yellow box junctions or otherwise cause an obstruction to other vehicles or pedestrians REALLY do my head in!
Some of these speed limits (according to some people) are for 'tax raising', because motorists have no choice but to pay up or stop driving - also sometimes pay up AND stop driving).
The most sensible reasons for obeying the posted speed limits should be OBVIOUS:
driving at a lower speed means:
less motoring offence fines and/or driving bans;
less fuel used, means lower fuel bills & lower vehicle emissions;
less traffic noise & especially road vibrations
means less road maintenance needed;
which means 'more comfortable' journeys on 'smoother' roads;
decreased vehicle wear & tear;
decreased numbers of 'accidents';
lower insurance premiums;
lower cost to NHS, because of less people being killed & injured in these 'accidents' including those pedestrians who weren't even in the 'vehicle that crashed';
lower cost to nhs due to more of the 1,000s that die every year due to 'vehicle collisions' and traffic fumes and other associated pollution, actually surviving instead, and being able to pay more taxes!;
lower taxes paid by ALL OF US,
more money for ALL OF US to spend on other things.
Oh, yes and less excuse for government to make even harsher laws and take more 'taxes' thereby making motiring even more expensive than it is already, because thats an easier way to reduce accidents isn't?
Rather than having more and better 'training or awareness courses' available for ALL road users (including some pedestrians, like school children - especially those who use bicycles to get to & from school) and compulsory for some road users (another tax?) which could achieve same or similar results.
More carrot - less stick, can often achieve better results for often lower cost.
That also does not take into account the increased 'cost' to motorists (and their families) who often also suffer because a driver who gets 'done for speeding (or something else just as stupid or dangerous)' and then may or does lose his/her job because he/she loses their licence due a driving ban - which means they can't pay their mortgage or rent so they lose their house, and everything else possibly that they need that job for like spouse, kids, friends, LIFE, etc.
That also does not take into account that EVERYBODY who uses the roads and/or pavements as a pedestrian, or motorist is a human being who can and often does make mistakes, but one that also has a responsibilty to use them sensibly and not deliberately or 'accidentally' endanger themselves and/or other users in the process!
Bluetoo said:
Say that's a journey of 80 miles. 85mph versus 65mph will save you 17.4 minutes.= possibly flawed maths unless you are talking average speed?
to average 85 you will need to spend all of the Motorway miles at 90-100 (or more) and have a very clear/unimpeded run for all of it, including any non motorway bits.
Averaging 65 is probably a 'real world' average speed over an 80 mile trip with a bit of stop start/A road at beginning/end for a driver 'making progress' where/when appropriate and having common sense where/when appropriate.
When or where exactly is it appropriate to NOT have common sense?to average 85 you will need to spend all of the Motorway miles at 90-100 (or more) and have a very clear/unimpeded run for all of it, including any non motorway bits.
Averaging 65 is probably a 'real world' average speed over an 80 mile trip with a bit of stop start/A road at beginning/end for a driver 'making progress' where/when appropriate and having common sense where/when appropriate.
Or did you misquote yourself?
Gremlin500 said:
If I ruled the world: I’d add 2 new rules of the road: (1) HGVs not allowed to overtake if less than 3 lanes. 2) On motorways you must give way to traffic approaching from behind as soon as possible.
Discuss ??.
..as for those who use less when they should use fewer..grrrh!Discuss ??.
Fairbairn_MacGhillielaidir said:
Speed limits are there for a 'good reason':
No. In the immortal words of LJK Setright "Speed limits waste life.They are a tool of repression".
Most UK speed limits bear little relevance to safety standards or modern day driving.
Witness the plethora of 40 and 50 limits in rural areas.
Local councils like to set speed limits at the 50% level, when science shows
us the 85% level is the safest level. Local councils are being deliberately obtuse
in picking limits known to be non-optimal.
UK motorway speed limit hasn't been changed in half a century. It's as up to date
as Ken Dodd in the pop charts and cross ply tyres and drum brakes on a Morris Minor
in a current world of radial tyres, disc brakes, ABS and the BMW 3 series being a popular car.
Being forced to drive slowly isn't the same as driving carefully.
Speed Badger said:
I usually travel at around 67mph. .... I tried an experiment; One time I did the journey at mostly an average speed of around 65mph, another journey at 85mph. It saved me about 4 minutes or so. Kinda felt its pointless ever since to risk my life and others for 4 minutes.
Exactly this. Try spending a few seconds with a spreadsheet to see how much time you actually save in various situations like this. It's not much, especially considering that the higher speed probably won't be maintained for the full time. I.e. steady 67 is more possible than steady 85.85mph instead of 67mph gives you about 1 minute saving in 5 miles - that's the most. i.e if you actually keep it at 85.
dcb said:
No. In the immortal words of LJK Setright "Speed limits waste life.
They are a tool of repression".
Most UK speed limits bear little relevance to safety standards or modern day driving.
Witness the plethora of 40 and 50 limits in rural areas.
Local councils like to set speed limits at the 50% level, when science shows
us the 85% level is the safest level. Local councils are being deliberately obtuse
in picking limits known to be non-optimal.
UK motorway speed limit hasn't been changed in half a century. It's as up to date
as Ken Dodd in the pop charts and cross ply tyres and drum brakes on a Morris Minor
in a current world of radial tyres, disc brakes, ABS and the BMW 3 series being a popular car.
Being forced to drive slowly isn't the same as driving carefully.
Well said. They are a tool of repression".
Most UK speed limits bear little relevance to safety standards or modern day driving.
Witness the plethora of 40 and 50 limits in rural areas.
Local councils like to set speed limits at the 50% level, when science shows
us the 85% level is the safest level. Local councils are being deliberately obtuse
in picking limits known to be non-optimal.
UK motorway speed limit hasn't been changed in half a century. It's as up to date
as Ken Dodd in the pop charts and cross ply tyres and drum brakes on a Morris Minor
in a current world of radial tyres, disc brakes, ABS and the BMW 3 series being a popular car.
Being forced to drive slowly isn't the same as driving carefully.
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