80 limit dead in the water?

[mybrainhurts]

Those nice people at BRAKE sent me this email today...

Incompetent meddlers said:

New post on No to 80

Brake enthusiastically welcomes reported halt to 80mph plans
by noto80


Today the Daily Star reported that Prime Minister David Cameron was 'ready to put the brakes on raising the motorway speed limit to 80mph' following comments from new Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin that 'safety is paramount'.

Read the article. Read about the No to 80 campaign.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, said: "We are extremely pleased by this news and hope to hear further confirmation from government soon. Evidence shows 80mph limits would cause more people to be killed and seriously injured on motorways, as well as creating more CO2, while it is doubtful they would lead to significant journey time savings.

"We warmly welcome Mr McLoughlin's comments that his priority is the safety of road users, and his acknowledgement that managing traffic speed is crucial in preventing needless deaths and injuries. We look forward to hearing more from the new transport ministers on how they will usher in a better era for safety on roads and help to counter the recent increase in casualties."

The No to 80 campaign is coordinated by Brake and backed by Campaign for Better Transport, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Greenpeace, Operation Noah, RoadPeace, Road Victims Trust, The UK Noise Association and 10:10.

Is this correct?

[RivieraBlue]

I always thought it was 80

[Mr Sparkle]

It was never going to happen.

[DCLXIV]

Incompetent meddlers said:

The No to 80 campaign is coordinated by Brake and backed by Campaign for Better Transport, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Greenpeace, Operation Noah, RoadPeace, Road Victims Trust, The UK Noise Association and 10:10.

That's basically a list of every organisation I don't like.

[MotorcyclesFish]

I would like to see statistics of speeds observed on motorways. I'll bet 70 isn't more than 80th percentile on major routes, for passenger cars.

[Pablo68]

RivieraBlue said:

I always thought it was 80

^^ This

[otolith]

Cunch of bunts.

[Ved]

I'll drive to the conditions thanks and agree with the above. Cannot stand these blinkered do-gooders. Utterly clueless cave dwelling idiots.

[anonymous-user]

This whole subject makes me chuckle.

Do 80 on many motorways in the UK and you'll be one of the slower vehicles by some margin.
Plus there are no longer any trafpol to catch people either.

[Mattt]

DCLXIV said:

Incompetent meddlers said:

The No to 80 campaign is coordinated by Brake and backed by Campaign for Better Transport, Campaign to Protect Rural England, Greenpeace, Operation Noah, RoadPeace, Road Victims Trust, The UK Noise Association and 10:10.

That's basically a list of every organisation I don't like.

[Lazygraduate]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Interestingly, I think five years ago this might have been correct, but nowadays IMHO traffic on the motorway seems to have slowed considerably compared to the last few years! Or maybe that's all the 50mph average speed checks...

[y2blade]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

This^^^^

[Froomee]

Just do 80 it's not like there are many police on the roads to enforce it

[IanMorewood]

Lazygraduate said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Interestingly, I think five years ago this might have been correct, but nowadays IMHO traffic on the motorway seems to have slowed considerably compared to the last few years! Or maybe that's all the 50mph average speed checks...

Agree not much comes past you if your sat at an indicated 80 these days, think many folks have slowed down due to the fuel costs and the average speed cams too.

[Leins]

DCLXIV said:

That's basically a list of every organisation I don't like.

Apart from "The UK Noise Association", that sounds great! Wonder what dB levels you need to be hitting to be allowed join?

[otolith]

Depends on the car, but an indicated 80 is unlikely to be over the threshold for prosecution.

[mcgandalf]

Was the original idea to have this 80 limit cover motorways only, or extend it to HQDC A-roads?

[Emeye]

IanMorewood said:

Agree not much comes past you if your sat at an indicated 80 these days, think many folks have slowed down due to the fuel costs and the average speed cams too.

Definitely this.

[otolith]

Managed motorways only. The opposition really is knee jerk nonsense from anti-car groups.

[soad]

Mr Sparkle said:

It was never going to happen.

Agreed.