Motorway Speed Limit Reform

[panholio]

Following on from some of the discussions about speed limits on the M62 camera thread, I have been thinking about motorway speed limits in general.

There have been a number of proposals to increase the limit to 80mph which I don't think will ever happen given its blanket approach.

What about increasing speed limits at night, say between 9pm and 6am to 100mph across all suitable motorways?
Speed limits during the day stay at 70mph. However, instead of installing expensive managed motorway systems (although I concede hardshoulder running does help) changing the speed limit in areas that get significant traffic build up to a permanent 60 or even 50mph outside of the night time hours.

Could this work?

[Pistom]

I'd vote for a fast car tax. Pay say £2k/year and you are not restricted anywhere. You could still get done for dangerous driving but not for doing 100 on the M6 toll at 3am with clear weather.

[Dave Hedgehog]

Pistom said:

I'd vote for a fast car tax. Pay say £2k/year and you are not restricted anywhere. You could still get done for dangerous driving but not for doing 100 on the M6 toll at 3am with clear weather.

make this man PM

[Rawwr]

When I start believing the majority of motorists are capable of driving safely at 70mph, then I might start thinking we need to raise the limits.

[ModernAndy]

One of the main problems with doing such a thing is that for safety sake you shouldn't be approaching a car doing 50mph at 100mph without at least a 1 lane buffer (this will probably become a point of disagreement later). They could pull out for whatever reason and make you dead pretty quick. I have no objection to a higher speed if everybody did it but I think there's inherent danger in fast and slow traffic sharing the same road where the difference is in excess of 20mph or so.

[Debaser]

I vote for no limits on Motorways and national speed limit roads. Let people figure it out for themselves.

[Pistom]

Rawwr said:

When I start believing the majority of motorists are capable of driving safely at 70mph, then I might start thinking we need to raise the limits.

I completely agree with this and before we consider my stupid idea seriously, we'd need to get drivers trained in lane discipline.

And another thing, allow under taking as well but before that, teach people to check the inside lane before pulling in.

[dave7692]

Rawwr said:

When I start believing the majority of motorists are capable of driving safely at 70mph, then I might start thinking we need to raise the limits.

Exactly, there's a lot of motorists that terrify my at 15mph let alone 80-90mph

[jdw1234]

Pistom said:

I'd vote for a fast car tax. Pay say £2k/year and you are not restricted anywhere. You could still get done for dangerous driving but not for doing 100 on the M6 toll at 3am with clear weather.

Also the £2k tax comes with exclusive use of the outside lane, bus lanes, cycle lanes and you can park anywhere.

[aarondbs]

jdw1234 said:

Also the £2k tax comes with exclusive use of the outside lane, bus lanes, cycle lanes and you can park anywhere.

I'm not a raving leftie, and I am prepared to accept a parrot, but this sounds like its OK for the rich and bks to the poor...

Far better a skills test properly done and assessed, a bit like having your 5m then 10m and 30m swimming badges

[vonhosen]

panholio said:

Following on from some of the discussions about speed limits on the M62 camera thread, I have been thinking about motorway speed limits in general.

There have been a number of proposals to increase the limit to 80mph which I don't think will ever happen given its blanket approach.

What about increasing speed limits at night, say between 9pm and 6am to 100mph across all suitable motorways?
Speed limits during the day stay at 70mph. However, instead of installing expensive managed motorway systems (although I concede hardshoulder running does help) changing the speed limit in areas that get significant traffic build up to a permanent 60 or even 50mph outside of the night time hours.

Could this work?

You mean where sight lines & vision limits are worse?

[panholio]

vonhosen said:

You mean where sight lines & vision limits are worse?

Yep that is a consideration. But traffic volume is a lot less. Further lighting of motorwsys would need to be considered.

[vonhosen]

panholio said:

vonhosen said:

You mean where sight lines & vision limits are worse?

Yep that is a consideration. But traffic volume is a lot less. Further lighting of motorwsys would need to be considered.

Can't see that money being spent just to up the speed limit at night.

[DonkeyApple]

panholio said:

Following on from some of the discussions about speed limits on the M62 camera thread, I have been thinking about motorway speed limits in general.

There have been a number of proposals to increase the limit to 80mph which I don't think will ever happen given its blanket approach.

What about increasing speed limits at night, say between 9pm and 6am to 100mph across all suitable motorways?
Speed limits during the day stay at 70mph. However, instead of installing expensive managed motorway systems (although I concede hardshoulder running does help) changing the speed limit in areas that get significant traffic build up to a permanent 60 or even 50mph outside of the night time hours.

Could this work?

People who currently drive at 100 are probably more alert because of the fear of being caught.

Remove that fear and maybe there will be more crashes?

Personally, I don't actually believe the limit in the UK is 70, I think it is already higher than that. I'd rather the system remained as was as opposed to being changed and enforced.

[Pistom]

aarondbs said:

I'm not a raving leftie, and I am prepared to accept a parrot, but this sounds like its OK for the rich and bks to the poor...

Hey, there's nowt wrong with that, gives us all an incentive to pay a little more attention at school.

Since when did poverty gives us rights.

[Patrick Bateman]

Is driving that fast at night that wise?

[JaymzDead]

Here's an interesting slant on the argument, how about adopting the French model of a higher speed limit, lowering if weather conditions worsen?

[Pistom]

JaymzDead said:

Here's an interesting slant on the argument, how about adopting the French model of a higher speed limit, lowering if weather conditions worsen?

Since when did the French come up with good ideas?

[JaymzDead]

Pistom said:

Since when did the French come up with good ideas?

Since this one?

[DonkeyApple]

Pistom said:

I'd vote for a fast car tax. Pay say £2k/year and you are not restricted anywhere. You could still get done for dangerous driving but not for doing 100 on the M6 toll at 3am with clear weather.

Need to tie it in to IQ to rule out trustafarians.

Also should only be eligible for certain cars based on a consensus list.

Then instead of a flat fee make it a tax code.