"Motorists want higher speeds on motorways"
Discussion
Telegraph - a week or so ago said:
Motorists want higher speeds on motorways
GEM Motoring Assist is strongly opposed to motorway speed limits being raised. So it was more than a little disappointed when the results of its own survey came back...
Tailgating is the most serious "offence" committed on motorways, with more than three-quarters of motorists saying it causes "highly dangerous".
Driving whilst using your mobile phone came in a close second in the survey with 66 per cent agreeing it puts lives at serious risk, while nearly two thirds believe that driving in the middle lane when the left hand lane is empty is dangerous and should be more strictly enforced.
Only 20 per cent of the 350 motorists surveyed by GEM Motoring Assist, however, said that speeding should be more closely monitored, and over half of drivers surveyed said that the national speed limit should be increased.
GEM said this was "not the result it wanted to hear" as it is strongly opposed to suggestions, by transport secretary Philip Hammond, that motorway speed limits should be raised to 80mph.
Other findings were that more than half of those surveyed don’t want L-plated drivers to be allowed to practice on motorways before their test, with 83 per cent saying there should be a mandatory follow-up exam to test motorway driving skills, instead.
“Drivers need to make sure they are taking every precaution if they are planning to use a motorway and be fully aware of the dangers,” said David Williams, MBE, CEO of GEM Motoring Assist. “We believe that bad motorway driving such as tailgating and driving in the middle lane when the left hand lane is empty should definitely be more strictly enforced as it is this kind of careless driving that can lead to frustration, annoyance and possible accidents.”
Added Mr Williams: "It is shocking that a large number of motorists are in favour of raising the motorway speed limit as research shows that this would considerably increase the number of casualties, levels of carbon emissions and fuel consumption. Safety is our top priority for UK drivers and we hope that by warning the public of these dangers we can help raise awareness and in turn make roads a safer place."
Top 10 Motorway Dangers, according to GEM Motoring Assist:
1. Tailgating
2. Driving while using a mobile phone
3. Driving in the middle lane when the left hand lane is empty
4. Changing lanes without adequate observation or signals
5. Driving on the hard shoulder to avoid traffic
6. Entering a motorway from a slip road without adequate observations or signals
7. Driving too slowly
8. Speeding
9. Use of the outside lane by LGVs
10. Stopping on the hard shoulder when there is no emergency
LinkGEM Motoring Assist is strongly opposed to motorway speed limits being raised. So it was more than a little disappointed when the results of its own survey came back...
Tailgating is the most serious "offence" committed on motorways, with more than three-quarters of motorists saying it causes "highly dangerous".
Driving whilst using your mobile phone came in a close second in the survey with 66 per cent agreeing it puts lives at serious risk, while nearly two thirds believe that driving in the middle lane when the left hand lane is empty is dangerous and should be more strictly enforced.
Only 20 per cent of the 350 motorists surveyed by GEM Motoring Assist, however, said that speeding should be more closely monitored, and over half of drivers surveyed said that the national speed limit should be increased.
GEM said this was "not the result it wanted to hear" as it is strongly opposed to suggestions, by transport secretary Philip Hammond, that motorway speed limits should be raised to 80mph.
Other findings were that more than half of those surveyed don’t want L-plated drivers to be allowed to practice on motorways before their test, with 83 per cent saying there should be a mandatory follow-up exam to test motorway driving skills, instead.
“Drivers need to make sure they are taking every precaution if they are planning to use a motorway and be fully aware of the dangers,” said David Williams, MBE, CEO of GEM Motoring Assist. “We believe that bad motorway driving such as tailgating and driving in the middle lane when the left hand lane is empty should definitely be more strictly enforced as it is this kind of careless driving that can lead to frustration, annoyance and possible accidents.”
Added Mr Williams: "It is shocking that a large number of motorists are in favour of raising the motorway speed limit as research shows that this would considerably increase the number of casualties, levels of carbon emissions and fuel consumption. Safety is our top priority for UK drivers and we hope that by warning the public of these dangers we can help raise awareness and in turn make roads a safer place."
Top 10 Motorway Dangers, according to GEM Motoring Assist:
1. Tailgating
2. Driving while using a mobile phone
3. Driving in the middle lane when the left hand lane is empty
4. Changing lanes without adequate observation or signals
5. Driving on the hard shoulder to avoid traffic
6. Entering a motorway from a slip road without adequate observations or signals
7. Driving too slowly
8. Speeding
9. Use of the outside lane by LGVs
10. Stopping on the hard shoulder when there is no emergency
Having never heard of GEM Motoring Assist before, their CEO's anti-speed rantings adds them to the list of firms who'll never get my money. Nice of them not to just bury the survey though I suppose.
Edited by Johnnytheboy on Friday 8th April 11:39
It will probably never change, same as the so called stopping distances won't ever change. Interesting to know the 70mph speed limit on motorways was originally introduced as a temporary measure. Something to do with the government being concerned about AC testing their Cobra's on the M1 at 180mph
bmw535i said:
It will probably never change, same as the so called stopping distances won't ever change. Interesting to know the 70mph speed limit on motorways was originally introduced as a temporary measure. Something to do with the government being concerned about AC testing their Cobra's on the M1 at 180mph
Urban myth, I'm afraid. Here's the real deal.Q: When was the 70 mph motorway speed limit introduced in Britain?
A: The 70 mph National Speed Limit was introduced as a temporary measure in December 1965. It is often blamed on Barbara Castle, but at the time the Minister of Transport was Tom Fraser.
The reason given was a spate of serious accidents in foggy conditions, but it is often claimed that the MoT had been alarmed by AC Cars testing their latest Cobra on the M1 at speeds up to 180 mph.
It was confirmed as a permanent limit in 1967, by which time Barbara Castle (a non-driver) had become Minister of Transport.There was surprisingly little debate at the time: the fact that the average family car of the time could only just exceed 70 mph perhaps had something to do with this.
It should be noted that this limit applied to all previously "derestricted" roads, not only motorways.
All rural roads in the Isle of Man (including most of the famous TT course) remain genuinely derestricted, as a matter of interest.
Skodaku said:
bmw535i said:
It will probably never change, same as the so called stopping distances won't ever change. Interesting to know the 70mph speed limit on motorways was originally introduced as a temporary measure. Something to do with the government being concerned about AC testing their Cobra's on the M1 at 180mph
Urban myth, I'm afraid. Here's the real deal.Q: When was the 70 mph motorway speed limit introduced in Britain?
A: The 70 mph National Speed Limit was introduced as a temporary measure in December 1965. It is often blamed on Barbara Castle, but at the time the Minister of Transport was Tom Fraser.
The reason given was a spate of serious accidents in foggy conditions, but it is often claimed that the MoT had been alarmed by AC Cars testing their latest Cobra on the M1 at speeds up to 180 mph.
It was confirmed as a permanent limit in 1967, by which time Barbara Castle (a non-driver) had become Minister of Transport.There was surprisingly little debate at the time: the fact that the average family car of the time could only just exceed 70 mph perhaps had something to do with this.
It should be noted that this limit applied to all previously "derestricted" roads, not only motorways.
All rural roads in the Isle of Man (including most of the famous TT course) remain genuinely derestricted, as a matter of interest.
lol pretty much word for word!!
But it's nice to hear that people aren't being all anti-speed! It would be nice to see a move forward in motoring after experiencing only backwards moves in legislation and taxation since I can remember! The whole stopping distance thing needs re-evaluating and should be done so every 10 years!
But it's nice to hear that people aren't being all anti-speed! It would be nice to see a move forward in motoring after experiencing only backwards moves in legislation and taxation since I can remember! The whole stopping distance thing needs re-evaluating and should be done so every 10 years!
6potdave said:
lol pretty much word for word!!
But it's nice to hear that people aren't being all anti-speed! It would be nice to see a move forward in motoring after experiencing only backwards moves in legislation and taxation since I can remember! The whole stopping distance thing needs re-evaluating and should be done so every 10 years!
I've just completed a speed awareness course and apparently the stopping distance will never change however advanced brakes tyres etc become. This is because the human element - the "thinking time" will always remain a constant - utter crapBut it's nice to hear that people aren't being all anti-speed! It would be nice to see a move forward in motoring after experiencing only backwards moves in legislation and taxation since I can remember! The whole stopping distance thing needs re-evaluating and should be done so every 10 years!
bmw535i said:
I've just completed a speed awareness course and apparently the stopping distance will never change however advanced brakes tyres etc become. This is because the human element - the "thinking time" will always remain a constant - utter crap
I think you a making the false assumption that theUK speed limit is based on science and rationale.
In reality, a politician picked a number 40 years
ago and we've been lumbered with it ever since.
According to the UK Gov's own figures about 60%
of all cars are doing over 70mph and 20% are doing
over 80mph, so it's clear that if you stick
to the limit, you are in the 40% minority.
Time is money, and the ABD estimates that there
is about £410 million to be saved at 1998 prices
by copying the Germans and going unlimited.
In the middle of recession, quite a few quid,
in other words.
Much more on http://www.abd.org.uk/motorwayspeedlimit.htm
dcb said:
bmw535i said:
I've just completed a speed awareness course and apparently the stopping distance will never change however advanced brakes tyres etc become. This is because the human element - the "thinking time" will always remain a constant - utter crap
I think you a making the false assumption that theUK speed limit is based on science and rationale.
In reality, a politician picked a number 40 years
ago and we've been lumbered with it ever since.
According to the UK Gov's own figures about 60%
of all cars are doing over 70mph and 20% are doing
over 80mph, so it's clear that if you stick
to the limit, you are in the 40% minority.
Time is money, and the ABD estimates that there
is about £410 million to be saved at 1998 prices
by copying the Germans and going unlimited.
In the middle of recession, quite a few quid,
in other words.
Much more on http://www.abd.org.uk/motorwayspeedlimit.htm
bmw535i said:
6potdave said:
lol pretty much word for word!!
But it's nice to hear that people aren't being all anti-speed! It would be nice to see a move forward in motoring after experiencing only backwards moves in legislation and taxation since I can remember! The whole stopping distance thing needs re-evaluating and should be done so every 10 years!
I've just completed a speed awareness course and apparently the stopping distance will never change however advanced brakes tyres etc become. This is because the human element - the "thinking time" will always remain a constant - utter crapBut it's nice to hear that people aren't being all anti-speed! It would be nice to see a move forward in motoring after experiencing only backwards moves in legislation and taxation since I can remember! The whole stopping distance thing needs re-evaluating and should be done so every 10 years!
The only argument against changing stopping distances is that old cars are still allowed on the road but realistically how many cars can't pull up quicker than a Ford Anglia which is what the stopping distance was based on?
6potdave said:
bmw535i said:
6potdave said:
lol pretty much word for word!!
But it's nice to hear that people aren't being all anti-speed! It would be nice to see a move forward in motoring after experiencing only backwards moves in legislation and taxation since I can remember! The whole stopping distance thing needs re-evaluating and should be done so every 10 years!
I've just completed a speed awareness course and apparently the stopping distance will never change however advanced brakes tyres etc become. This is because the human element - the "thinking time" will always remain a constant - utter crapBut it's nice to hear that people aren't being all anti-speed! It would be nice to see a move forward in motoring after experiencing only backwards moves in legislation and taxation since I can remember! The whole stopping distance thing needs re-evaluating and should be done so every 10 years!
The only argument against changing stopping distances is that old cars are still allowed on the road but realistically how many cars can't pull up quicker than a Ford Anglia which is what the stopping distance was based on?
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