Question of the week: are UK speed limits out of date?

[Noxvayl]

It all depends on your car really... some cars are designed for those speeds so can actually be more efficient at those speeds because of the RPM required to get to those speeds.

I also think that the majority of cars using the roads in question are capable of those speeds without danger of sucking the oil reserves dry.

Another thing that increasing both the speed limit and minimum speed would do is help traffic flow better reducing congestion. At the moment there is too big a gap between cars driving on the roads so it makes it more difficult for traffic officers to predict flow of traffic and therefore make it harder for them control the flow.

The biggest problem is the lack of a minimum speed limit tbh so if they don't like the idea of raising the maximum limit I would certainly like to see them introduce a minimum as the minimum limit is more important.

[directhex]

It all depends on your car really... some cars are designed for those speeds so can actually be more efficient at those speeds because of the RPM required to get to those speeds.

I also think that the majority of cars using the roads in question are capable of those speeds without danger of sucking the oil reserves dry.

Another thing that increasing both the speed limit and minimum speed would do is help traffic flow better reducing congestion. At the moment there is too big a gap between cars driving on the roads so it makes it more difficult for traffic officers to predict flow of traffic and therefore make it harder for them control the flow.

The biggest problem is the lack of a minimum speed limit tbh so if they don't like the idea of raising the maximum limit I would certainly like to see them introduce a minimum as the minimum limit is more important.

too BIG a gap?

you know how big a 2-second gap is at 70mph, right?

[TheAnimus]

I think introducing the hazard perception test to the driving test is probably the first step in making it a lot safer.

I don't think its speed on the motorway/dual carrage way that kills, but absolute morons who've no idea whats around them. The amount of times as a pedestrian i've been completely forgotten about by mostly woman who are yelling at children in the back is amazing. The same goes with those who are constantly sat in the middle lane, with no idea whats going on around them.

That is the problem, 70 is too fast for those numpties as it is.

[mycarsavw]

Speed = distance/time

Distance = speed * time

70mph = 112.7kmh
112.7kmh ~ 31.31mps

Distance = 31.31 * 2

Distance = 62.62 metres

[directhex]

Speed = distance/time

Distance = speed * time

70mph = 112.7kmh
112.7kmh ~ 31.31mps

Distance = 31.31 * 2

Distance = 62.62 metres

and if someone moves into that gap, then you need to reduce your speed to increase the gap again - or drive dangerously. one or t'other

[mycarsavw]

and if someone moves into that gap, then you need to reduce your speed to increase the gap again - or drive dangerously. one or t'other

Yup, which is why we get chain-reaction tailbacks.

Some tool in a German car nips in front of a TIR (which obviously travels slower, but has to allow much more room for braking) causing the TIR driver to tap the brakes to bring the distance back to something more manageable. Then another tool, slightly further back is pushing a ton in his German car when all of a sudden he's on top of the TIR with nowhere to go.

And repeat

[directhex]

Yup, which is why we get chain-reaction tailbacks.

Some tool in a German car nips in front of a TIR (which obviously travels slower, but has to allow much more room for braking) causing the TIR driver to tap the brakes to bring the distance back to something more manageable. Then another tool, slightly further back is pushing a ton in his German car when all of a sudden he's on top of the TIR with nowhere to go.

And repeat

it would be fixed by making people go at 80 instead of 70. yep.

[mycarsavw]

it would be fixed by making people go at 80 instead of 70. yep.

Touché, although my personal view was;

...

Motorways - ff conditions allow, 80, if they don't 60 and so on.

...

In my example, conditions were not allowing

[tickedon]

I would really like the limit on motorways increased to 80 when there are 3+ lanes.

But personally I'd settle for the motorways around here actually being 70 first. Most of the motorway near me has a 50 speed limit - they've opened about 30 miles of new motorway here in the last 10 years, all of it has been 50 with a very small stretch at 60. The old A-road it replaced is 70 (it's still there and ca nbe used), and when the motorway part ends and joins the 'old' A road again, the limit increases to 70 There's also been a new bypass built, again, at 70.

[Noxvayl]

too BIG a gap?

you know how big a 2-second gap is at 70mph, right?

Yes but I didn't mention the time gap did I?

Its the speed gap I was talking about. When 90% of cars are travelling at the speed limit and then 3% are at 20Mph slower and 7% at 10Mph slower. Now the majority of cars are going to have to either slow down themselves causing a backlog of cars on the motor way or all the cars coming up behind these slow muppets are going to have to quickly change lanes populated with other faster moving cars which promotes dangerous driving. Basically slow drivers cause a massive knock on effect which causes other people to crash.

There needs to be more fining of slow drivers than of fast drivers. Fast drivers don't tend to cause mayhem for other drivers on the road where as slow drivers do. People need to be scared of driving too slow rather than scared of driving too fast because speed doesn't kill... muppets do.

[Mblaster]

Yes but I didn't mention the time gap did I?

Its the speed gap I was talking about. When 90% of cars are travelling at the speed limit and then 3% are at 20Mph slower and 7% at 10Mph slower. Now the majority of cars are going to have to either slow down themselves causing a backlog of cars on the motor way or all the cars coming up behind these slow muppets are going to have to quickly change lanes populated with other faster moving cars which promotes dangerous driving. Basically slow drivers cause a massive knock on effect which causes other people to crash.

There needs to be more fining of slow drivers than of fast drivers. Fast drivers don't tend to cause mayhem for other drivers on the road where as slow drivers do. People need to be scared of driving too slow rather than scared of driving too fast because speed doesn't kill... muppets do.

While I aggree with that, there's one big problem, lorries. They are all going to be going at ~60mph, and I've never had a problem on the motorway with people going slower than that, only the people that are going 60-70mph pulling out into the 3rd lane in front of me while I'm going 90mph, usually to overtake the 2 lorries that are side by side in the 1st and 2nd lane.

Also I think someone mentioned that it might help reduce traffic problems from compressions. I have to dissagree with that, the best way to stop that is to get every vechicle on the road driving at the same speed, beacuse they're caused by people changing speed and other people badly estimating those changes. That's why they introduced the variable 50mph speed limit on the M42 (I think that's the one) during busy times.

[NightshadowUK]

I think either leave it be or if it is increase to say 80mph, then new driving regulations should be introduced (second driving test when you hit 60 for example) and the speed limit should be just that, enforce it.

I agree with introducing a mimimum speed too, if you're only willing to do 50mph, stay off the motorway.

[Noxvayl]

While I aggree with that, there's one big problem, lorries. They are all going to be going at ~60mph, and I've never had a problem on the motorway with people going slower than that, only the people that are going 60-70mph pulling out into the 3rd lane in front of me while I'm going 90mph, usually to overtake the 2 lorries that are side by side in the 1st and 2nd lane.

Also I think someone mentioned that it might help reduce traffic problems from compressions. I have to dissagree with that, the best way to stop that is to get every vechicle on the road driving at the same speed, beacuse they're caused by people changing speed and other people badly estimating those changes. That's why they introduced the variable 50mph speed limit on the M42 (I think that's the one) during busy times.

Forgot about them... oops.

It was mentioned somewhere that trucks should be only allowed in the far left lane and that overtaking for trucks should be strictly prohibited because of the problems they cause as you described.

I feel that the government needs to seriously re-analyse road safety because the rules of the road do not promote good driving enough. They need to be more restrictive for those vehicles able to cause considerable chaos on the road and also more diligent with newer technology in vehicles and signs.

A traffic study should be something to look into to try and help the countries huge traffic problems.

Traffic flow management is a great way to reduce congestion in the country while improving the UK's driving experience. It would also help with road infrastructure upgrades.

[Ciber]

While I aggree with that, there's one big problem, lorries. They are all going to be going at ~60mph, and I've never had a problem on the motorway with people going slower than that, only the people that are going 60-70mph pulling out into the 3rd lane in front of me while I'm going 90mph, usually to overtake the 2 lorries that are side by side in the 1st and 2nd lane.

Also I think someone mentioned that it might help reduce traffic problems from compressions. I have to dissagree with that, the best way to stop that is to get every vechicle on the road driving at the same speed, beacuse they're caused by people changing speed and other people badly estimating those changes. That's why they introduced the variable 50mph speed limit on the M42 (I think that's the one) during busy times.

Yes and for that reason the limit should be reduced to 60. Also all vehicles use less fuel at 60 than 80. I want to change my vote to reduce speeds. As long as vans get to go 60 on normal roads not 50. So both up and down lol.

[Nikumba]

I do agree speed limits need a review, it has been a long time coming, and since the limits I belive were based on the stopping distance of a Ford anglia at the time since it was the most popular model, perhaps they should be re-evaluated with a focus another very popular car.

In towns, the limits need to be left as they are, as should single carriage way roads. Dual carriageway ways and motorways need a boost.

At the same time you could make the argument due to the environment the limits should be reduced. I use to drive from Peterborough to Slough every other weekend, and the arrival time if I traveled at 70mph and 100mph was about 10 or 15 minutes, but at a cost of more fuel. With the rising costs of fuel, I am suprise more people are not driving more sensibly.

I more often than not go over the speed limit on motorways, hell I have been passed a police car doing 70mph in the inisde lane and I have gone past him at 90 ish, but since the road was clear, the weather sunny, and I was driving safely he was not fussed, however on the same peice of road it was hammering down with rain, again a police car doing 70 most people wouldnt go past, some did at 75, until you had some guy in a Jag scream down the outside lane at a good 100, and the police car was off after him, however had it been dry and sunny I doubt they would have bothered.

So I think there needs to be stronger measures taken on the ones who speed while not taking into account the road conditions, weather etc. Also as someone mentioned, fining people who travel too slowly, belive it or not, there is a sign for a minimum speed limit.

And I appricate lorries have a job to do, but they should be banned on the roads during rush hours eg 7am - 9am and 4pm-6pm for instance, the same could be said for caravans

Kimbie

[Ciber]

Well I think lorries should be banned from travelling between 11pm and 7am. The noise the bastards make clanking and rattling round the roundabout near me still wakes me up at all hours, after 3 years living here I'm still not used to it. Not only that, it would be better for the drivers not to have to work at night and maybe make for less sleep driving accidents.