Question of the week: are UK speed limits out of date?

[HEXUS]

Should the national speed limit of 70 mph be altered?

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[pands@scan]

Deffo a Raise it from me

should be 80 at least, ideally 90. Cruising at 70 is horrible and is impossible in the 3rd lane

[Sinizter]

It should be atleast 90 if not a 100mph on most of the motorways. There may be some sections where a lower speed may be warranted.

Speed of 70 is just plain stupid and a hangover from decades past.

[dave87]

I voted yes it should be raised, but I'm equally happy to have it lowered in the right places.

Unfortunately, regardless of the limit, some numpty will do half or double it.

[Steven W]

Hmm, I voted yes for being raised, but I also think it should be lowered in certain areas.

I think it all depends on the area in question, but I do believe that there should be a complete re-think about speed limits in general.

[dangel]

Should be variable - depending on traffic/weather conditions.

[listy]

tbh i think is should stay same since its not just about speed its how much time/control

[mycarsavw]

Should be variable - depending on traffic/weather conditions.

Exactly what I was going to post.

It works in France, it works in Germany, etc

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

There should also be a minimum motorway speed to keep those who "drive without due care and attention" off the motorways.

[directhex]

There should also be a minimum motorway speed to keep those who "drive without due care and attention" off the motorways.

this is the danger in any increase.

first, regardless of the speed limit, people in german cars will exceed it. that's just the way it is. so for everyone else, the question becomes "what's safe for use in the leftmost lanes"? and i don't think a blanket increase will necessarily fix everything, since there are still PLENTY of vehicles on the road which can't push past 70 safely. If you have vehicles going at very different speeds in different lanes, then the potential risks when dangers occur is much higher - a sudden need to change lane, for example, might cause a difference in speed between you and those other drivers of 20-odd MPH rather than the current 5ish. so now you have an entire lane needing to do emergency stops, rather than just thwack the brake a bit

speed is not dangerous. DIFFERENCE in speed is dangerous. whether that difference is between the pedestrian and the bonnet, the difference between the car and the wall, or the difference between you and the guy in front of you. going at a radically different speed to someone else requires a leap in concentration and judgment on both parties' behalf, and upping the limits doesn't solve that in the slightest.

[directhex]

Should be variable - depending on traffic/weather conditions.

who actually slows down when the blinky roadside lights start flashing "50"?

[dave87]

Those with 9 points and a desire to keep their license.

[mycarsavw]

[...], people in german cars will exceed it. [...]

Those with no indicators perhaps?

who actually slows down when the blinky roadside lights start flashing "50"?

If the road is empty and the conditions permit, no one but those who fear for their licence (as Dave says).

If they flashed *90* however....

[walibe]

A motorway speed increase to 80mph would be welcome but a dual carriage way speed should remain at 70. I also agree about more variable and enforced speed limits to suit the weather. All too many times do I see cars shooting past me in thick fog. I also believe as mentioned a minimum speed limit needs to be declared as this is one of the biggest issues.

I also believe speeding cameras should be looking at the distance between cars so tail gaters can be taken off the road, these are the guys that don't have time to brake and sail into the back of you when you need to to stop for something (its happened to me).

However we are all forgeting, what causes huge tail backs, sudden drops in speed and causes cars to have swerve as they pull out? Trucks. Limit the buggers to just one land please. Overtaking for the sake of 1 or 2mph at the expense of other road uses should not be seen as acceptable.

[dangel]

who actually slows down when the blinky roadside lights start flashing "50"?

Me. You?

I don't speed through roadworks either, nor in < 60mph zones (ever) but I do go > 70mph dependant on conditions on a motorway. Interestingly, that's where I see all the mobile traps - not outside schools or on my local high street where the danger of loss of life is much, much higher.

[directhex]

Those with no indicators perhaps?

yeah, it's weird how german cars seem to have such terrible build quality that their indicators never work... especially on lane changes, or roundabouts, or junctions. their parking-illegally lights work fine though

[Mblaster]

I think the motorway speed limit should be increased to 90mph and then enforced.

At the moment the police (in my experience) don't bother pulling over people that are speeding, because everyone is doing it, they'll only get the people doing 100+mph. Might as well make it official.