Proposal to increase Motorway speed limit

[laserblazer]

I've not had much experience with the ATM on the M25 but the M42 works really well and does keep traffic flowing.

[Jamman960]

Sod the speed increase to 80 though; restricting lorries to lane 1 only would do more for motorway congestion and traffic flow.

 

They did trials a while ago on the A42(might still be in place) where in certain sections lorries weren't allowed to overtake each other, I could see this working well elsewhere. banning them from overtaking all togeather would be a bit harsh though.

[CAM]

Banning lorries from the motorway would kill the transport industry. Haulage is big business and our rail infrsructure wouldn't cope with the extra weight.

 

Regarding the Highway Code, I believe rules stating MUST are law and must be adhered to. SHOULD implies that the section isn't law and you don't have to follow it, but if you do follow it you won't end up breaking another traffic law in the process of ignoring that section.

 

I also hate lane hoggers too but worst are the outside speed freaks. If it's two lanes and the inside is crawling at 50, I am going into the outside lane at 70. Last tiem I ended up with a cow in a hatchback throwing her arms in the air as she barrelled up behind me at 90.

[laserblazer]

It would also prevent a regular cause of accidents - the truck drivers Manoeuvre, Mirror, Indicate.

[nicholab]

Any one else Eddie Stobart trucks and trailers they are using rail as well.

[crc-ict]

I'll prepare to be flamed here, but I feel that the rule of sticking in the left-hand lane of the motorway as a default is stupid. If everyone is packed into that left-hand lane, and lanes 2 & 3 are relatively empty, how the hell are people meant to join the motorway at slip-roads? And as far as I am concerned, weaving from lane 1 to lane 2 and back again every time you encounter a lorry or other slower vehicle is more of a risk than making steady progress staying in a lane with vehicles running at a similar speed.

 

Would it not make more sense all around for lane 1 to be for slow vehicles and those joining or leaving the M-way, lane 2 to be the 'default lane' for regular speed vehicles and then lane 3 be for overtaking?

[gshaw]

Rule 167: DO NOT overtake where you might come into conflict with other road users. For example when you would cause another road user to swerve or slow down.

 

In which case the car behind can stick to the legal limit and stay at the correct stopping distance behind as opposed to tailgating and flashing headlights like a moron at someone doing the maximum allowed speed on the road

 

This seems to imply that you would not do the same for someone in a Mondeo, Vectra, or any other family saloon.

 

Indeed, as up until now I've not had people in standard family saloons driving like idiots, there's a repeating pattern of poor road manners and the BMW and Audi badge unfortunately.

[sonofsanta]

Banning lorries from the motorway would kill the transport industry. Haulage is big business and our rail infrsructure wouldn't cope with the extra weight.

 

Obviously going for an all out ban would be overkill here - it only works in Switzerland because it's always been done, and they have a working rail network to support it, but it does show how lorries in a lane is effectively a lost lane. Most motorway journeys taken at peak time seem to be done in one line, whilst lorries use the left-hand 2 to drive at 56mph or 58mph.

[Andrew_C]

In and of itself, the Highway Code isn't law. However, it CAN refer to things which are. Just because the HC has a picture of a 30 in a red circle doesn't mean that it is illegal to go faster, but the Road Traffic Act says that it is.

[sonofsanta]

If everyone is packed into that left-hand lane, and lanes 2 & 3 are relatively empty, how the hell are people meant to join the motorway at slip-roads?

 

If lane 2 is relatively empty, then when approaching a slip road, and upon seeing someone wanting to enter, vehicles in lane 1 can move out into lane 2 to allow them space - as I was taught, and iirc is in the highway code. All but the smallest of slip roads have ample visiblity for all drivers to anticipate such a need.

 

And as far as I am concerned, weaving from lane 1 to lane 2 and back again every time you encounter a lorry or other slower vehicle is more of a risk than making steady progress staying in a lane with vehicles running at a similar speed.

 

Agreed - a lot of people are rubbish at forward planning, and I will normally stay in lane 2 if I am making noticeable better progress than lane 1 traffic ahead. Driving like this does need you to be aware of people behind you though, and not unnecessarily holding up people behind you, which is an offence - people have been charged for driving too slowly on motorways in the past.

 

Unless of course, said person behind you is chav-tw*t in modded-Corsa giving you the two finger salute in your rear view mirror. In that case it's just funny.

[timzim]

Would it not make more sense all around for lane 1 to be for slow vehicles and those joining or leaving the M-way, lane 2 to be the 'default lane' for regular speed vehicles and then lane 3 be for overtaking?

 

Totally agree. Generally on the M25 (in my experience at least) you take the lane doing the speed you want to do: if it's too slow you move to th RH lane, if you're not keeping up you move to the LH lane. All keeps moving nicely and no-one gets in anyone else's way. The problems start when you get idiots who think they should always be in the LH-most lane so then career right across all six lanes & back again every time they want to overtake.

[Martin]

In which case the car behind can stick to the legal limit and stay at the correct stopping distance behind as opposed to tailgating and flashing headlights like a moron at someone doing the maximum allowed speed on the road.

 

...but you said earlier that "I react to that by sitting in the faster lane and slowing down to 60mph just to wind them up..."

 

So either the limit is 60mph (single carriageway NSL) and you were previously speeding or the limit is 70mph (dual carriageway NSL) and you are causing an obstruction/driving without due consideration or whatever is is currently called?

 

Either way, it is you that is breaking the law!!!!

 

mb

[Hightower]

I'm trying to work out if you mean that you drive at up to the limit but drop down if conditions dictate it would be sensible to, or whether you mean that you consider yourself above any speed restrictions.

 

I mean that I do a speed that I'm comfortable with. Whether the speed limit increases, or doesn't increase, I've always done a speed I'm comfortable with and an increase in the speed limit isn't going to make me put another 10mph on top of my comfortable speed.

 

I'm not going to tell you what my comfortable speed is though, which I know is what your digging for

[gshaw]

...but you said earlier that "I react to that by sitting in the faster lane and slowing down to 60mph just to wind them up..."

 

So either the limit is 60mph (single carriageway NSL) and you were previously speeding or the limit is 70mph (dual carriageway NSL) and you are causing an obstruction/driving without due consideration or whatever is is currently called?

 

Either way, it is you that is breaking the law!!!!

 

mb

 

Nope read again, dual carriageway NSL i.e. 70mph... 50mph in the left hand lane with the lorries and having to weave in and out or 70mph in the other lane and holding up someone wanting to do 90mph... I know which I'll be choosing...

 

Can't be causing an obstruction to someone doing the same speed and if they're wanting to go faster I feel no obligation put myself out for them to drive to their own rules

[CHR1S]

Speed increase is great, but, it must come with better motorway training. Also congestion and speed difference are the real accident issues not speeding, car distance chevrons and better lane discipline are required!

[aerospacemango]

I'm not going to tell you what my comfortable speed is though, which I know is what your digging for

 

Ever since I was left my late-Father's Jeep Grand Cherokee, I've found that my comfortable speed is just around the speed limit, whatever road I'm on.

 

There's something to be said for having a 4x4, in the countryside (where they belong) with a massive 4l engine. The LPG conversion has done it the world of good, too! Good old Dad!

[LeMarchand]

Speed increase is great, but, it must come with better motorway training. Also congestion and speed difference are the real accident issues not speeding, car distance chevrons and better lane discipline are required!

 

If speed difference is an issue, won't it be exacerbated by raising the speed limit?

 

I also feel that while training might teach people how they should be driving on a motorway, we all know that it's not how they will be driving.

[GrumbleDook]

I often find it funny when people quote Germany and the speed of roads ...

We do have a denser road network and denser population centres ...

So from stats of the last decade we have less roads and less cars, but denser in nature ... and we have less deaths per million due to traffic collisions and less deaths per billion Km traveled than Germany.

 

People driving on the Autobahn are more careful, give more distance from cars in front, have more training and are more aware of the dangerous nature of going at speed. But they do also have a heck of a lot of collisions on regular roads. One argument is that they do not adjust their speed down for regular roads and there are far more miles of them than there are Autobahns.

 

As for the HC and is it law or a guide?

All points of guidance are included as they allow officers of the law and officials with regulatory functions to apply an evaluated decision on whether something should or should not have been done. Arguing about it being perfectly safe to undertake hits the wall that is having to be answerable to someone and they *will* challenge you. If your answer does not show that you took reasonable care, that you understood the possible aspects of the law (or the interpretation of it published via the HC) then you are dealt with as you deserve.

 

Most driving is about common sense and common respect. People speeding shows a lack of respect for other road users and the law. If someone wants to speed past you then let them ... don't block them in as although you are following the letter of the law with regards to speed you are also creating a problem further down the line. If that idiot drivers gets all ranty and pushes their speed even higher to catch up on lost time, then when they do hit something it increases the chances of a fatality ... let them past and hope they get caught speeding, banned and removed from the road.

 

Bring in speed cameras everywhere as far as I am concerned ... if folk get caught speeding then fine, they get removed from the road and that makes it safer for me.

[Hightower]

People speeding shows a lack of respect for other road users and the law.

 

Not condoning it at all, but how is doing 80mph now any different to doing 80mph when the law may allow it in the future - apart from breaking the law etc, how is it any more disrespectful to other road users?

[Martin]

Nope read again, dual carriageway NSL i.e. 70mph... 50mph in the left hand lane with the lorries and having to weave in and out or 70mph in the other lane and holding up someone wanting to do 90mph... I know which I'll be choosing...

 

Can't be causing an obstruction to someone doing the same speed and if they're wanting to go faster I feel no obligation put myself out for them to drive to their own rules

 

You said, and i repeat - "I react to that by sitting in the faster lane and slowing down to 60mph just to wind them up...". That is a deliberate act with the intention of causing frustration to the other driver. You are forcing them to slow down and drive at 60mph when 70mph is perfectly legal.

 

You could be found guilty of Driving without reasonable consideration for other road users which would cost you between three and nine penalty points.

 

If the car behind you was an unmarked police car, expect a much more serious penalty

 

mb

[laserblazer]

I was going down the M5 the other day. It was pretty busy and I was in the middle lane. A lady went by in a Merc. sports car, followed by a guy in a Mondeo. There was a vehicle ahead of me close enough that I wouldn't have expected the Merc to pull over (I reckon they were doing 80ish). The Mondeo driver obviously though she should, you could see his flashing headlights reflecting from her rear. Suddenly, Mondeoman cuts in front of me, undertakes the Merc. pulls out and brakes. The Merc. had to swing across in front of me to avoid a collision. I had my wife and grandkids in the car with me and the prat could have killed us all.

 

Please think twice before playing silly beggars on the motorway.

[GrumbleDook]

Not condoning it at all, but how is doing 80mph now any different to doing 80mph when the law may allow it in the future - apart from breaking the law etc, how is it any more disrespectful to other road users?

 

If the limit is 80mph then fine ... but it was more a statement on the fact that just because people go faster than 70 (illegally) that this is not an excuse / reason to increase the speed limit.

[mac_shinobi]

Not in relation to M or A roads but have seen a number of cars where the said driver has clearly been driving too fast on country type roads and have not seen or not paid attention to chevrons to indicate a sharp bend and have literally flipped said car into the field near where I am and was wondering if they have different coloured cats eyes on A or M or both types of roads why not use said Red Coloured cats eyes on country roads or bendy roads before and after bends including chevrons although if they are not paying attention to the Chevron signs then it serves them right if they are going to not slow down or try and go around a corner way too fast.

[Martin]

...was wondering if they have different coloured cats eyes on A or M or both types of roads why not use said Red Coloured cats eyes on country roads or bendy roads before and after bends including chevrons...

 

Reg cats eyes already have a special meaning (see Rule 132, although that diagram looks wrong to me ) but as you said - it probably won't make any difference to that sort of driver.

 

mb

[GrumbleDook]

Not in relation to M or A roads but have seen a number of cars where the said driver has clearly been driving too fast on country type roads and have not seen or not paid attention to chevrons to indicate a sharp bend and have literally flipped said car into the field near where I am and was wondering if they have different coloured cats eyes on A or M or both types of roads why not use said Red Coloured cats eyes on country roads or bendy roads before and after bends including chevrons although if they are not paying attention to the Chevron signs then it serves them right if they are going to not slow down or try and go around a corner way too fast.

 

Sharp bends have signs a suitable distance away from the bend to give fair warning, have reflective markings where possible and the word "SLOW" written on the road ... even satnavs give warning about sharp bends ...

 

What more do people need?