Proposal to increase Motorway speed limit

[laserblazer]

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 ...

 

 

And the cat's eyes get closer together on the bends.

[mac_shinobi]

And the cat's eyes get closer together on the bends.

 

Not on the country road I drive down - will double check this when driving back tonight though as I could be wrong.

 

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?

 

Clearly a lot more as seen about 3 cars flipped over in the same location in the space of a month. I meant the sign with the black and white reflective arrows but again don't recall the word slow or anything like that but as above will keep that in mind when driving back this evening and will edit this post

[ICT_GUY]

I would actually prefer for the maximum speed limit through the whole country to be reduced to 30mph. (its not going to happen) But if the maximum speed was reduced to this level it would pave the way for some very efficient motor vehicles.

 

A car designed for 30 mph could be made to be around 2/3rds the weight, and would need a 1/10th the power. It would be easy to make a car capable of 100 miles per gallon, probably more. The first heavy lorries made do with 9HP engines (very slow but they did get the job done). Also cars of this power and class could be made for £2k - £3K. The mortality rate on the roads would be slashed from the thousands to virtually nil (well if the limit was enforced through engine limiters?)

 

The upshot of the lower speed limits would be a return to the reliance on rail transport for longer journeys and commuting. Less reliance on oil. Roads would last longer (except that lorries would still cause most of the damage) better air quality and less frustration on the roads and no traffic jams.

 

Its probably never going to happen, though it is being gradually phased in, it seems in Dorset that most roads are 50mph max and a good proportion are 30 - 40mph.

[Fatmas]

My dad's Alfa 147 (1.9 JTD) would get almost 60mpg at 70mph and only about 35mpg at 80mph. The difference was crazy.

[laserblazer]

Some Prof. in the USA came up with a theory that, as more safety features are introduced to cars, the less safe road travel becomes. He proposed that all that was needed was a large spike sticking out of the sreering wheel and pointing at the driver's chest.

[teejay]

Some Prof. in the USA came up with a theory that, as more safety features are introduced to cars, the less safe road travel becomes. He proposed that all that was needed was a large spike sticking out of the sreering wheel and pointing at the driver's chest.

 

That was in the manifesto for the Monster Raving Looney Party at the last election, looks like we voted in the wrong lot

[teejay]

Or as they say, the biggest car failure is the nut holding the steering wheel...

[sonofsanta]

It's called risk compensation. The number of accidents went up after the wearing of seat belts became compulsory, but the number of fatalities reduced.

 

Risk compensation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

My argument against the speed limit increase would be that is causes congestion. We've all seen the motorway come to a standstill for no apparent reason, but the cause is quite often drivers driving too fast and too close, blipping the brake, causing the driver behind (again going too fast and too close) to brake progressively harder. This cumulates like the compressions in a slinky spring, until you get a standstill.

 

SHOCKWAVE JAMS: not as fun as the name might sound

[Jose]

Fuel consumtion has nothing to do with safety, if you want to save money on fuel use cruise control, I have a dial on my dash that tells me my mpg and using cruise control steadies it at a good rate.

 

The best way to save lifes on the motorway is not to nanny state people by telling them what they can and can't do. These things would reduce car accidents loads.

better brakes, a bmw with the latest brakes can stop about twice as quick as a saxo/106.

Aluminous lines in the middle of each motorway lane, enabling the driver to see the shape of the road for quite a distance. better lighting on motorways would be better but cost too much.

 

Run flat tyres to prevent blowouts, saves loads of lifes

use engine managment chips to cap top speeds on young and woman drivers:hand:

[fafster]

Personally I think the speed limit should be dynamic. If the motorway is empty, set the limit to 90mph. If it's jam-packed, drop it to 50mph. There are enough traffic cameras about to make this feasible, and it should be a simple matter of adding more electronic signs.

 

That's my tuppence, anyway.

[Andrew_C]

That's what I said a long way up.

 

Maybe we ALL need an electric shock up the @... when we switch on our cars in the morning to ensure we are awake. The dozy b.... on the M3 this morning obviously wasn't awake, and deserves the increase in her insurance.

 

[laserblazer]

A car is much more efficient at 60mph than 70mph. 60 mph is a mile a minute. After an hour of driving at 60 mph, you're only 6 minutes behind the 70mph driver, but probably less stressed and with more petrol left in your tank.

 

It's probably less than 6 minutes because you're more likely to be able to sustain 60mph

[Hightower]

It's probably less than 6 minutes because you're more likely to be able to sustain 60mph

 

But then the car isn't going 70mph is it? It's going 69, or 68, or 67, which is a different argument.

[MK-2]

a bmw with the latest brakes can stop about twice as quick as a saxo/106.

 

but that is a problem in itself. a person with that thought driving a bmw will believe they can brake a lot later knowing they can stop before hitting the car in front, but the saxo behind has less time to stop and will hit the bmw.

i've had this with people nipping into the fast lane in the safe stopping distance gap i've left between me and the car in front, then the car in front has braked and they slam the brakes on, which in a merc/bmw/audi is fine, but my car is now not a safe distance and ive had to pretty much listen to my tyres screech and watch them burn as i brake to not hit the car.

[mthomas08]

Speed limit could reach 80mph - Yahoo! Cars

 

Don't they realise that anyone in a hurry does at least 80 anyway? They will simply add 10mph t whatever speed they think they can get away with now. I agree with the 80mph limit but accompanied with speed cameras.

 

Like many others I too get annoyed at certain things on the motorway, I use my horn often.

 

Lately I have been using cruise control to keep my speed at about 65/70 and never ever going over due to fuel prices. I think it is a nice idea but then who can afford to go faster?

 

Personally I believe they should raise the driving limit to 20 and they are forced to do at least certain amount of lessons. Certain people cant handle their car let alone speeds..

[MK-2]

Personally I believe they should raise the driving limit to 20 and they are forced to do at least certain amount of lessons. Certain people cant handle their car let alone speeds..

 

i can't agree with that 100%. the times i have had someone up my a*** trying to force me to move its been someone in a 35/40k car not someone who has just passed their test.

im not saying there aren't boy and girl racers who just pass and whizz up and down, but to say we limit them is a bit unfair.

i mean its not called the BMW lane for nothing!!

[sonofsanta]

Personally I believe they should raise the driving limit to 20 and they are forced to do at least certain amount of lessons. Certain people cant handle their car let alone speeds..

 

Keep the age the same, but require an advanced licence to be passed within 2 years of original test being passed, P plates until you do, limit on engine size until you do, and require retakes every 10 years or so. Training is absolutely the problem, more than speed.

[aerospacemango]

i can't agree with that 100%. the times i have had someone up my a*** trying to force me to move its been someone in a 35/40k car not someone who has just passed their test.

im not saying there aren't boy and girl racers who just pass and whizz up and down, but to say we limit them is a bit unfair.

i mean its not called the BMW lane for nothing!!

 

Are you not aware that when a BMW, Audi or Merc driver goes to buy their new car, they are given a handbook?

 

This consists of just one page, that says.....

 

wait for it........

 

 

"YES! You DO own the road!"

 

*This is true, as I've seen my sisters handbook

 

 

**OK, it's not ACTUALLY true!! **

[localzuk]

Are you not aware that when a BMW, Audi or Merc driver goes to buy their new car, they are given a handbook?

 

This consists of just one page, that says.....

 

wait for it........

 

 

"YES! You DO own the road!"

 

*This is true, as I've seen my sisters handbook

 

 

**OK, it's not ACTUALLY true!! **

 

Why did I imagine Barney Stenson saying that then??

[LeMarchand]

Why did I imagine Barney Stenson saying that then??

 

Because he's... wait for it...

 

LEG-END-ARY!!!