I am afraid they would. Because the government are largely not aware of the reality of the impact it would have. It would make little, if any, difference to death on the road, but a very big difference to business motoring indeed.
I know I am biased, because I drive huge mileages. But if the speed limit reduces further I simply would not be able to complete my weekly schedule. Well, not without using planes a lot more!
However, this kind of reaction is driven by emotion rather than fact or research. Bad driving, and inappropriate speed is what causes traffic accidents, not just speed.
The thought of driving 300 miles late in the evening on largely empty roads at 50mph is not an inviting prospect! Neither would it be safer. Quite the reverse, it would be massively more dangerous as I would be on the road longer and therefore more tired.
Of course, I do not expect common sense from politicians.
Currently, I think motorways will stay at 70. But a reduction is coming. Unless we can introduce common sense.
I am well known for wanting an increase in the speed limit. But action on drivers who behave dangerously at any speed.
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Paul Norman - OrangeTree Development
1. They would. I call them 'neo-labour' for a reason.
2. A bit into the post, under the typically sensationalist headline, it says:
"The reduction, to be imposed as early as next year, will affect two thirds of the country’s road network. Drivers will still be able to reach 70mph on motorways and dual carriageways and 60mph on the safest A roads."
So really what they mean by 'ROAD SPEED LIMIT SLASHED TO 1 MILE AN HOUR EVERYWHERE' is:
On most A roads, the limit will be reduced from 60 to 50 - given the state (and layout) of quite alot of A roads, this is probably a good thing - since many are not suitable for 60mph!
That said, it will probably be indescriminately applied and poorly enforced, so all it will do is create new hazards as the impatient t**t behind you tears away as soon as he possibly can...!
When I took my son on an advanced driving course after he passed his test, the police running the course said the motorways were designed for safe driving at 125 miles per hour. This is why they have gentle gradients and wide sweeping curves.
Why are we kept to 70 then?
There are more accidents around the traffic calming points in our village due to impatient drivers not waiting than anywhere else in the district.
Where are the police and government there?
The council put these barriers that stick out halfway across the road that people race around trying to get out the way before the hapless driver with the right of way hits them head on.
One the other end of the village is worse. The road narrows from both sides to a hole in the middle. The trouble is it is on a bend and the only way to see around the bend and if any traffic is coming is to be in the middle of the road. Of course, the cars with the right of way are coming headon at you and if they are awkward, you are in the middle of the road, with no-where to go, and an idiot hurtling through the middle at the standard 50 instead of 30. Who dreamt these safety measures up?
If they repaired the cronic state of the lesser roads it would make them safer. I have seen a few accidents in the lane whilst walking our dog where cars have ruined wheels, suspension, exhausts etc hitting the potholes along the lane trying to avoid a collision with a car coming the other way in the middle of the lane trying to avoid the holes that side.
If they want road safety - they need to have safe roads and no stupid traffic calming or 8" high road humps.
A rant after my own heart Ray! Especially as I have just had to spend £500 on new tyres. Why? The garages own words - speed humps cause additional tyre wear and suspension wear. I live the wrong side of a serious of 6 of them!
In built up areas, near schools etc, I drive slowly and cautiously. On the motorways I am trying to cover distance, and usually out of peak hours and I am obliged to drive at 70. In a modern, high performance car. 25 years ago I also went 70 - in a car with a top speed of about 80!
I agree that fixing potholes, clamping down on dangerous driving, maybe even better driver training would help. Lower motorway speed limits - just will not reduce road deaths.
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Paul Norman - OrangeTree Development
Let us not forget what the driving test represents:
That you are capable of demonstrating (for a period of approximately 25 minutes), the bare minimum acceptable standard of awareness, comptency and safety - without commiting more than fourteen note-worthy errors (or repeating the same note-worth error more than twice).
Forget this at your peril.
That said, I do feel that properly maintained motorways (e.g. about 20% of those in England? ) should permit higher speed - actually don't agree that as soon as you pass your test you can drive on them, having possibly never done so before, mind you!
actually don't agree that as soon as you pass your test you can drive on them, having possibly never done so before, mind you!
I agree with that. The reason I took Chris on the advanced course was for him to try out the skidpan. It is the single most useful piece of driving instruction I ever got when I was young and it has stuck with me since. Chris feels the same. He has experienced the worst of cars sliding about and now knows exactly what to do instinctively if it should occor for real.
I think it should be mandatory for every newly qualified driver to do a motorway course and a skidpan course with the police as a minimum before losing the L plates.
I think it should be mandatory for every newly qualified driver to do a motorway course and a skidpan course with the police as a minimum before losing the L plates.
Not a bad idea at all.
I should clarify - I have only held a full driving license for three years - was a bit of a late starter in that respect.
However, being somewhat older is quite advantageous, I think - plus I had the incredible good luck to find a driving instructor who was not only an ex-Police (and before that, Armed Forces) instructor, but who is also an active advanced instructor and very outspoken RoSPA advocate.
It's not that I consider myself a better driver than others with similar experience - it's more that I believe I had better tuition! And of course, then had a job which entailed 30k+ miles a year - that definitely knocked the corners off!
What is actually a real shame is that the culture (which is now becoming largely a blame culture) around inexperienced drivers (young drivers are typically tarred with the same brush - two different issues, though) - has modulated into a 'tax to prevent problems' culture (the neo-labour solution to all ills).
Instead of high test fees, high insurance, adding pointless theory tests for 30 quid, etc - the standard of driving should be improved through education.
And mandatory re-testing for all drivers - every five years at least. Packing away soapbox, now for a bit now.
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Motorways down to 50mph.
