80mph speed limits, Pah

[markjay]

As for my post - which seems to have started this - I was referring to mentality and culture what I actually meant was that UK drivers will - in the main - move over, but at the same time they will also find the experience unpleasant and will therefore question the merit of removing the speed limit. Germans don't seem to mind being flashed from behind - they don't see it as arrogant or impolite.

 

[renault12ts]

... but I've been trying to put point an argument that the higher limits would force people to be more aware of their surroundings and concentrate more on, driving.....

Steve, again you give them too much credit. So many people drive because they have to, not because they want to, or even enjoy doing so. A higher limit is probably unlikely to change attitudes. I doubt the Govt. of the day would allow carnage to enforce the point.

 

[st4]

Again, a bit of a generalistion, I don't mind being flashed, and on the very rare occasion I am undercut, I see it that I was in the wrong lane, and its a scruffy bit of driving on my part.

A flash of the headlights merely means "see me". Thats it.

 

[renault12ts]

As for my post - which seems to have started this - I was referring to mentality and culture what I actually meant was that UK drivers will - in the main - move over, but at the same time they will also find the experience unpleasant and will therefore question the merit of removing the speed limit. Germans don't seem to mind being flashed from behind - they don't see it as arrogant or impolite.

They will over over eventually. The continental driver will slot into the smallest gap to get out of the way...the UK driver (ok not every single one) will not move over if there's another car to overtake in half a mile...or so.

 

[st4]

Steve, again you give them too much credit. So many people drive because they have to, not because they want to, or even enjoy doing so. A higher limit is probably unlikely to change attitudes. I doubt the Govt. of the day would allow carnage to enforce the point.

Again, when people see cars going past them faster, would not believe most would possess the basic intelligence to put two and two together and realise they can't be complacent and lax with regards to their road position.

My experience of the French and German systems is it works very well for them.

 

[renault12ts]

Again, a bit of a generalistion, I don't mind being flashed, and on the very rare occasion I am undercut, I see it that I was in the wrong lane, and its a scruffy bit of driving on my part.

A flash of the headlights merely means "see me". Thats it.

Agreed. If there's room for someone to undertake...then the other car shouldn't have been there. But you see it so often.

 

[markjay]

...Another question, you may know, how much extra oil and fuel would be used, and would the extra revenue raised from the extra fuel being used assist other fiscal matters?.....

Not sure this is a valid argument... otherwise, why not encourage people to drink and smoke more so that we have more cash to build new schools?


(And before you say that smoking and drinking cost the NHS money in treatments... people who drink and smoke heavily take-up less NHS cash overall during their shorter lives than those of us who reach advanced age - with all the geriatric support that goes with it - through healthier life styles)

 

[st4]

They will over over eventually. The continental driver will slot into the smallest gap to get out of the way...the UK driver (ok not every single one) will not move over if there's another car to overtake in half a mile...or so.

A higher limit would force the UK driver to drive like the continental one.

 

[markjay]

They will over over eventually. The continental driver will slot into the smallest gap to get out of the way...the UK driver (ok not every single one) will not move over if there's another car to overtake in half a mile...or so.

Yes, this goes back to mentality... being patient and waiting in queue are in our culture, speeding along because you have a bigger motor isn't.

 

[renault12ts]

A higher limit would force the UK driver to drive like the continental one.

It would be nice...but alas, I don't think it would.

We'll disagree.

 

[st4]

Not sure this is a valid argument... otherwise, why not encourage people to drink and smoke more so that we have more cash to build new schools?


(And before you say that smoking and drinking cost the NHS money in treatments... people who drink and smoke heavily take-up less NHS cash overall during their shorter lives that those of us who reach advanced age - with all the geriatric support that goes with it - through healthier life styles)

We do not do enough to stop smoking and alcohol consumption IMHO....but you are right, the people that do smoke and drink heavily should be given a medal by the treasury....

The argument with the cars is that going 80 or more, should not increase loss of human life on the roads.

Indeed, aren't motorways, the roads in question here, deemed the safest to travel on per mile, yet they are the fastest?

 

[st4]

It would be nice...but alas, I don't think it would.

We'll disagree.

Sounds fair to me I am sorry for the poor wording and lack of understanding of your post, please accept my appologies.

 

[Bellow]

it works for the Germans, why not us? People are people wherever you go.

Decades of ingrained habit.

Good point. However, oil can be bought, people do not need to die. Separate conversation, but a good point....

Achieve that first then.

Another question, you may know, how much extra oil and fuel would be used, and would the extra revenue raised from the extra fuel being used assist other fiscal matters?

Do the math....You'll be raising the power and fuel usage by squares and cubes. Significant then.

I am not the best at phrasing things, but I've been trying to put point an argument that the higher limits would force people to be more aware of their surroundings and concentrate more on, driving.....

The above is nothing but blind hope. The reality is entirely different and not easily changed.

When it is very foggy, drivers see other cars with dipped headlights on - and still cannot figure out that they too should have lights on. There is but one obvious outcome in bearing down on them at speed - tailgating.

 

[Mr. B]

I've not read all of the posts for this thread but I get the general gist.

The Speed limit on the motorway is 70 mph.

Prosecutions begin at a minimum of 10 % + 1mph over the limit.

That's a minimum speed limit prosecution of 78 mph already.

Most speedometers are at least a couple of mph inaccurate (read less).

Already we are at a minimum speed prosecution of 80 mph (according to the speedo)

Why all the fuss ????

Calibrate your own speedometer on the m/way is a simple and effective way to gauge your own speed.

Simply use the SOS phones on the hard shoulder which are located at exactly 1 mile apart.

Set your cruise control to 60 mph and time yourself over said distance and then you can calculate your true speed.

Do the same at 70 and 50 mph - light traffic permitting of course.

I'm not suggesting you do the same at 80 mph because that would be illegal wouldn't it ??

 

[markjay]

...Indeed, aren't motorways, the roads in question here, deemed the safest to travel on per mile, yet they are the fastest?

These sort of statistics require wider discussion... the safest method of travel known to mankind is I believe trains. Perhaps we should concentrate our efforts in building more railways and bigger and faster trains - then subsidise the fares to make them significantly cheaper than travelling by car?

 

[st4]

Decades of ingrained habit.

Driving is something you learn to do at a certain age, 17 here, 18 there. New habits could be tought very quickly....

Achieve that first then.



Do the math....You'll be raising the power and fuel usage by squares and cubes. Significant then.

Trying to stay within the forum rules here for debate, but I get your point, but we used to trade for oil peacefully and did not send people to be killed for other peoples conflict....

I think we could get back to those days, do you?

The above is nothing but blind hope. The reality is entirely different and not easily changed.

When it is very foggy, drivers see other cars with dipped headlights on - and still cannot figure out that they too should have lights on. There is but one obvious outcome in bearing down on them at speed - tailgating.

I try and see the good in people, and maybe with a higher limit they'd act more responsibly, if it can work for other countries, I struggle to see why it wouldn't work here.

The French have a two tier limit, one is set at 130kph for dry, the other 100kph for rain.

Another point, our DCWs have a 70 limit for cars, as do motorways, but as you know DCWs have side joinings (take the A90 stretch from Dundee to Aberdeen) and you will see many farm traffic joining the DCW. There is no hard shoulder, the lanes are narrower and yet it has the same limit as the M74 and A74M which have none of this additional risks....

Do you know the A82 DCW between Clydebank and Dumbarton, 70 limit, tighter bends, narrower lanes, few houses with driveways onto the road, its got the same limit as a motorway, it does not make sense.

Why then should the road with the lesser risk carry the same limit as that of the higher one, or should DCWs carry a lower limit of 65mph to reflect a great risk than motorways, but a lesser one than normal A roads?

These sort of statistics require wider discussion... the safest method of travel known to mankind is I believe trains. Perhaps we should concentrate our efforts in building more railways and bigger and faster trains - then subsidise the fares to make them significantly cheaper than travelling by car?

Aircraft IIRC....

But keeping the topic within the roads network....

Agree on principle, trains are great and we need a faster one that does Glasgow/Edinburgh to London in 2hrs30 or under.

 

[MOCAŠ]

Driving is something you learn to do at a certain age, 17 here, 18 there. New habits could be tought very quickly...

By definition, habits are acquired, not taught. They tend to be acquired over a long period time - decades is about right.

 

[st4]

By definition, habits are acquired, not taught. They tend to be acquired over a long period time - decades is about right.

There is hope for the newer flock of new drivers, who would learn habits that are better.

Habits can also be broken, but a change etc is usually required to force it on.

 

[Peter DLM]

80mph? I'm not slowing down for anyone!

 

[markjay]

...Aircraft IIRC....

Yes, my typo - I meant to say 'safest form of land travel'. I have an interest in aircrafts and often cite this statistics to worried passengers.