Increase Speed Limits - Online Petition

[MoAMG]

A good driver will apply concentration ( the full application of mind and body to a particular endeavour , to the complete exclusion of everything not relevant to that endeavour ) at all times ; if he recognises that fatigue , for example , is getting in the way of this then it is time for a break .

Equal concentration should be applied at all speeds : you can just as easily knock down a child who steps out from between two parked cars as you pass at 30 as you might knock down a cyclist who emerges onto an A road in front of you as you approach at 60 . One always needs one's wits about !

Would you agree that some people would somewhat lose concentration on motorways? (With or without their knowledge)

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Must've been down the B6138?

It was downhill, on the M4.

I was trying to lose my mate in his 2CV.

Much of my youth was unglamorous, I didn't own 500HP cars since I was 17.

 

[whitenemesis]

I got 90 out of my Anglia.

Must've been down the B6138?

Supposedly the longest continuous stretch of downhill/uphill road in the UK

 

[MoAMG]

That's not nearly what I said. Concentration and attentiveness are an expected given. Those who don't apply that are just bad drivers. We're not talking about that, we're talking about reaction times.

Go and Google "human reaction times", and that can be applied to anything in life, not driving alone. For example, cats have considerably faster reaction times to ours, they have smaller brains and so have less to consider and think about when making a decision , that's why cats have "cat like" reflexes. The decision making process for a human brain is much more convoluted and lengthy and so takes far longer.

A little experiement for you, as you seem completely adverse to science and knowledge and seem to just arrogantly state opinion as fact.

Have someone dangle a 30cm ruler in front of you, and ask them to let the ruler drop at some random not predetermined time. Hold your fingers at the bottom of this ruler, about an inch apart, when you see the ruler drop, grab it. You'll be lucky to catch the ruler at all. That is you concentrating at your very best at a very simple task. That is reaction time.

There is absolutely so need to stoop low and converse in such a despicably condescending manner. You stated:

ffs... Will you look at the actual words being used here. We're talking about reaction times, not focus or concentration.

I'm sure I won't be the only one to 'mis-read' that sentence! :fail

 

[219]

Would you agree that some people would somewhat lose concentration on motorways? (With or without their knowledge)

I'm sure they do , and in lots of other places too .

 

[MoAMG]

It was downhill, on the M4.

I was trying to lose my mate in his 2CV.

Much of my youth was unglamorous, I didn't own 500HP cars since I was 17.

It's 500+ hp actually. One of my first cars was a single turbo Toyota Supra kicking out over double that figure.

 

[Bellow]

It's a shame that the OP didn't give his petition more thought or provide some reasoning or potential solutions, for this reason I suspect that it will languish at the bottom of the pile with few supporters.

That's about it. Lots of shouting but not one suggestion as to how the public will benefit from a change. The argument rests solely on the law in question dating from the 1960s. What of the law against murder (to take but one as an example)?. Is it also past its sell-by date? - the only criterion being applied by the OP.

What is to be gained by the change proposed by the OP - and by whom?

 

[MoAMG]

I'm sure they do , and in lots of other places too .

With the increase in speed (coupled with the natural increase in attentiveness) balance the equation?

This is really out of our realms to be honest and not what I am proposing at all. I would much rather leave the nitty gritty detail to the experts to report back to our government. I am proposing a reform of our circa 40+ year old legislation. Which, may I add, was based on facts and figures that were (perhaps) true at the time.

 

[cb1965]

Could an Anglia manage much more than about 70 ?

Neither my Herald nor my air-cooled Beetles could ...

Nope and just as well as they are deathtraps in comparison to modern cars. You see this proposal is sort of self governing. 90mph gets my vote

Most Anglias had a published top speed of 72mph although latter more powerful models could do 80mph apparently.

That said driving any vehicle at its absolute maximum speed for long is probably a recipe for disaster regardless of speed limits.

 

[219]

What is to be gained by the change proposed by the OP - and by whom?

More profit for the oil companies ?

 

[Dryce]

Could an Anglia manage much more than about 70 ?

Neither my Herald nor my air-cooled Beetles could ...

Morris Minor was not really a nice place to be above 55.

My recollection is that a lot of 'ordinary' cars from the 60s and early 70s topped out about 85 to 90. Faster cars (like the Granadas in the Sweeney were good for a bit over 110). Things like Hillman Imps and Minis felt flat out at 70.

 

[219]

Nope and just as well as they are deathtraps in comparison to modern cars. You see this proposal is sort of self governing. 90mph gets my vote

Most Anglias had a published top speed of 72mph although latter more powerful models could do 80mph apparently.

That said driving any vehicle at its absolute maximum speed for long is probably a recipe for disaster regardless of speed limits.

Exceptions being Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Beetles , that being part of the design specification : the vehicle's maximum speed was also its cruising speed .

Tyre failure back then was probably the limiting factor .

 

[MoAMG]

That's about it. Lots of shouting but not one suggestion as to how the public will benefit from a change. The argument rests solely on the law in question dating from the 1960s. What of the law against murder (to take but one as an example)?. Is it also past its sell-by date? - the only criterion being applied by the OP.

What is to be gained by the change proposed by the OP - and by whom?

Once again, your argument and supporting example are flawed.

Murder is murder. Regardless what century you're in. You are comparing grapes with apples here.

I'll give you just one benefit, less motorists would be penalised for breaking unreasonable speed limits at 3AM on a Monday morning! Furthermore, motorists will not be expected to drive at 20 mph on the M25 for 7 miles (personal experience) because there were roadworks on the hard shoulder and they had blocked off all but one lane (fast lane) at 11PM on a Saturday.

 

[MoAMG]

More profit for the oil companies ?

Which would subsequently improve our economy and result in more affordable fuel?

 

[219]

Which subsequently improves our economy resulting in cheaper fuel?

Depends whether they choose to pass on savings or exploit the market

 

[MoAMG]

Morris Minor was not really a nice place to be above 55.

My recollection is that a lot of 'ordinary' cars from the 60s and early 70s topped out about 85 to 90. Faster cars (like the Granadas in the Sweeney were good for a bit over 110). Things like Hillman Imps and Minis felt flat out at 70.

And that's why 70 mph was a reasonable limit to have back then...

 

[renault12ts]

Would you agree that some people would somewhat lose concentration on motorways? (With or without their knowledge)

People lose concentration in many places.

But, if you assume that someone concentrates on the task in hand whether it be at 70 or 90...their reaction time will be the same.

 

[MoAMG]

Depends whether they choose to pass on savings or exploit the market

You could say that for anything though...

 

[219]

Morris Minor was not really a nice place to be above 55.

My recollection is that a lot of 'ordinary' cars from the 60s and early 70s topped out about 85 to 90. Faster cars (like the Granadas in the Sweeney were good for a bit over 110). Things like Hillman Imps and Minis felt flat out at 70.

Yes , probably about right , we had a MkI Granada 3.0 ; I think my Audi 100GL with the 1.9L engine based on the LT van unit was probably its equal if not faster ( didn't have them at the same time ) ; my W115 220/8 was also there or thereabouts , but all blown into the weeds by my W114 280E ! The only car in my circle of friends ownership which came close was a SAAB 99 Turbo .

 

[MancMike]

There is absolutely so need to stoop low and converse in such a despicably condescending manner. You stated:

I'm sure I won't be the only one to 'mis-read' that sentence! :fail

So you misread misunderstand my post then have the audacity to stamp "fail" on it?

With the increase in speed (coupled with the natural increase in attentiveness) balance the equation?

Again, confusing attentiveness/concentration/alertness with reaction times, reaction times are a fixed constant, you cannot improve that, not even with coffee. They're individual to a person and are the reason some drivers only ever climb so high in formula 1. You can learn all the advanced racing techniques in the world, but once you've reached the limit of your own reaction times, there's not a lot you can do to improve it.

We're just going in loops here of your refusal to accept scientific, neurological facts and keep reverting your ignorance and speculation.

I'm assuming you're going to tell me that there's "absolutely no need" for something now aren't you, and use offence to dodge the point again as always.