Increase Speed Limits - Online Petition

[camerafodder]

Physicists and chemists struggle to make sense of it all till this day

What an absolute load of rubbish. As Dryce has already told you. Its BASIC physics, really really really basic. Did I mention that it was basic?

I also have a Bsc (Bronze swimming certificate)

By the way, have you seen those new fangled flying machines? That'll never catch on.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

I've no objection to a raise in speed limits, however, I do object to sloppily presented petitions.

BTW I only own 1 oilburner alongside 2 petrol cars, a petrol lawnmower and a petrol chainsaw.

 

[Giantvanman]

We all know, virtually everyone exceeds the speed limit. It's just one of those facts of life. The question is, has anyone ever bothered carrying out a study in to this? No! And even if they have and it doesn't fit in your politicians agenda, do you really think they will commission any further investigations?!

Actually there has been studies on this. Most Collision Investigators have the books containing this research so you could contact your nearest traffic police collision unit.

As an aside, you have defeated your own argument by saying "We all know, virtually everyone exceeds the speed limit. It's just one of those facts of life." By extension, no matter how high the limit is set, there would always be a significant number who would exceed it because we are all driving gods…in our own minds.

 

[TheFoX]

A lot of the roads where I live are having their speed limits reduced from 60mph to 50mph, or even 40mph. The reason being is that accidents between vehicles, or between vehicles and property, are too high for the amount of traffic using those roads.

As for motorway tiredness or complacency, this is a natural phenomenon of this sort of carriageway. Do the same speed on a dual carriageway or a single carriageway, and you are naturally more alert. In fact, the more bends in the road, the more alert you become. I don't understand why the motorway puts you to sleep, but it does, which is why I hate motorway driving.

(Probably something to do with brain stimulation. Just driving in a straight line, following the car in front, gives you a false sense of security, whereas negotiating bends and deviating from a straight line keeps your brain active).

While I do occasional speed, to pass a vehicle that may be doing 67/68mph, I tend to keep to speed limits. I have also been involved in a collision so know first hand how speed can affect the outcome of accidents. Ironically, it doesn't matter how good a driver you are or how safely you drive, if the other person isn't driving safely, there's bugger all you can do about it.

What I have also noticed is that the more powerful the car, the more it tends to be driven in a respectful manner. The less powerful the car, the more likely that the idiot behind the wheel will try to demonstrate that their car is more powerful than it actually is. Always makes me laugh when a Corsa tries to burn up a BMW 530d, and fails.

In my mind, some speeds should be reduced. Anyone stupid enough to speed through a village or town deserves to lose their license.

I used to be a proponent of increasing the speed limit on motorways to 80mph, but to be honest, with the congestion and poor road manners, anything over 70mph could prove dangerous. I suppose what infuriates me more than anything on motorways are those idiots who, once they are passed you, pull in without indication and without giving you amble space. They seem to think that it is their right to 'cut you up' just because they are ahead of you. Have they never heard of the '2 second rule'?

Nah. Keep the speed limits the same.

 

[martyz]

I have been driving for 40 years,the limits are now learnt.I believe there are too
many vehicles on the road today to even contemplate increasing the speed limit.

 

[tec]

My petition:
Increase road speed limits in line with advances in car safety.

The limits are fine as they are now, as long as we keep the same low level of speed enforcement by the Police and cameras that we currently have.

I usually drive at the speed that feels right to me rather than rigidly sticking to the official speed limits.

The chances of being caught speeding are currently very low, but if speed limits were to increase, then I expect the level of enforcement to increase at the same time.

 

[martyz]

if speed limits were to increase, then I expect the level of enforcement to increase at the same time.

Absolutely,we don't want electronic devices transmitting our speed,and issuing
penalties,as that may well be the sting.

 

[John Jones Jr]

If something is going to go wrong , heaven forbid , then the consequences of it going wrong at 100 mph are that much greater than if the speed were 'only' 70 mph , or some other lower figure .

So, why after all your posts on the subject are you not campaigning or championing for a lower speed limit than 70? Seventy, for some strange logic is treated as some sort of magic number from the 60's no less. I'm wondering is most of the resistance due many drivers being conditioned to seventy and don't want change, thus less need to apply themselves to driving.

Just looking at the limit from a practical aspect. Since there's variable speed limits why not have them vary in a larger range. What's wrong with doing 80, 90, 100 or even more with little or no traffic? The answer is nothing from a safety aspect.
Just take the M6 Toll, it's a joke to inflict 70 on motorists. It's joke too to do the same in the middle of the night or in light traffic conditions on most motorways. It's both regressive and oppressive compounded by the sheer amount of cameras and lack of policing.

And the funny thing about the beloved '70' by some is even the government was/is mulling over increasing the limit.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

So, why after all your posts on the subject are you not campaigning or championing for a lower speed limit than 70? Seventy, for some strange logic is treated as some sort of magic number from the 60's no less. I'm wondering is most of the resistance due many drivers being conditioned to seventy and don't want change, thus less need to apply themselves to driving.

Just looking at the limit from a practical aspect. Since there's variable speed limits why not have them vary in a larger range. What's wrong with doing 80, 90, 100 or even more with little or no traffic? The answer is nothing from a safety aspect.
Just take the M6 Toll, it's a joke to inflict 70 on motorists. It's joke too to do the same in the middle of the night or in light traffic conditions on most motorways. It's both regressive and oppressive compounded by the sheer amount of cameras and lack of policing.

And the funny thing about the beloved '70' by some is even the government was/is mulling over increasing the limit.

I agree with some of what you say and, putting aside petitions for a moment, my experience is that those who use the motorways very regularly 'work' the speed limits to an extent.
These drivers tend to see the limit as 80 because some accept that as the maximum before you are likely to get flashed or pulled. I have personally applied this logic over the last 250k miles+ and have received no speeding tickets for motorway driving.
At night on an otherwise empty motorway I would feel safe from conviction up to 100 with the exception of known, fixed cameras.

For this reason I am not overly concerned about raising limits, I wouldn't object but am willing to accept the status quo.

 

[MicB]

I lost the will to read all the Posts in this Thread but for what it is worth I believe most blanket speed limits could and should be raised by, say, 50%. I believe m'ways are currently less safe than they need be because of lane blocking my motorists travelling too slowly for a large proportion of those using the m'ways. Cruising speed on the M40 tends to be, for a large number of motorists, between 85mph-95mph. I believe that it is unsafe and soporific for all vehicles to be travelling at the same speed.

Having lifted blanket limits by 50% specific local areas should then be considered on merit and circumstances where much lower speeds might well be appropriate with a much greater expectation of adherence with motorists believing in the good sense for such a reduced limit for the least possible distance.

I agree with the OP that most motorists break the speed limit every journey they take......you may take the view that this is not a fact but anecdotal observation suggests to me that there is a very high probability that it is a fact.

It is also a truism that enormous amounts of revenue are raised from motorists caught exceeding the speed limits and from my observations an awful lot more not raised from motorists not caught when exceeding the speed limits. I conclude from this that the vast majority of motorists do not believe that the blanket speed limits are appropriate or necessary.

If society does not believe in something through its practise then it should not be so.......speed limits should be raised to a level in which society believes.

I also do not agree with the generalisation that driving standards are poor in the UK.......yes of course we can all recall the appalling incidents and there is always room for improvement.......but in my judgement we can and do rely on our fellow motorists to do the right thing at the right time which allows us to continue our journeys without undue incident.

I calculate that I have driven about 1.25million miles to date so none of the foregoing is based on a small sample of observation.

Absolute speed in itself is neither the problem nor the solution. Operator error is always the cause of any incident which may well include inappropriate speed for the conditions whatever they may be.

Mic

 

[John Jones Jr]

I agree with some of what you say and, putting aside petitions for a moment, my experience is that those who use the motorways very regularly 'work' the speed limits to an extent.
These drivers tend to see the limit as 80 because some accept that as the maximum before you are likely to get flashed or pulled. I have personally applied this logic over the last 250k miles+ and have received no speeding tickets for motorway driving.
At night on an otherwise empty motorway I would feel safe from conviction up to 100 with the exception of known, fixed cameras.

For this reason I am not overly concerned about raising limits, I wouldn't object but am willing to accept the status quo.

To tell you the truth what gets up my nose almost as much as the 'magic' seventy limit is the objectors to increasing the limit. Yeah, I too work the limits and being candid I'd generally be happy to do 85 legally where appropriate in the absence of intelligent variable limits.

 

[219]

The limits are fine as they are now, as long as we keep the same low level of speed enforcement by the Police and cameras that we currently have.

I usually drive at the speed that feels right to me rather than rigidly sticking to the official speed limits.

The chances of being caught speeding are currently very low, but if speed limits were to increase, then I expect the level of enforcement to increase at the same time.

I think the level of enforcement of speed limits is much higher now than it used to be : back in days of yore , when traffic was lighter and technology less advanced , you either had to be paced by a police car for 3/10 of a mile ( and would have to be blind or stupid not to spot this ) or with early devices such as Truvelo with wires across the road , very difficult to spot , or VASCAR which worked very well .

Nowadays , with laser cameras which can measure speed from a mile away and record evidence , Gatsos or average speed systems , there is virtually no escape for the habitual speeders .

I openly admit that I used to speed when younger , but my job of the last 11 years regularly involves going to RTC's and dealing with fatalities , so I see the consequences of poor driving ( not just speeding ) all too regularly ; it is also worth noting that casualties/fatalities occur in modern vehicles with advanced safety features to a similar degree as occupants of older vehicles due to 'risk compensation' as mentioned earlier by GVM . The things I see on the roads do affect my driving and make me more aware of hazards and risks .

 

[219]

So, why after all your posts on the subject are you not campaigning or championing for a lower speed limit than 70? Seventy, for some strange logic is treated as some sort of magic number from the 60's no less. I'm wondering is most of the resistance due many drivers being conditioned to seventy and don't want change, thus less need to apply themselves to driving.

Just looking at the limit from a practical aspect. Since there's variable speed limits why not have them vary in a larger range. What's wrong with doing 80, 90, 100 or even more with little or no traffic? The answer is nothing from a safety aspect.
Just take the M6 Toll, it's a joke to inflict 70 on motorists. It's joke too to do the same in the middle of the night or in light traffic conditions on most motorways. It's both regressive and oppressive compounded by the sheer amount of cameras and lack of policing.

And the funny thing about the beloved '70' by some is even the government was/is mulling over increasing the limit.

I don't particularly think 70 is a 'magic number' but most countries in the first world with similar road and traffic conditions seem to have arrived at similar-ish limits for each type of road .

I think this is borne by experience and crash statistics as a good compromise between the ability to make reasonable progress and for the majority of people not to crash most of the time ; speed limits also will limit the consequences of most crashes when they do occur .

I know there have been discussions about reviewing limits , but I don't see any realistic expectations of them being relaxed ; on the contrary , we are seeing more and wider implementations , with greater automatic enforcement of 20mph limits in built up areas .

 

[whitenemesis]

20 mph in built up areas is for pedestrian survival not driver/passenger safety.

 

[grober]

Some statistics _____ see Excell spreadsheet VEHO211 Licensed cars by years since first registration, Great Britain, annually from 1994 and back to 1970m quite revealing. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/veh02-licensed-cars#table-veh0207 While there has of course been a great expansion in the road system during this time it was also accompanied by a diminution in the railway network thanks to one Dr Beeching losing some 6,000 miles of rail network in the 60's.
Personally I would like to see a far less punitive approach taken towards the motorist in terms of adherence to speed limits whatever they are. While the " enforcers" have doppler shift radar guns, average speed cameras and Gatsos in their panoply of "armaments" the poor motorist is often left with a speedo costing £5 and their wits to avoid breaking the law. The result being that despite their best intentions motorists often find themselves falling foul of the law. Time car manufacturers were forced by legislation to incorporate technology into their cars to help their owners to be law abiding citizens. With satellite navigation and cruise control the technology already exists such that no one should be a law breaker if they don't want to be.

ps while this may seem restrictive at first glance its widespread adoption with features such as inter vehicle distance radar devices and lane monitoring might be the way to increase vehicle average speeds safely in the future-- but the key is universality and infrastructure it can't just in a small number of high end vehicles as it is at present.

 

[219]

20 mph in built up areas is for pedestrian survival not driver/passenger safety.

Aren't pedestrians road users along with cyclists , horse riders , cattle drovers , and of course , the drivers/passengers of motorised vehicles . Oh , and those pedestrians might have been drivers or passengers moments earlier , even if some change from 'Mr Walker' to 'Mr Wheeler' !

Speed limits rightly should take account of the hazards and circumstances of every piece of road , and are no more or less valid for who they are intended to protect .

The general trend , as roads get busier and traffic density increases , is towards lower limits , not the other way round .

 

[John Jones Jr]

Time car manufacturers were forced by legislation to incorporate technology into their cars to help their owners to be law abiding citizens. With satellite navigation and cruise control the technology already exists such that no one should be a law breaker if they don't want to be.

I understand the point and you can be unlucky but totally disagree. You buy car with it's a array of safety features, intelligent cruise, satnav, five star NCAP rating etc, etc, not to mention with a minimum of 150 and heading north of 500 BHP (in context to this forum), it's driver who has to take responsibility. In a nutshell there's enough legislation, honestly how hard is it for somebody with average intelligence to drive reasonably well, it's not difficult at all especially on a motorway. Up the limits and up the policing. Job done.

And if anybody is really serious about road safety, why not call for a total ban on mobile phone operation while a car is in motion rather than being consumed with speed limits....

 

[renault12ts]

I lost the will to read all the Posts in this Thread but for what it is worth I believe most blanket speed limits could and should be raised by, say, 50%. I believe m'ways are currently less safe than they need be because of lane blocking my motorists travelling too slowly for a large proportion of those using the m'ways. Cruising speed on the M40 tends to be, for a large number of motorists, between 85mph-95mph. I believe that it is unsafe and soporific for all vehicles to be travelling at the same speed.

Having lifted blanket limits by 50% specific local areas should then be considered on merit and circumstances where much lower speeds might well be appropriate with a much greater expectation of adherence with motorists believing in the good sense for such a reduced limit for the least possible distance.

I agree with the OP that most motorists break the speed limit every journey they take......you may take the view that this is not a fact but anecdotal observation suggests to me that there is a very high probability that it is a fact.

It is also a truism that enormous amounts of revenue are raised from motorists caught exceeding the speed limits and from my observations an awful lot more not raised from motorists not caught when exceeding the speed limits. I conclude from this that the vast majority of motorists do not believe that the blanket speed limits are appropriate or necessary.

If society does not believe in something through its practise then it should not be so.......speed limits should be raised to a level in which society believes.

I also do not agree with the generalisation that driving standards are poor in the UK.......yes of course we can all recall the appalling incidents and there is always room for improvement.......but in my judgement we can and do rely on our fellow motorists to do the right thing at the right time which allows us to continue our journeys without undue incident.

I calculate that I have driven about 1.25million miles to date so none of the foregoing is based on a small sample of observation.

Absolute speed in itself is neither the problem nor the solution. Operator error is always the cause of any incident which may well include inappropriate speed for the conditions whatever they may be.

Mic

A 50% increase in the 70 limit would result in a 105 limit!!

 

[219]

At night on an otherwise empty motorway I would feel safe from conviction up to 100 with the exception of known, fixed cameras.

You might remember *** from this forum and wish to ask him about doing three figure speeds on motorways both during daytime and at night

He is still active over on Pistonheads and has either just got his licence back or is about to sit his extended driving test .

He , like many , used to extend his cars on the motorway , never as far as I know crashed as a consequence , but has had an 18 month 'holiday' from driving thanks to standing too far out from the crowd .

I also wonder about some of the anecdotes related here about so many people speeding : I cover minimum 30K annually , sometimes a lot more and can state that , here in Scotland , compliance is almost universal - you just don't see the speeding that used to go on years ago and speeders are very much the exception . Even on my occasional forays south of the border , having travelled the M6 to Wales , all of the A1/M1 on multiple occasions , even out with the roadworks , driving at an indicated 70 , I find that only a few are passing me , with me passing many more people than are passing me ( and , no , that isn't driving marked vehicles . ) .

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Why not say between the hours of 08:00 and 20:00 the limit is 70 and between those times 100?

It might make more people/companies plan their journeys of an evening that would then reduce the strain through a day?