[Tengocity]

I personally think the 70mph speed limit on the motorways is too low, and given that you get passed by what seems like half the cars on the road, it seems most British drivers agree.

The farce that occurs when a police car is on the motorway and everyone bunches up behind doing 72mph, and no one dares to overtake is either highly amusing or highly frustrating, depending on how much of a hurry you're in! Or does the fact that you could drive along a narrow country road at only 10mph below what you can on a 3 lane, well surfaced and well lit motorway make any sense?

So, what's folks views on what the speed limit should be?

Would folk rather have this current almost unenforced 70mph limit or perhaps take a 80 or 90mph limit that was more strictly forced?

Or do you want a German style autobahn with no limits?

My personal view is that in this day and age the entire motorway network should have variable limits which depend on the traffic density, the motorway itself and road/weather conditions, which is the managed by the overhead gantries. So that when the road is clear and conditions are ok, then 90 or even a 100mph is fine on certain roads, but then when it's pissing it down it goes back down a bit.

[jusdorange]

The main problem is that 3 lane motorways are now 2 lane with the amount of HGVs going at 56

[Afy360]

All I know is that at 79mph you can not get convicted,

Road traffic act 1988 states that you can do 10% plus 2mph over the speed limit.

Although you can get a warning for that 2mph over.

[davethefish]

given the rampant health and safety, do goody two shoes liberalism that seems to be prevalent in this country these days.
i think it will be highly unlikely to increase the national speed limit.
10 years from now we will be driving our gps monitored, speed limited, cars around at the national speed limit of 55mph.....

Where's the political party that would.....
ban HGV's from the road on weekends like the french,
and no speed limit on motorways like the germans....
with free trade and no social and NHS mill stone like the Americans,
and we'd have the best (and richest) country in the world!

[....,,,,..,,..]

Yes speed limits on motorways should be raised, however as mentioned should be variable with weather and traffic density.

However, there should be more emphasis placed on dangerous or reckless driving (including middle and outside lane hoggers).

Also just because you can do 90 does not mean a car should, see plenty cars at outer edge of their driving envelope.

Enforce 30's more no 40's beside housing unless sensible etc.

[Tengocity]

I would be happy to accept more 30's and 20's in urban areas, to suit their usage. I accept that some country lanes should probably have 40 and 50 mph limits.. the really narrow ones where coming round a corner too fast can easily lead to a head on collision with a cyclist.

But this 70mph on relatively quiet motorways, when most of Europe has 120, 130, 140 kph limits is frankly antiquated.

[Torquein]

+1 to the variable, although you know it would always be reduced if there was more than a handful of cars on the carriageway, like when none existent roadworks are ongoing - that would annoy me more.

It's more likely that Wayne Rooney would win mastermind than the UK would have no upper limit on motorways.

[Nick the Greek]

There's a limit!?

[Torquein]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

There's a limit!?

Yep it's electronically governed, 155 I think

[TouringPleb]

Originally Posted by Afy360

All I know is that at 79mph you can not get convicted,

Road traffic act 1988 states that you can do 10% plus 2mph over the speed limit.

Although you can get a warning for that 2mph over.

That's the ACPO guidelines. A police officer can doesn't have to stick to that as long as they are being consistent and fair. So if you were driving at 75 in torrential rain or thick fog you could still get a ticket.

[G82Dude]

Originally Posted by Afy360

Road traffic act 1988 states that you can do 10% plus 2mph over the speed limit.

So the enactment of Parliament laying out the rules for speed limits says that you can break it if it's within a certain amount? Nah, I don't think so! It's absolute. Those enforcing it may take a view though.

[mgwest76]

Would happily see a 80-85mph motorway but doubt we'll get it.

Really hate variable speed motorways as they are so poorly applied currently, with empty motorways and 50 mph signs flashing and then people driving between gantries at 95mph then standing on the brakes because of the cameras, causing outside lane near misses.

[gadget32]

As Jeremy Clarkson pointed out, would you prefer a 70mph limit loosley enforced or an 80mph limit rigidly enforced? I know which I prefer

[HighlandPete]

Would be great if variable limits could be introduced, makes such sense.

I see the problem with drivers, we'd need a lot more training and education, enforced to make it really workable and safe.

If drivers can't even gauge when dipped headlights are really necessary in poor weather conditions, or know which lanes they should be using, what hope for drivers (of that mentality) reading the conditions and driving appropriately.

Personally I believe driving standards are pretty shoddy, I'm cautious of wanting higher legal motorway speeds at present. Greater responsibility comes with higher speeds, I suggest higher speeds will attract the risk takers, the very drivers we don't want driving at higher speeds.

HighlandPete

[Steven1077]

I think they need to look at increasing the speed limits on all roads, of course there will always be places where you need a low limit, but on the whole 30mph is just too slow, if it was 40mph I'd be much more inclined to stick to it, but 30mph feels like you're hardly moving.
On motorways I'd say 90mph rigidly enforced

[teaston]

Unfortunately the speed limit has to suit ALL drivers, some drivers are just too shit to drive any faster safely! The vast majority of us can easily drive faster safely but there would be no practical way of a) deciding who can, and b) enforcing it!

Speed has never killed a single person on any road, it is the spanner behind the wheel that can't control the speed that kills.

[Afy360]

Originally Posted by uke92dude

So the enactment of Parliament laying out the rules for speed limits says that you can break it if it's within a certain amount? Nah, I don't think so! It's absolute. Those enforcing it may take a view though.

As an ex police constable, that's the guidelines we were given.

And I don't know of anyone ever being convicted under 80, from a traffic car or mobile speed camera.

[JustChris]

No limit in the Isle of Man.....but also few roads.

Yes I think a lift to 80 wouldn't go amiss. Cars are so much safer now, perhaps M40 style variable signs advising when clear 80 and downwards from that, it seems to keep everyone moving.

Also never going to happen....would ruin the government justification figures HS and HS2 train links or whatever they're called.

[languidmandala]

Originally Posted by Afy360

As an ex police constable, that's the legislation we were given, rain or sunshine.

It's not legislation. It's guidance from ACPO, viz:
The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has issued speed enforcement policy guidance, which suggests that enforcement will normally occur when a driver exceeds the speed limit by a particular margin. This is normally 10 per cent over the speed limit plus 2 mph. It also sets guidelines for when it would not be appropriate to issue a fixed penalty notice but to issue a summons instead (see below).
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/r...nalty_notices/

The guidance makes it clear that the officer's judgement may ignore these guidelines in appropriate situations.

[languidmandala]

Originally Posted by teaston

Unfortunately the speed limit has to suit ALL drivers, some drivers are just too shit to drive any faster safely! The vast majority of us can easily drive faster safely but there would be no practical way of a) deciding who can, and b) enforcing it!

Speed has never killed a single person on any road, it is the spanner behind the wheel that can't control the speed that kills.

This, especially the case with inexperienced (young) drivers.

[swissle]

I'd like to see better use of the dynamic speed limit roads we have at the moment. It seems that it's either 50 or national, that isn't very dynamic in my eyes. I'd also like it to be clearer, so you are dropping your speed gradually rather than following someone who sees the upcoming 1st gantry displaying 50 and they decide to slam on their breaks in the national speed limit area just because they feel a camera might be somewhere near.

I don't have an issue with 70 being the limit, but lets make sense of the speed. In some locations I've seen a road with one side being 50 and other national. Seems like when a road has an accident in one direction, they make the decision to reduce the speed under the guise of safety.

[NISFAN]

Originally Posted by ChesterM4

No limit in the Isle of Man.....but also few roads.

Yes I think a lift to 80 wouldn't go amiss. Cars are so much safer now, perhaps M40 style variable signs advising when clear 80 and downwards from that, it seems to keep everyone moving.

Also never going to happen....would ruin the government justification figures HS and HS2 train links or whatever they're called.

It's not the cars.....it the reaction times of people that haven't changed.....in fact are worse as many are now reading emails and texting whilst driving.

I'm with Pete, unless the driving standards are improved on motorways, a higher limit will only cause more carnage.