Motorway Speed Limits

...Anyone who drives on a motorway on a fairly regular basis knows that the speed limit is being flouted by a very high number of generally law-abiding people, and that to drive at below the limit often leaves you open to aggressive driving tactics from other drivers “keen to get on”. If most people are honest with themselves then they will admit that, in most cases, it is the fear of penalty points, hefty fines, and possible loss of their ...
...than this, and on a motorway this would be 90mph plus, and you will almost invariably find yourself in front of a Judge, banned for six months or more, and off the road. ~ ~ So is driving at speed safe or isn’t it? If we look to the Germans, who have no limits on some of their Autobahns, then you would have to say it is. The simple truth is that they have far less deaths and serious accidents on their motorways than we do in UK and Ireland. ...

the_mad_cabbie 29.12.2000 (26.08.2001) · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...When travelling on an empty motorway the 70-mph speed limit seems ridiculously slow but when travelling in inclement weather conditions 40 mph can be too fast. The danger comes when you have too broad a spectrum of speeds being used at the same time. With vehicles travelling at speeds of 55-60 mph in the inside lane and then in the middle lane of 60-70 mph, yes I know it’s the upper speed limit but some of these people should move over to the ...
...traffic flow across the whole motorway as long lines of lorries travelling at 60 mph are forced into the middle lane, this as we all know is infuriating. Another thing that annoys me are the drivers whose left feet upon seeing a speed camera will suddenly become active, even if the car is travelling under the legal limit. That speed restriction signs in the event of an accident or inclement weather conditions are often ignored is a testament to ...

coppit 11.03.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...opinions previously submitted to it, Motorway Speed Limits ~ A friend of mine never speeds! This may seem an unusually rash statement for an opening line, but it’s true. Owner of a pretty modern fourwheel drive vehicle, I can assure you he never speeds. All the time he has been in possession of this vehicle, he has never exceded any speed limit, infact he never comes close.....more rash statements? But, I can support myself in this matter. ...
...the legal restrictions set for motorway travel. Although the severity of my friend’s injury was almost certainly increased by the speed factor, speed was not the cause of the accident. The cause of this accident was stupidity. The car driver was not paying attention to the road, did not see the traffic ahead slowing down, and ploughed into my friend. This motorist had years of driving experience on his side, didn’t fit into any stereotypical ...

wiggglypufff 28.01.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...damage. Now relate this to motorway speed limits and you should realise that it isn’t the speed that causes the problems but the way people handle the cars at high speed, their driving capabilities and condition of the vehicles that are the root causes of the majority of motorway accidents. There will always be the unforeseen like a tyre blow out or a major breakdown in machinery but you cannot legislate for absolutely every eventuality. However ...
...But in the question of motorway speed limits the “Sunday driver” has to be protected against him/herself and the speed restrictions should remain at 70 mph. To those who agitate for motorway speed limits to be increased to say 100 mph I say this, it is ludicrous to let a driver loose on the motorway who five minutes before has passed the driving test. Any fool can drive along an empty motorway at 100 mph plus and live to tell the tale. ...

jimbuck 04.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...they are already on a motorway that they dont have to slow down 'if no one is looking'. Is that the correct attitude?? I think not! So what about other countries speed limits on motorways? We almost all have heard about the German Autobahn's and thier reputation for having no speed limits. This is not true, they have a recommended speed limit of 85mph, obviously there for a reason, so why have it at all if its only a recomendation? Well I have ...
...that an accident on the motorway isnt something i would like to see again! There was very little left of any of the vehicles and no doubt some very unhappy families about that day when the police called about thier houses with the unfortunate news. So, 70 mph , is it too slow for our newer, modern and efficient road systems here in the UK? I dont think so, because the UK is such a relativley small Island, then why do we feel the need to get from ...

Martin.rowley 28.06.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...wrote a brilliant article on motorway speeds. Although I don’t agree with getting rid of the upper speed limit on motorways (I do think they should enforce the lower one), his article is considered and well-written. I couldn’t resist the temptation to add my own opinion, though. Thank God for Ciao! I agree that cars are designed to go faster than used to, and braking systems are better and more efficient. Technology has made tremendous advances ...
...to be. However, when a car needs a service or needs a part, do we dash off to the dealership and get the expensive parts that the car was designed to have? No, most of us go somewhere else to find a cheaper part that will do the job, but made to much lower specification. When we replace tyres, how many of us get the most expensive tyre we can get that is designed to do high speeds and keep the stability of the rubber at high temperatures? Most of ...

Ray45 16.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...speed? The majority of motorway accidents are not caused by the actual speed. They're caused by mechanical or human error. Drivers who 'tailgate' other motorists are the primary cause of multi-car pile-ups. The recommended safe distance between two cars travelling at ANY speed, is two seconds. As the speed increases, so does the distance between the two cars... if that particular rule is being followed. All too often, it isn't. I've always believed ...
...drive at that speed on motorway anyway. If everyone was following the rules and leaving a safe distance between themselves and the car infront, signalling properly and checking their mirrors BEFORE changing lanes rather than AFTER the manouveur as a matter of formality, and generally just THINKING about what they're doing, rather than just zooming about like they're in the Wacky Races, there would be far fewer accidents on motorways. Maybe I'm wishing ...

lyricalt 07.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...have a crash on a motorway than any other road. The differece with a motorway is that crashes often happen at much higher speeds, and it is this that kills. The higher speeds on motorways in certain circumstances make them more dangerous, and if one person has a crash through whatever reason, stupidity, mechanical breakdown or something else, more vehicles are likely to be involved as they cannot stop in time, and due to the greater speeds involved ...
...at an RTA on the motorway has to be seen to be believed. I work for the ambualnce service, so believe me, I know, and that's with the speed limits at their current levels. Raising the speed limit will only make things worse. The people who speed are, by the fact they are speeding, irresponsible and poor drivers, putting themselves and others at risk. The faster you travel, the greater the stopping distance, thinking distance and dnager if something ...

paule23 16.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...accidents here - a consistent motorway spped would be at least 60 mph - do we really believe that this is a significantly safer speed to travel than 80 mph for instance.? I read with interest the comments written by ambulance personnel regarding their experiences of RTA - which must be truly terrible. All the ambulance personnel that I have spoken to consider that their speed justifies the means. A close friend of mine was seriously injured by an ...
...her vehicle. If the end justifies the means that this is a purely personal concept - which must be why all the sales reps travel above the speed limit - they can justify it in their minds after all. The number of driving licences issued should be finite - i.e. limited. Tests should be rigorous and repeated at intervals. In Singapore the government controls the number of driving licences, which are seriously expensive. As a result, more people use ...

LostWitness 17.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...allowed to drive, restrictions on motorway speed limits could be removed. Cars can handle it, drivers would mostly be able to handle it. It would by no means get rid of accidents, but the rate of accidents would fall. With drivers having much more knowledge of driving, how their car works and their own fallibility, diving on the motorway would become much less of a risk. I by no means advocate the removal of speed restrictions in towns. i do however ...
...and the state of the roads. Some A-roads could have a 70 mph speed limit and town centres could be fixed at 20 mph, for example. While my recommendations may seem radical to some, I hope that you have enjoyed reading this editorial and I look forward to your feedback. Thank you. ...

kfingleton 15.12.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...In the UK, the motorway speed limit of 70Mph is just right, considering the fact that if you were in Germany, the speed limit for the auto-ban (if this is the correct spelling) is 100Mph or more, a racer’s dream. I have just compiled a guide on motorway speed limits and rules and regulations across Europe. Country Motorway Austria:130 kph Belgium:120 kph France: 130 kph Germany:none unless shown Italy:130 kph Luxembourg:120 kph Netherlands:120/110 ...
...child restraint. Motorway Tolls Pay-as-you-go tolls are charged on most motorways in France, Spain, and Italy. Some examples for France are shown below. Tolls in Italy are roughly comparable for similar distances. Spain is about half as expensive. You can pay by credit card - you just hand over the card, nothing to sign and often no receipt unless you request one. On many motorways you can use the automatic booths if they display a Carte bleu sign ...

rambo 26.04.2001 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

Motorway speed limits in this country are too slow. The standard of motorway driving in this country is appalling (lane hogs, changing lane without indicating, tailgating, etc). The two are not related. I am perfectly happy to drive at 70mph, but I would be equally happy to drive at 80mph. The current speed limit was set because it was the top speed of the most popular car at the time (I think it was the Ford Anglia or something along those lines) ...
...a deserted (or nearly deserted) motorway in clear, cry conditions seems perfectly sensible. Quite a lot of my motorway driving is done ver early in the morning (normally between 1am and 4am) and at this time the motorways are deserted. Why shouldn't I be able to drive at whatever speed I want? Where's the danger, if there's no one about? Most people on the motorways do about 100mph anyway. I see them all in their Vectras, Mondeos and BMW 318s tailgating ...

adamdavid 04.10.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...propoganda really is. The motorway speed limit was introduced after an 'outcry' when increasingly faster race cars were tested on the M1 (I think it was the GT40 that finally did it!) Only those who have bothered to improve their driving skills through additional training will understand that it is not speed that kills. It is poor driving skills that kill. The up to date research shows speed is the cause of less than 5% of accidents. The rest are ...
...in favour of increasing the motorway speed limit until further mandatory training is introduced. 70 mph is too fast for someone not capable of controlling a car at high speed. I'll continue to take my chances with the law at 100mph+ speeds when the road conditions allow. I'll also continue to wonder in amazement at the morons doing 70mph when the conditions do not allow. Meanwhile, the government continues to increase their stealth taxation revenues ...

brogden 04.10.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

I find the motorway speed limit in this country to be largely irrelevant. There is always a queue of cars doing at least 85 mph in the overtaking lane. What should have more attention paid to it is the people who drive in the centre lane at 65-70 miles an hour without moving across to let faster vehicles through. These people are a danger as they lead to frustration and aggressive overtaking manoeuvres. The motorway is a dangerous place to drive ...

MarcusPerkins 27.09.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits

...say that in general the motorway system we have here in the UK is without doubt the most highly efficient way of getting from a to b. Whilst I agree with a great number of the reviews on here, that for those who spend a great deal of time on the road the 70 limit is too low. However it is not so much for the fact that it restricts those of us who use the motorway on a regular basis but it also slows down those drivers who spend 40 weeks of year ...
...the Danube. So yes, motorway speedlimits seem too low and statistically a motorway is the safest place to drive. But it is not possible to separate those who drive safely on motorways and those who should not be on motorways, and so I feel that whilst the limit could be raised to 80 without any risk to public safety, in the interests of all, the seventy limit is plenty high enough for the minority of incapables who find their way onto our motorways. ...

SquareFoot 15.09.2000 · Read full review
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Review of Motorway Speed Limits