Safe Speed Forums

And the current limit has lost its legitimacy.

...I might remind the reader that Sleep Related Crashes account for about 25% of all fatal motorway accidents, rising to about half of all crashes (A roads and motorways) during the small hours* - the time when the increased limit could be utilised. Reduced journey times results with less fatigue; reduced boredom results with less fatigue - a double whammy!
Significantly, fatals resulting from those Sleep factors are much more frequent than 'exceeding the limit', so how can anyone possibly claim that an increase of limit will result with more fatalities?

*(“Road Safety Research Report No. 52, Sleep-Related Crashes on Sections of Different Road Types in the UK (1995–2001)” )....

I should also point out to the nay sayers that the increase of limit need not force drivers to drive faster; so worries about cost increases are moot.

I think a lot of enforcer and anti-motorist types hate to see the limit increased, after all, less drivers would be 'exceeding the limit', thus the contributory factor of 'exceeding the speed limit' would actually become even less significant within the casualty stats. Hence speed enforcement wouldn't need to factor quite so highly on the agendas of those lobbies (and partnerships) that are so obsessed with speed.

Cynic that I am, I see this as a way to introduce average speed and ANPR cameras on motorways between junctions.

You have the consultation which agrees with the 80mph limit "provided it is strictly enforced". The Government agrees and puts in all the camera systems. You now have a huge spying system to keep track of everyone for road pricing. Toll motorways? No problem sir.

I'd quite like to keep the existing system where the limit is 70mph but nobody enforces it. At least I can travel at night without cameras watching my every move.

At least the logic is consistent across different modes of transport. HS2 is required to save people's time to boost the economy. The same applies to long car journeys.

I tend to agree. The last thing we need is more cameras. They have ruined the M25 and other m/ways. At least on the rest I am usually left alone to ignore the 70mph within reason.

The report says this
"Overall, 17% of road traf?c crashes (RTCs) resulting in injury or death were sleep
related. Proportions varied between 3% and 30%, depending on the road type"

It also says that crashes due to speed were 33% of the total, but let's ignore that eh?

Importantly what the report does not say is that sleep related crashes are reduced by increases in speed because of stimulation of the driver.

The speed as a systematic beneficial stimulant in driving situations is your own invention

... and appears to have no notable supporter.

The notion of enforcing a new 80mph speed limit at +10% + 2mph is not acceptable, IMHO, a 90mph speed limit, we all know the ACPO speed enforcement threshold sets the speed limit, should not be the result of the raising of the limit therefore I welcome the government saying that consideration will be made for strict enforcement. Perhaps 84mph will be the new limit.

If there is a systematic rise in death and injury on the motorway after the rise in the limit I do hope those who sponsor it have the shoulders and guts to take the responsibility for any unwelcome outcome.

I predict the serious injury and deaths will increase at expected and well proven rates; why wouldn't it?

I think what I'm trying to say, where I'm personally coming from, there HAS to be a way of recognising/differentiating between good and bad drivers

What about displacement, especially from other roads types that we all know (except you) are less safe?

In 1987, most states raised the speed limit from 55 to 65mph on portions of their rural interstate highways. There was intense debate about the increase, and numerous evaluations were conducted afterwards. There evaluations share a common problem: the only measure the local effects of the change. But the change must be judged by it's system-wide effects.

I think a lot of enforcer and anti-motorist types hate to see the limit increased, after all, less drivers would be 'exceeding the limit', thus the contributory factor of 'exceeding the speed limit' would actually become even less significant within the casualty stats. Hence speed enforcement wouldn't need to factor quite so highly on the agendas of those lobbies (and partnerships) that are so obsessed with speed.

The new 65mph limit allowed state highway patrols to shift resources from speed enforcement on the interstates to other safety activities and other highways - a shift many highway patrol chiefs had argued for

We find that the 65mph speed limit reduced the statewide fatality rate by 3.4% to 5.1%, compared to the states that did not raised their speed limit

...introducing more speed in a system of traffic that already has speed in 1/3rd of collisions would be disastrous.

I am ambivalent about a speed limit increase on the motorway but do expect to see an increase in death and injury...

I predict the serious injury and deaths will increase at expected and well proven rates; why wouldn't it?

Aren't faster roads statistically safer than slower ones?

People can always choose to only go up to the limit it is not obligatory to go to the speed limit!

This is exactly where the paranoid and misguided scamera worshipers get people like me wrong. I never have and never will seen any speed limit as a target to be reached. When I used the German Autobahns I didn't go flat out everywhere just 'because I could'.

Government proposes 80MPH motorway speed limit

Publisher: Department for Transport

Published date: 3 October 2011

Type: Press release

Mode/topic: Roads, Road safety, Road transport

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has announced his intention to consult on raising the national speed limit on motorways from 70 to 80 miles per hour. The Government plans to launch a full public consultation on the issue later this year with a view to implementing any change in early 2013.

Vehicles have changed dramatically since the current national speed limit was set in 1965. Technological advances mean that cars are significantly safer then they were - contributing to a fall of more than 75% in the number of people killed on British roads since 1965. That is why the Government feels it is now time to look again at whether the speed limit set in 1965 is still appropriate.

Road safety is a top priority for the Government and action is being taken to tackle uninsured driving and help police enforce against drink and drug driving. However, the Government believes safety cannot be the only consideration when setting speed limits. Previous analysis shows that raising the motorway speed limit would generate significant economic benefits, worth hundreds of millions of pounds per year from savings of travel time.

Initial work by the Department suggests that setting the motorway speed limit at 80 mph is likely to represent the best balance of costs and benefits and it is similar to the motorway speed limit in other EU countries.

As many as 49% of drivers currently break the 70mph limit. Ministers believe that raising the limit to 80mph would mean that millions of otherwise law-abiding motorists would be brought back inside the boundary, restoring the moral legitimacy of the system.

Philip Hammond said:

"I want to make sure that our motorway speed limit reflects the reality of modern vehicles and driving conditions, not those of 50 years ago.

"While we must ensure that our roads remain among the safest in the world, we must also consider the huge economic benefits that can be created by shortening journey times.

"Increasing the speed limit on motorways from 70 to 80 miles per hour for cars, light vans and motorcycles could provide hundreds of millions of pounds of benefits for the economy and I will put forward formal proposals for making these changes later this year."

Notes to Editors

1. An increase to the national motorway speed limit would apply to England and Wales. Responsibilities are devolved in Northern Ireland and are planned to be devolved in Scotland.

2. Increased motorway speed limits would apply to cars and motorcycles. Lorries on motorways are subject to lower speed limits and we have no proposals to increase them. The consultation is however likely to seek views about the position related to vans/light goods vehicles on motorways.

3. A thorough impact assessment which takes account of the full environmental, social and economic costs and benefits is being progressed.

4. Some stretches of motorway would be likely to retain a 70 mph limit because of their engineering and environment.

5. We are also considering the case related to increasing the speed limit on other high standard, near-motorway dual carriageways. Changes would be implemented case by case and we are not proposing to consult about raising the default national speed limit of 70 mph for all purpose dual carriageways.