Safe Speed Forums

Motorway speed limit will rise to 80mph in a bid to boost economy
By Ray Massey -Last updated at 11:59 PM on 23rd September 2011

Motorway speed limits will rise to 80mph to shorten journey times and help boost the economy.
Police and authorities currently turn a blind eye to most motorists who drive at this speed, and they are rarely prosecuted.
But a review of road safety is expected to conclude that the increase from the current 70mph limit should be made official.

Coming soon: The motorway speed limit is set to go up to 80mph
It is understood that there is now broad agreement within the Coalition and among civil servants, with the only question being the timing of the announcement.

A consultation on the increase could be announced as soon as this month’s Conservative Party conference
A condition is likely to be that an 80mph limit would be more strictly enforced, to prevent the usual speed rising to 90mph..
Another part of the deal, to keep the Lib Dems happy, is understood to be the introduction of more 20mph zones in residential areas.

A road safety expert close to the discussions told the Daily Mail: ‘We have heard whispers from civil servants that they have been looking at it and have been advised from Whitehall insiders that they are minded to raise it soon, either before or at the Tory conference.

‘But they are aware that safety groups will oppose it.’
Motorway: The change would bring Britain more in line with other European countries

Motorway: The change would bring Britain more in line with other European countries

The latest Department for Transport statistics show that nearly half (49 per cent) of cars exceeded the 70 mph speed limit on motorways last year.

One in seven (14 per cent) were recorded travelling at 80 mph or faster.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has already made clear his concern that anti-car campaigners have for too long used road safety as a convenient excuse both to prevent the speed limit on motorways being raised and to push for more 20mph zones in urban areas, even where they are inappropriate.

Mr Hammond believes that safety cannot be the sole determining factor when changing limits and that the economic impact must also be taken into account.
Ministers and experts argue that raising the speed limit could boost the economy.

They point out that a modest rise in the limit would mean speedier journeys for employees on jobs, reps on the road, and delivery vans.

Bigger lorries above 7.5 tons are restricted to 60mph on motorways and this is expected to remain.

Supporters of raising the limit point out that when 70mph was introduced in 1964, it was the maximum speed of most cars at the time.

Opponents say it will lead to an increase in casualties.
There were 132 deaths on motorways in 2009 at a time when the total number of road deaths was 2,222, the lowest since records began.
The Parliamentary Advisory Council on Transport Safety says raising the limit to 80mph would increase motorway casualties by between 5 and 10 per cent.

AA president Edmund King, who backs raising the limit, said: ‘Our view is that 80mph in a modern car, in good weather, at a proper distance from the car in front is a safe speed, whereas 50mph in bad weather, tailgating the car in front, is a very dangerous speed.
‘Some might argue that 80mph is already the default speed, as motorists rarely get prosecuted for driving at 80mph on motorways.
‘However if we want people to adhere to the lower speed limits, such as 30mph, it is better to have speed limits that are realistic and enforced.’

Britain has some of the safest roads and motorways in Europe, as well as a lower speed limit than most of the continent.
The maximum in France and Italy is 81mph, while in Ireland Spain and Portugal it is 75mph. German autobahns are unrestricted.

If it's more strictly enforced, then will it make any difference? Booking people for doing 83 or 84 will make a mockery of the whole thing.

While I obviously support raising the motorway limit, in my view all the ridiculous and unnecessary drops from to and from to are far more of a problem.

In any case, a lot of motorway traffic is going slower nowadays to save fuel.

Don't think people realise how much more pollution there will be if everyone crawls through at 20mph instead of 30mph either...

Less pollution?

Less pollution?

How much am I bet that the AA and the RAC will come out against this?

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "There are good reasons for making 80 the new 70, and good reasons not to.