Safe Speed Forums

I freely admit I don't have data (I don't believe such data exists), but it doesn't invalidate my point. Also, I speak from bitter experience and have the experience of others to support me.


From my personal experience I disagree. There is additional driver stimulation at 80 than 60, but 80mph (for those who choose to drive at it) is not in itself exhausting. It may be for some, but for those people that point is invalidated: no one is forcing them to drive at 80.

Driving at 70 on such roads in good conditions induces fatigue – specifically: sleepiness.
You need look no further than the report I quoted to see that. Sleep Related Crashes already account for about half of all crashes (A roads and motorways) during the night, not exhaustion, but sleepiness.
Driving at say 100 (not that I'm calling for this) will reduce the onset of that sleepiness. Driving games where people remain well within their limits on straight featureless roads isn't really stimulating and doesn't keep gamers awake at night; does that not count for anything?
Of course, driving faster will also reduce the time spent behind the wheel. Fatigue/sleepiness increases with time, so even one were to say that speed doesn't affect fatigue (at today’s speeds), my overall point still remains valid anyway.

I was once caught within the M1 roadworks with a specs enforced 40 limit during the night (after driving for about 30 minutes, from Milton Keynes). The speed restrictions continued for several junctions (longer than 10 miles). Towards the end of the restrictions I felt disturbingly drowsy (no I was not able to stop or pull over, nor could I anticipate this being as it was my first time). Once the restrictions ended I resumed 'motorway speeds' and was fine all the way to Portsmouth without other any sign of ill effect, even though I didn't stop for a break. Granted some may not experience the same effects as I did, but you have to accept that some do; this is where the problem lies.

When I stated my experience of this on a driving forum (PistonHeads), the responses given were of sympathy and similar experiences, so I know my experience is not atypical.
(oddly, when I did the same on a cycling forum (C+) I was quite literally hounded out of it)

Remember, we're not wanting to force everyone to drive at 80+. Folks who find those speeds excessively mentally exhausting can remain at 70/60; no one else will care so long as they apply the expected lane discipline. We’re all different, everyone should be able to drive what they feel is best for their level of arousal; unfortunately, today’s limits simply don’t cater for that and therefore are reasonably ignored by a great many.

I could equally say that there is less of an opportunity of being involved in an accident, but that would be baseless too.

No. But it is substantially more tiring than driving at 60mph.

People think that everyone is like them. What is a comfortable and stress free to one person would be totally uncomfortable and very stressful to someone else.

Further to above, it also depends on how long the journey is going to be and the vehicle you are in.

Therefore people should be given as much leeway as possible to choose their own speed.

Therefore people should be given as much leeway as possible to choose their own speed.

That sentiment does not sit well alongside an earlier thread lambasting "numpties" who drive too slowly for many commentators liking.

That sentiment does not sit well alongside an earlier thread lambasting "numpties" who drive too slowly for many commentators liking.

That said, people still die falling down stairs but following that argument, if we could save "just one life" by mandating bungalows...

...The "I want to save a few minutes" argument isn't so good, as you say, INDIVIDUALLY - but as a nation, this all adds up!

That sentiment does not sit well alongside an earlier thread lambasting "numpties" who drive too slowly for many commentators liking.

...slow people should seek to not impede fast people...

10/10 for selective quoting.

30M drivers, each facing a 10 min needless delay every day.
(30M x (10 / 60) x £10 x 365) / £1M = 18250 lives every year

You forgot to take off the "cost" of higher speed limits.

You forgot to take off the "cost" of higher speed limits.

You argument founders rather on the fact that those lost ten minutes are not always paid for in cash terms but in loss of leisure. The fact that my journey to work takes ten minutes longer doesn't mean that my employer looses ten minutes of my working time. Rather it means that I loose ten minutes of my free time.

Of course, for people who work 'on the road' there is a direct financial loss, but their number must be less than 30 million.

Much as I would like to accept your accolade.in all conciousness I cannot. :
The two concepts "drivers should be allowed to choose their own speed" and "drivers should seek not to impeded fast drivers" are usually mutually incompatible,