Safe Speed Forums

I suspect this could be a good poll, but I also suspect that the people who frequent this forum would not be a good cross section of the british public*

Anyway, if the m-way speed limit was raised overnight to 80mph, how would it affect your driving? Would you immediately raise your average speed by 10mph (excluding busy motorways, obviously)? If you currently average, say 75-80mph, an indicated 80 by analgue speedo, would you feel the need to increase average speed?

Probably a better test would be to monitor average speeds on a relatively quiet motorway (say, the M57) for a few months, then raise it to 80 for a few months and see if there is a huge difference in average speeds?

For my own part, as I tend to drive on motorways at 65-70 (I have an alarm on my sat nav that bleeps if I approach 75) I think I would probably reset the alarm to go off at 80 and drive at around 75. Colleagues who routinely drive at 75 to 80 tell me they would probably continue to drive at the same pace but be a little more relaxed near jam butties and camera zones.


*as by their nature, people on here seem to think more about their driving than, say, the "Thumb in bum, mind in neutral" populace?

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COAST Not just somewhere to keep a beach.

A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

Actually, having thought about this, I don't think that would be the case immediately. I think I would take a little time to allow my average speed to get higher - I would like to have some time to get used to the higher speed, go about it gradually. I wouldn't like to increase my average speed by something over 15% without taking that time.

I've argued against myself here haven't I.

NURSE! Pass the dried frog pills.

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COAST Not just somewhere to keep a beach.

A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.

Yes, that would probably be my reaction.

To be honest, as most of my motorway mileage is either commuting or weekend leisure travel, and I'm not routinely doing long point-to-point motorway trips, I probably worry less about speed enforcement on motorways than on any other type of road.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

I recon I would drive pretty much the same but worry less. Generally on the motorway I ingore the speed limits - that's not to say I drive silly fast, but I don't often look at the speedo and just drive at a speed that feels comfortable (tends to be around 75 - 80 depending on conditions). If its very quiet I might drive faster, and obviously if its busy I slow down.

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

I don't think I would speed up my average speed is about 70-75.

I would would be more relaxed, during the times when I have to speed up to get past people who put there foot down when i over take them.

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Oct 11 Birmingham Half Marathon. I am running for the British Heart Foundation.
http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Taylor

That would be the case with me.

What every one else so far is saying!

Having said that, on my daily drive to work it would make b*gger all difference as the preponderance of HGVs on the M6 makes it difficult to reach 70 even in lane 3, and on the M54 the elephant racers on the 2-lane bit keep us all below 60!

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Keep right on to the end of the road ...

Better than my average 20 mph on the M42 in the mornings then! At least it gets to 50mph on the way back - sometimes.

I really don't think that changing the limit would make that much difference - most motorways that I use are too congested to reach a free travelling speed, and when they are, the L3 speed is around 85 - 90 mph. If traffic is light enough I might join them, other times I cannot be bothered with the stress of concertinaing, and tailgating, and cruise along at 60mph taking it easy - any slower and trucks tailgate you which is definitely worse than car up your backside.

dare i say it

it would be welcome

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now retired

I typically cruise at 80 - 85 in clear conditions. If the limit was raised I wouldn't change my speed but I would feel a lot more relaxed.

I used to drive mostly in the Netherlands (120kph limit).
I now drive very frequently in Germany (no 120kph limit).

My average motorway speed is definitely higher in Germany.

What I find very interesting, is that the actual quality of the motorways (surface, signage, architecture) is actually BETTER in the Netherlands.

The main reason for my increased speed on German motorways is the behaviour of the road users, German drivers seem to be far more on the ball than their Dutch counterparts - better lane usage, better indicating, more considerate driving.

I currently cruise at about 80mph (depending on conditions) as I find that is a comfortable speed, both for me and my car (maybe a bit higher on my motorbike, depending on conditions) so no, I don't think I would travel any quicker.

Raising the speed limit wouldn't alter the speed choice of the vast majority of drivers. It certainly wouldn't alter mine. Equally many of us would find it more comfortable because we were closer to legal compliance.

However I have serious concerns about chamging the behaviour of a small minority of underskilled or inexperienced drivers. This is the group who don't set a safe speed according to the conditions and instead drive to the speed limit. If they drive to the new increased speed limit when conditions don't support it, that could be a significant problem.

"Sequential" testing isn't a good idea because we might measure a seasonal (or other) variation by mistake. I recomend parallel testing by raising the speed limit in the middle section of a long route. I reckon the middle 40 miles of the M4 between London and Bristol would be a good choice. (Hello Wiltshire!)

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

Paul - that stretch of the M4 is currently enjoying 40 and 50 limits for almost its entire length There would be no point changing the limit around Reading either as the average traffic speed is currently about 5mph

[cynical mode on] Conveniently the timing corresponds with Wiltshire SCPs admission about increasing patrols to recoup losses due to the A303 farse [cynical mode off]

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

I would welcome it, however you may see the average speed in lane 2 rise to 75 from 65.

I don't really see any change in trafic speed in lane 3

There is a risk that the speed diferential from HGV's at 56 in lane 1 would completley stop people using lane 1

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Speed limit sign radio interview. TV Snap Unhappy
“It has never been the rule in this country – I hope it never will be - that suspected criminal offences must automatically be the subject of prosecution” He added that there should be a prosecution: “wherever it appears that the offence or the circumstances of its commission is or are of such a character that a prosecution in respect thereof is required in the public interest”
This approach has been endorsed by Attorney General ever since 1951. CPS Code

Wouldn't make any difference to my driving style or speed of choice for the given conditions.

Although it would depend on the number of points on my licence at the time. 9 points then my speed would increase by 10mph!

not really.

my speed is determined by road/weather conditions, traffic, confidence in the vehicle etc. sometimes I'm the fastest thing on the motorway, other times I'm happy to let others streak past me.

I doubt there'd be much difference with the raising of the limit save for all the faster drivers not slowing so much every time they pass a jam buttie/ nervously scanning every bridge they pass etc.



I've only driven in britain and france but found french motorway drivers far more professional in their approach. being flashed from behind is universally understood to mean "please, I'd like to pass monsieur", not "get out of my f$%&ing way you &*(%$ing !$£? or else".

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

I doubt it would change the speed I drive as it's rarely more then an indicated 80, which musn't be much above a true 70. I think a raised limit would really just reflect real world speeds.

I dont think I would increase my speed that much. I use a lot less juice going at 80-85 as normal. Above this and my car drinks it. An increase wouldbe a good thing though, could releave some conjestion.

And me.