Should The Motorway Speed Limit Be Raised To 80mph?
At the dawn of the UK’s motorway network, there wasn’t a speed limit at all. That ended in 1965 as 70mph speed limits were introduced, but over 50 years have passed, so is it time for an update?
Improvements in crash safety, brake technology and even road technology since then have been massive, so it’s no surprise that the idea of an increase in speed limit has been raised by both campaigners and members of parliament in recent years. It’s even been discussed in the House of Commons, but proposals have never been given the go-ahead.
Upping the speed limit would mean quicker journey times and this will benefit the economy, not to mention making long trips less frustrating and slipways more entertaining…
Thanks to new ‘smart’ motorways with variable speed limits it’d be easy to introduce 80mph limits in test areas, or even roll out a higher speed limit on all newer sections of motorway, leaving older, less safe parts at 70mph.
On the other hand, bumping up the speed limit could still lead to an increase in accidents, even if the 315 foot 70-0mph braking distance given by the Highway Code is rather generous (with most modern cars, you’re looking at around half that). You’d get a substantial increase in emissions across the motorway network, too.
So with these things in mind, what’s your opinion? Get voting!
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Everyone already does 80mph anyway. Instead of raising the limit, just make 70mph the “recommended” speed.
Meanwhile in Estonia the last speed limit law change I remember of was making the 100km/h limit into 90 km/h…
Wee…
The thing is if they do raise it there will be cameras everywhere to make sure everyone does 80.
Just make them all autobahn’s
Something like this would do
It will never happen the police may have to do some police work instead of siting on their arse watching traffic 😝
80 mph speed limit on a motorway?! Hahaha laughing in german
Thats why I live in german
It’s already 80 in France. Everyone drives like they’re asleep and do 70, often hogging the fast lane. I do 90. The flash to pass is used a lot. So is tailgating. BMW, what do you expect?
Coming back from a road trip from Austria to France (Which went through Germany), I have to say that a limit of 90 Mph would be totally safe too. At least if the lane hoggers get removed.