New 80mph speed limit

Increase pollution?

Chris Huhne is another LibDem muppet, if half the country is already doing more than 70 how will it? He needs to get out more, the average speeds on Britain's motorways IMO is actually decreasing, the average driver who is paying for his own fuel are slowing down, they cant afford the costs, the only ones exceeding the limit are ones with nice expense accounts, and they are doing the speed everyone used to do, about 85, so in fairness, even if fuel prices decreased massively the average speed would stay at about 85 irrespective of the actual legal limit, a speed the police very rarely pull you at anyway.

By Shaun34 on 29 September, 2011, 6:06pm

Not Enough

70 was ridiculous 80 is still not enough. should at least be 95.

The ones concerned about pollution or speed can always drive in the left and middle lane. Just get out of my way so I can do what my car and I can handle.

By ozozdil on 29 September, 2011, 6:29pm

80 brings us into line with Europe's 130 kph limit, it would make sense for vehicles to be made more efficient at a speed that the majority will drive at. Fit a clever cruise control that modifies speed again in a fuel efficient manner and the whole climate change argument is dealt with as well as making it a whole lot easier to travel on the motorways.

By ShouldHaveBetterThingsToDo on 29 September, 2011, 7:47pm

Finally

It's about time, although I still think there should be no limit at all on some motorways like Germany's unrestricted autobahns.

By therealcollide007 on 29 September, 2011, 8:08pm

Increase

It's not only the speed that will increase is it..... It's also the coffers into the government as more fuel will be bought!

at 70, most people do around 80 at 80 will most people do around 90?

I'm not sure we need to increase the limit to be honest, I can't see anyone benefiting apart from the government.

By PaulVFR800 on 29 September, 2011, 8:29pm

SOMETHING GOOD FOR A CHANGE!

Finally, the Tory government has done something good for us!

By the way, 90 is too fast so most people will stick to 80.

By Abdurrahman1 on 29 September, 2011, 8:33pm

Variable speed limits

As it is most drivers only stick to 70 when going past a speed camera an 80 MPH speed limit is much more realistic.. But I would like to see variable speed limits depending on traffic and conditions... if conditions are good and traffic minimal their shouldn't be any speed limits on Motorways

By liverpool on 29 September, 2011, 9:49pm

It will still be 50%

It's all very well saying that half of drivers already do more than 70mph, but it could easily be re-stated as half of drivers break the speed limit, which could be the case with an 80mph speed limit. I have to agree with the statistic expressed above, which was reported in AutoExpress, average speeds may very well be falling.

By alan_jenney on 29 September, 2011, 10:32pm

Differential speed

One of the problems will be the difference between the slowest moving vehicles and those travelling at an average speed closer to 80mph than 70mph. Some car owners currently doing closer to 80mph find themselves "surprised" by vehicles moving out to overtake. Also, UK motorways are not generally as flat and straight as those on the European continent.

By alan_jenney on 29 September, 2011, 10:40pm

Differential speed

One of the problems will be the difference between the slowest moving vehicles and those travelling at an average speed closer to 80mph than 70mph. Some car owners currently doing closer to 80mph find themselves "surprised" by vehicles moving out to overtake. Also, UK motorways are not generally as flat and straight as those on the European continent.

By alan_jenney on 29 September, 2011, 10:41pm

highway code

totally agree with new limits the highway code has been in need of updating for years with modern cars now breaking quicker there brake distances are all wrong. the police just change speed limits when suits them. we all need to sit down as a group and discuss the best way forward for everybodys needs. i drove on the continent and find it less stressful. and i love the way the french speed limits work 1 speed for dry and another speed for wet weather driving i would like to see that introduced. and i would like to see some sort of camera introduced for middle lane hoggers these are the people that cause 50% of congestion on our motorways.

By blackpoolsbigbird on 30 September, 2011, 12:47am

Increase the speed limit to 80, Definitely not. 70 MPH Speed limit seems to mean you can do 80, an 80MPH speed limit will mean you can do 90 and at those speeds many drivers can not react fast enough to prevent an accident. Many drivers that drive at these speed also use in car telephones and it is known that whilst you are talking on a mobile phone via Bluetooth and hands free, your concentration is reduced and the likeliness of an accident is increased. The vast majority of these speeding drivers, drive alone at these high speeds and drive much slower when they have other people in the car or even their own families and children. These drivers needs to give serious consideration to other motorists as these are likely to be fathers, mothers and other peoples children that they are potentially going to crash with and kill.

Yes to 20MPH in towns. an extra 10MPH can save a life of someone. Could you live with yourself if you killed some one, killed a child that lived in your street??????????

The Car you might be driving may have high performance breaks and can stop much quicker, but the cars around you can not and its those that can be the ones that end up with fatalities.

Kill your speed, not another person

By TargetLeasing on 30 September, 2011, 8:25am

Just a suggestion!

Would it not be possible to make certain that people are capable of driving safely at 80mph before increasing the speed limit. Fair enough, cars have come a long way since the introduction of the 70 mph limit, but not all cars which use motorways are in perfect mechanical condition and some drivers just shouldn't drive at that speed because their driving skills are, to be honest, poor. As for drivers on motorways regularly exceeding the present limit, well, like the ban on using mobiles while driving......just because you disagree with a law doesn't mean you have the right to ignore it. 80 will become the new 90, presumably, because in order to maintain the increase in business that Philip Hammond predicts the 80mph limit will bring, you have to just push it higher.

By n50pap on 30 September, 2011, 9:02am

Not a good idea!

I don't think this proposal is a great idea. Have they forgotten that some vehicles cannot even do 60? My car is a 30 year old Land Rover and has a top speed of around 50 when cruising. The speed differential (likely to be over 30mph) will be very dangerous, and when you are on a hill, I will struggle to do 40. Some people will say that I shouldn't be on motorways, but it is our right to be on them. My mother's car will cruise at 90, but I have always thought the 70mph limit is too fast. In reality, we average around 60mph on motorways with congestion, and it's even less in peak times, so I cannot understand Philip Hammond's figures about improving the economy. In fact, I don't feel comfortable at 70, not because of the speed, but because of people's driving at that speed. If you increase it to 80, then how bad will the situation get?

By I_Crispy_Bacon on 30 September, 2011, 12:15pm

According to the BBC, he's launching a "consultation period", with a view to raising the speed limit in 2013.

By Cardinal_Fang on 30 September, 2011, 12:16pm

Variable speed limits are what we need.

I would like to see variable limits on our motorways. Used correctly variable limits would be better for economy and pollution.

Example: If there is a queue of traffic ahead then it would be best slow down the approaching vehicles, giving more time for the traffic ahead to clear. There is not much point everyone speeding to the back of the queue at 80 mph only to sit there in start stop traffic. The queue is only going to get longer and longer.

I see no harm in the max speed being increased to 80 if it is possible to slow the traffic down when necessary. But if drivers are given more freedom and responsibility then tougher punishments are also required.

By Sean_87 on 30 September, 2011, 12:58pm

80 mph a good idea as are compulsory re-tests.

Most people cruise at 80mph on the motorway already. Generally unless you are driving like an idiot the Police don't seem to mind. Speed isn't the problem. It is the aggresive approach and poor mental attitude the majority of driver's have which causes accidents. Time for the government to seriously consider compulsory re-tests for all drivers as too many take a driving licence for granted and don't consider the consequences of their actions. Many would be up in arms over this. Those who are obviously fear they may lose their licence as a result. A good idea but tougher punishments required for those who endanger others by their actions.

By JamesP on 30 September, 2011, 2:01pm

Unhappy

Come into Warwickshire and speed as much as you like as there is no Traffic Dept so go on do it .....!

By Prost on 30 September, 2011, 6:21pm

Yes, increase the speed limit on safest motorways in Europe...doh

An analysis of the overall traffic and accident situation in each of 16 European countries carried out by the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP), shows that the UK has the safest roads in Europe.

So why compromise that with an increase in the speed limit and increase the risk factors for fatalities???

Speed: a basic risk factor

The relationship between speed and road accidents has
been studied extensively and is very clear: the higher
the speed, the greater the probability of a crash and the
severity of crashes. All review studies indicate that:

-Small changes in mean speeds can be expected to result
in much larger changes in crash outcomes.

-Severe crashes (resulting in serious injuries and deaths)
are much more sensitive to speed changes than crashes
in general.

By Rtcnot on 1 October, 2011, 10:55am

80 not enough

should be at least 120 - that would give the economy a kick up the arse

By cousins11 on 3 October, 2011, 3:30pm

Golfauto

I think it is a good idea but possibly a waste of time. I presume that the police will be just as strict as now, in pulling up drivers doing over 80 MPH, NOT allowing 90 MPH being the NEW 80 MPH???

By golfauto on 4 October, 2011, 10:03pm

ABOUT TIME THAT 70MPH LIMIT IS SO OUT OF DATE

THE STOPPING DISTANCE HAS BEEN VASTLY REDUCED DUE TO BIGGER BETTER BRAKES & ABS ON THE NEWER VEHICLES SO THIS WAS INEVITABLE. SOME HAS FINALLY SEEN SENSE.

By BEREAL on 15 October, 2011, 9:14pm

Variable Limits - yes, 80mph No

Firstly, blackpoolsbigbird - police DON'T set ANY speed limits, variations to speed limits are implemented by highways or HA. Police merely enforce speed limits, not very well and not often enough.

To those who claim that vehicle improvements should justify higher speeds - we already have higher speeds than 10, 20 or 30 years ago. Speeds are vastly higher than they were.

Research also shows that drivers are now less cautious and drive faster in any given situation due to the perceived sense of safety within the modern vehicle 'safety cell' and so take more risks.

Add to that the fact that driver reaction times have and will always remain unchanged there is really no case to change the the stopping distances in the Highway Code.

In fact when you consider the additional driver distractions of in-car entertainment, satnavs, phones and texting there is probably a case for reducing speed limits.

By AshleyBones on 21 October, 2011, 6:09pm