Why aren't cars speed limited?

Richard53

Mercdriver wrote: »

After all, to quote Clarkson, speeding doesn't kill, stopping very quickly does...

Another quote I am fond of - if speeding itself were dangerous, then Concorde would have the worst safety record of any vehicle.

zagfles

Mercdriver wrote: »

In Germany, they have a two pronged procedure for safety. They not only have speed cameras (and the majority of Autobahn is regulated to 120/130kph) but they also have cameras that enforce a minimum distance between vehicles.

How does this work, is it over a distance or at instants in time? Anyone could be too close to the car in front at an instant in time through no fault of their own, eg if someone overtakes them and pulls in too soon.

I think it is time they increased the speed limit to 80mph, but at the same time specified a minimum distance. After all, to quote Clarkson, speeding doesn't kill, stopping very quickly does...

Good idea - an 80 limit but with stricter enforcement does sound sensible. You'll need to prevent the numpties who'll think "ooh good the limit is 80 that means I can do 90"!!

Unlike Gatsos, average speed cameras can be very accurate so there's no need for this 10%+2 margin. Have an 80 limit, enforced by average speed cameras, and only allow a margin of say 2 or 3mph over.

So someone who drives at 80 but accidently strays a bit above the limit for a few seconds, or is forced to to avoid an accident, won't get prosecuted since their average over a few miles will be under 82.

Jackmydad

Richard53 wrote: »

Another quote I am fond of - if speeding itself were dangerous, then Concorde would have the worst safety record of any vehicle.

OTOH, if Concorde was available for anyone to fly after passing a minimal "Drive (fly?) down the road" type test, if it was maintained as well as some of the sheds on the road, flogged within an inch of it's life wherever it went, and only checked in any way when it went in for an annual MOT, then it might well have a bad safety record.

Driving on the road isn't a competitive sport. It's not a "Top Gear" road test. Having a big powerful car, or bike, and being "an enthusiast" doesn't make that person a "good driver". That's a label not in the gift of any individual to bestow on themselves.

The limit on motorways is 70. Like it or not. Argue about it until you're blue in the face.
It's not likely to change. And given the varying abilities of drivers and cars, and the fact that there is a lot of slower moving heavy transport, probably shouldn't change.

Should cars be limited? Almost certainly until some sort of driving assessment of the driver's ability to handle a vehicle has been passed.
I reckon the only reason they don't do it is because it'd upset car sales.

Nick_C

Jackmydad wrote: »

The limit on motorways is 70. Like it or not. Argue about it until you're blue in the face.
It's not likely to change. And given the varying abilities of drivers and cars, and the fact that there is a lot of slower moving heavy transport, probably shouldn't change.

So the UK has got this right, while Denmark, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, and the US, are wrong?

I beg to differ. Drivers in the UK break the speed limits because they believe there are arbitrary and inappropriate. Bring in appropriate limits for the roads and weather, and people are more likely to respect them.

The policy of not normally prosecuting someone doing 79 on a motorway only goes to emphasise how nonsensical our limits are currently.

DoaM

Nick_C wrote: »

So the UK has got this right, while Denmark, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, and the US, are wrong?

I always thought speed limits in the US were lower than the UK.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_the_United_States

It seems it varies by state ... Texas has the highest limit anywhere - 85 on rural freeways. Every other limit is roughly the same or lower than in the UK.

France and Italy both have maximums of 80.

iolanthe07

DoaM wrote: »

I always thought speed limits in the US were lower than the UK.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_in_the_United_States

It seems it varies by state ... Texas has the highest limit anywhere - 85 on rural freeways. Every other limit is roughly the same or lower than in the UK.

France and Italy both have maximums of 80.

It may have changed since I lived there, but Montana had no speed limit all on on freeways during daylight hours and Arizona was 80 mph on some freeways. Ohter states had other limits; California varied, but the maximum was 70 mph.

zagfles

Nick_C wrote: »

So the UK has got this right, while Denmark, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, and the US, are wrong?

I beg to differ. Drivers in the UK break the speed limits because they believe there are arbitrary and inappropriate. Bring in appropriate limits for the roads and weather, and people are more likely to respect them.

The policy of not normally prosecuting someone doing 79 on a motorway only goes to emphasise how nonsensical our limits are currently.

It seems the majority of countries have limits of 110kph or below (ie below 70mph).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_by_country

Also those with higher limts generally allow less margin, and a good proportion of their motorway network has lower speed limits than the national maximum.

In the UK it's rare for stretches of motorways to have a permanent lower limit than 70 (obviously temporary limits in roadworks are common), in other European countries it's far more common.

I'd be happy with a French/Danish type limit - 80 with a margin of 3mph, strictly enforced with average speed cameras. And lower limits where necessary.

But until we get it, I'm not arrogant enough to think I'm above the law.

Mercdriver

zagfles wrote: »

How does this work, is it over a distance or at instants in time? Anyone could be too close to the car in front at an instant in time through no fault of their own, eg if someone overtakes them and pulls in too soon.

Two sets of cameras done on speed and distance. I was sat in the front passenger seat when the second one went off. My brother in law was adamant that there was no way anyone could enforce a minimum gap. Then he was driving and got caught.

Deastons

zagfles wrote: »

It's about time they introduced average speed checks on all motorways and major A roads. Easy to do these days - they do it in roadworks now.

That should satisfy everyone - both those who want limiters, and those who claim the only reason they want a fast car is for track days or driving in Germany.

Totally agree. Average speed cameras seem to be the only thing that make people actually drive properly.

Car_54

Nick_C wrote: »

So the UK has got this right, while Denmark, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, and the US, are wrong?

I beg to differ. Drivers in the UK break the speed limits because they believe there are arbitrary and inappropriate. Bring in appropriate limits for the roads and weather, and people are more likely to respect them.

The policy of not normally prosecuting someone doing 79 on a motorway only goes to emphasise how nonsensical our limits are currently.

79 is the lowest speed at which action is normally taken.