Why aren't cars speed limited?

uknick

Nick_C wrote: »

...If the car in front is doing 68 (because some people, perversely, like to drive just below the speed limit) then it is going to take a long time to overtake. If you don't put your foot down to overtake at say 78, then you are going to cause congestion on the overtaking lane....

Completely agree, you only have to see lorries overtaking each other on dual carriage ways and the congestion it causes.

zagfles

Nick_C wrote: »

If the car in front is doing 68 (because some people, perversely, like to drive just below the speed limit)

Or more likely their speedo overreads and they think they're going 70.

then it is going to take a long time to overtake. If you don't put your foot down to overtake at say 78, then you are going to cause congestion on the overtaking lane.

"Congestion" is an odd word for people going 70! I set my cruise control at 70 (actual 70, not speedo 70), if it takes ages to overtake someone going 68, then it takes ages. Occasionally some idiot will tailgate but IME they'll almost always back off and be patient when they realise you're not going to speed up or slow down and pull in behind slower traffic just because they want to do 80 or 90.

This could cause some impatient drivers behind you to tailgate you or perhaps overtake on the wrong side.

How can they overtake you on the wrong side if you're overtaking someone?

Best to get past as quickly as you safely can and reestablish a safe space in the appropriate lane.

I'm not going to break the speed limit because there's some impatient idiot behind who who thinks they own the road and are above the law. They can wait.

It's a lot better these days, can't remember the last time I was flashed or tailgated for any length of time. Not in this country anyway - somewhere like Spain it's a different story :eek:

JP1978

Regardless of any speed limits or speed limiters on vehicles, it isnt speed that kills, its the person that is driving that does.

Instead of limiting all cars to 70mph, more education is required. We all see people driving that can't be trusted to drive at 30mph, let alone at 70.

k3lvc

Deastons wrote: »

Good old MSE forums.

Ah - that would be the forum that you've been a member of for a month :rotfl:

Deastons

DUTR wrote: »

I can't see where the fascination is, perhaps you do not drive anywhere? Or not aware of highway code 169?
Sometimes certain situations cannot be avoided and is not so simplistic as you imagine.

Rule 169: Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.

Not sure what that has to do with breaking the speed limit...

Deastons

Nick_C wrote: »

If the car in front is doing 68 (because some people, perversely, like to drive just below the speed limit) then it is going to take a long time to overtake. If you don't put your foot down to overtake at say 78, then you are going to cause congestion on the overtaking lane.

I wasn't actually talking about motorways/dual carriageways, but either way, 68mph is still "making progress". That doesn't suddenly become an excuse for breaking the limit. If it takes ages, it takes ages.

Are you seriously suggesting that, if someone gets flashed, an excuse like "I was overtaking someone who had the audacity to drive at 2mph below the limit" would let them off? Of course not. Speeding is speeding. Nowhere does it say that it's ok for the average driver to break the limit on public roads.

Deastons

JP1978 wrote: »

Regardless of any speed limits or speed limiters on vehicles, it isnt speed that kills, its the person that is driving that does.

Instead of limiting all cars to 70mph, more education is required. We all see people driving that can't be trusted to drive at 30mph, let alone at 70.

Totally agree.

DUTR

Deastons wrote: »

Rule 169: Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.

Not sure what that has to do with breaking the speed limit...

If you have 100% never ever broken the speed limit anywhere anytime, then I read your point, if you are employed to police the roads, then I read your point, if you are prepared to stand in front of a moving vehicle travelling at 8mph then I read your point.
If you can't understand that if everyone drove within the stated limits there would still be accidents then what can I say?.....

iolanthe07

reeac wrote: »

I have to say that ins 60 years of driving I can't remember ever having to speed up to avoid an accident. I've had to brake and/or swerve a few times.

Last November I was on the M5 in lane 3 overtaking a van in lane 2. The van suddenly had a tyre blow out and slewed towards me. Only by accelerating hard was I able to avoid a really nasty accident. Braking hard would have meant the car behind me slamming into me. So, yes, there are times when you need to accelerate to get out of trouble.

Car_54

iolanthe07 wrote: »

Last November I was on the M5 in lane 3 overtaking a van in lane 2. The van suddenly had a tyre blow out and slewed towards me. Only by accelerating hard was I able to avoid a really nasty accident. Braking hard would have meant the car behind me slamming into me. So, yes, there are times when you need to accelerate to get out of trouble.

But with a car too close behind, you should have already been slowing down ....