Is it time to increase the speed limit from 70mph to 80mph?

NBLondon

I always liked the French approach where the limit automatically reduces in rain.

There are places and times where 80mph on a motorway is safe and others where 65mph isn't.   If we had variable limits that actually reflected the current road conditions and drivers who stuck to them it should be a lot more efficient.  Unfortunately it's going to need self-driving cars to make that work.

AdrianC

NBLondon said:

I always liked the French approach where the limit automatically reduces in rain.

Mmm. How much "rain" is rain? What if the rain has stopped but the road surface is still wet?

There are places and times where 80mph on a motorway is safe and others where 65mph isn't.

And, of course, that applies to all roads.

The limit past my gate is 60mph.
The road is JUST single-vehicle wide, and has grass up the middle.
If you tried to do that, you wouldn't even get round the steep, blind S-bends to reach the gate.
If you did, you might land before the trees, but you certainly wouldn't get round the corner.

If we had variable limits that actually reflected the current road conditions and drivers who stuck to them it should be a lot more efficient.  Unfortunately it's going to need self-driving cars to make that work.

I dunno where you've been, but they've been in place in the UK for damn near twenty years already.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2001/3763/made/data.xht?&wrap=true

This map of the Smart Motorway network is now two years out of date...

stator

Norman_Castle said:

stator said:

On motorways increase the speed limit to 80mph and install average speed check cameras at every exit and entrance. That way everyone will stick to it and accidents will go down

Pointless. People who currently drive at 80 will just continue at 80, others will continue at 70 as they do now.

Are many motorway accidents caused by speed?

The point of the cameras is to stop people who are currently going 80mph, which is safe, from going 90mph.

People don't cause accidents by going 80mph, they cause accidents by not leaving big enough stopping distances, mainly in the rain. Not much you can do about that. But the problem gets worse at higher speeds obviously.

Stubod

..the speed limit should be reduced to 60mph on motorways and 50mph on the roads that are currently 60, and all new cars restricted to 70mph (just in case and useful if you are abroad).

There would then only be a need (in the main) for cars of around 1.0 ltr which would save fuel costs, reduce the environmental impact, (and cars would last longer (probably)), and reduce accident rates (probably), reduce congestion, (probably)....win win   

NBLondon

AdrianC said:

I dunno where you've been, but they've been in place in the UK for damn near twenty years already.

Been here all the time Adrian - I meant ones that work...   If the limits could be changed a bit closer to real time - reflecting not just traffic flows and congestion but also weather/visibility conditions - and not extended 5 miles and half an hour beyond the need for them then people might take them a bit more seriously.   If the majority of drivers keep at or near the posted limit then it does give smoother flow (in the mathematical models anyway) but once a certain number of drivers go for the kick and rush approach (drive at speed and brake when they see the camera) the benefits are lost.  It's kind of a horrible socialist idea where we all give up a few minutes extra time and we all benefit

Good question about what the French define as enough rain for the lower limit to kick in...  I can't find a definitive answer - just lots of others debating the question.  Do we have an expat here to answer?   Maybe it's at the discretion of les flics de la route?