Optimal speed for economical m'way driving?

balsingh

Keith wrote: »

In France the max speed limit is 80 mph, what makes it safe in France to do 80mph but in the UK 80mph makes you a danger and liable for prosecution?

Thats a really good point. Our govt obviously thinks we are worse drivers than our French/European counterparts.

cyclonebri1

greenman7 wrote: »

If I need to arrive at a particular time, I will start off a bit earlier so that I am not rushing to arrive at a deadline. Also I will drive at night if possible on long journeys to avoid traffic jams.
It is easy to drive at 60-65mph looking ahead and driving intelligently. This gives a stress free drive, consumption of about 65mpg and is good for the environment. Obviously the less fuel used the less pollution - does anybody else think this way?

i totally agree, and when I need to press on, (I also travel overnight on a regular basis), it gives you the choice to travel at your chosen speed;)

wdyw

balsingh wrote: »

Thats a really good point. Our govt obviously thinks we are worse drivers than our French/European counterparts.

France has roughly the same number of cars on their roads as in the UK
France's motorways ar approx 3x longer in total than the UK
France has a far smaller traffic density than the UK

France has approx twice the number of deaths per capita than the UK

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

And just for balance, you can tell us how many of those deaths occurred on their motorways?

laalaa

movilogo wrote: »

You can even set it as 80 mph Speedo shows lower than true speed and ACPO guideline recommends no speeding ticket on motorway unless speed is over 79 mph (70 + 10% of 70 for allowance)

I'll go as fast as I feel is appropriate thanks - pew pew pew lasers

These comment has really made me angry:mad:

NO! you shouldnt set your cruise control to 80mph, you should set it to 70 as thats what the speed limit is. Dont start going on about speedos and true mph. Its a lame excuse that those who like to speed, use to try and justify your excess speed.

The difference that an extra 10mph can make if an accident occurs is astounding, but you'd rather drive that extra 10mph because its unlikely you will get prosecuted?

I have absolutely no repsect for people that find its acceptable to drive at ridiculous speeds.

Its people like that, that kill and severly injure the "sensible" drivers and their children everyday.

If you had the job of telling someone their loved one was dead, or having to clean up the loved one so their relatives could see them in the mortuary, maybe you'd think twice...or then again maybe not

wdyw

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

And just for balance, you can tell us how many of those deaths occurred on their motorways?

With motorways only France has 2.7 times MORE deaths per vehicle/kms than the UK, despite their motorways being almost 6 times less densely used.

DKLS

greenman7 wrote: »

It is easy to drive at 60-65mph looking ahead and driving intelligently. This gives a stress free drive, consumption of about 65mpg and is good for the environment. Obviously the less fuel used the less pollution - does anybody else think this way?

Nope not at all, if i drove at 60/65 on the motorway I would fall asleep at the wheel or die or terminal boredom.

AdrianHi

laalaa wrote: »

These comment has really made me angry:mad:

NO! you shouldnt set your cruise control to 80mph, you should set it to 70 as thats what the speed limit is. Dont start going on about speedos and true mph. Its a lame excuse that those who like to speed, use to try and justify your excess speed.

The difference that an extra 10mph can make if an accident occurs is astounding, but you'd rather drive that extra 10mph because its unlikely you will get prosecuted?

I have absolutely no repsect for people that find its acceptable to drive at ridiculous speeds.

Its people like that, that kill and severly injure the "sensible" drivers and their children everyday.

If you had the job of telling someone their loved one was dead, or having to clean up the loved one so their relatives could see them in the mortuary, maybe you'd think twice...or then again maybe not

Don't get angry, instead think about what "appropriate" might mean.
Cruise control on at 70mph, but it's a crowded motorway or it's foggy outside and really the appropriate speed is less than 50mph because that is all there is space for or that's how far ahead you can see.
10pm on the nearly deserted motorway and 90mph (in a car designed for those speeds) is illegal, perfectly safe and from a certain point of view can be seen as appropriate were it not for the inappropriate and some what arbitrary 70mph speed limit set back when cars stopping distances are getting on for double what they are today.

The problem is rules have to be set for the lowest common denominator - the reckless and the dimwits allowed onto our roads.

You'll almost never (everyone slips up sometimes) see me breaking 30 and 40 speed limits, "national speed limit" A roads and the motorway and the speed appropriate for the conditions is what you'll see me doing.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

laalaa wrote: »

These comment has really made me angry:mad:

Thats because you haven't a clue what you're on about.

laalaa wrote: »

NO! you shouldnt set your cruise control to 80mph, you should set it to 70 as thats what the speed limit is. Dont start going on about speedos and true mph. Its a lame excuse that those who like to speed, use to try and justify your excess speed.

Balls to the speed limit. Its a number on a stick, nothing more. It tells you nothing about safety.

laalaa wrote: »

The difference that an extra 10mph can make if an accident occurs is astounding, but you'd rather drive that extra 10mph because its unlikely you will get prosecuted?

Really, so why not drive at 60 instead of 70? After all, the difference is astounding. What rubbish.

laalaa wrote: »

I have absolutely no repsect for people that find its acceptable to drive at ridiculous speeds.

"Ridiculous speeds" - lol. Go and drive on the continent, there its quite legal to do ridiculous speeds. Go to Germany, you can drive in some places at whatever speed you like. All quite legal.

laalaa wrote: »

Its people like that, that kill and severly injure the "sensible" drivers and their children everyday.

No it isn't. Breaking the speed limit causes only a tiny percentage of accidents. Usually it's the sensible drivers who aren't paying attention (failed to observe) that cause accidents.

laalaa wrote: »

If you had the job of telling someone their loved one was dead, or having to clean up the loved one so their relatives could see them in the mortuary, maybe you'd think twice...or then again maybe not

Oh look, the old emotive argument. Won't somebody think of the children!!!

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

wdyw wrote: »

With motorways only France has 2.7 times MORE deaths per vehicle/kms than the UK, despite their motorways being almost 6 times less densely used.

That would suggest an inherent failing in French driving standards to me, rather than a simple comparison of speed limits.