Matt P

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4528507.stm

AA calls for speed limit increase

It is hoped variable limits would ease congestion
The 70mph speed limit on motorways should be raised to 80mph at certain times on specific stretches of road, according to the AA Motoring Trust.
The changes, aimed at easing congestion, would affect parts of motorways which have variable speed signs, such as the M25 around London.

But road safety groups have expressed opposition to the plan.

RoadPeace, a motoring charity, argues that "any raising of the limit would make the roads more dangerous".

The suggestions are now being passed on to the Highways Agency which is responsible for motorways and major trunk roads in England.

AA Motoring Trust director Bert Morris has expressed support for variable motorway speed limits.

The proposal to raise the limit on motorways is irresponsible and flies in the face of road safety advice

Mary Williams OBE
Brake

He said: "The current 70mph limit on motorways works well and should not be altered.

"However, on motorways where there are variable speed signs a limit of 80mph should be introduced when traffic flow and road conditions permit."

He added: "If technology exists to reduce speeds on motorways at certain times, then it ought to be possible to raise speeds when it is suitable to do so."

But Mr Morris also added a note of caution, saying there was a need to ensure that drivers did not break the 80mph limit if it were introduced.

However, the suggestions have been criticised amid safety concerns.

Mary Williams OBE, the chief executive of road safety charity Brake, said: "The proposal to raise the limit on motorways is irresponsible and flies in the face of road safety advice and convincing evidence from the USA and elsewhere that raising limits increases casualties.

Safety fears

"We should be prioritising better enforcement to make our motorways safe, not making them more dangerous."

But Paul Watters, the AA Motoring Trust's head of road policy, dismissed fears that the proposal would make roads more hazardous.

"The changes described would improve safety," he said.

Mr Watters said many accidents stem from the different speeds adopted by drivers, which can vary "between 70mph and 90mph".

He said: "This would recognise what happens at the moment, while trying to get better compliance by using speed cameras."

OllyK

Flies in the face of the bull$hit spin put about by the government rather than reality? That woman needs running down by a bus.

unclebuck

I'll drive!!!

GaryK

Yes and it was imposed in the 60s wasnt it? When doing 70 in car meant that the whole thing shook death, wasnt very stable on the road and took about 1/2 a mile to stop!!

Like alot of laws in this country they are a legacy and they need revising to suit the modern age!

Old Williams is just another beareaucrat with her head stuck up her ar$e, fact of the matter is most people probably drive at 80 anyway on a motorway if the conditions allow.

I mean its like the highway code stopping distances, calculated using a ford anglia or something ridiculous like that!

OllyK

Maybe they should review all the country's laws periodically. That may stop all the introduction of silly little things that really aren't needed and may clear out much of the outdated dross.

catalunya199again

dont be silly olly thats far to sensible they have bigger things to worry about like new cameras and joining europe

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

It must be a real pain in the **** owning a fast car and being subject to draconian speed limits

Germany has no speed limits on most autobahns and Italy has just raised its speed limits in order to reduxe accidents and reduce congestion. Me thinks the British government needs to talk to its european counterparts more often.

Adrian F

But this will justify camera's on EVERY bit of the motorway network and yet I bet the times the limit goes up to 80 (WOW so fast !!) will be once in a blue moon still a nice way of getting more camera's on the roads.

We live in a blame culture nobody will ever make a choice to raise the limits and risk being blamed for a single crash.

Be better if we harmonise with Germany on speed limits

boomer

Why the **** has "Mary" got an OBE??

mb

Leslie

Most people in this country drive at around 85 mph on motorways and that is a good speed limit to change up to. There should be heavy penalties for exceeding it by significant amounts.

It is agreed that the motorways are our safest roads and this is with the speeds that most drive at now anyway. Gives the lie to what the nutcrunchers claim about raising the speed limits.

Les

OllyK

The problem with BRAKE and t2000 and such is they are fully behind the speed kills cobblers. They are working on the basis that increasing a speed limit will make a road more dangerous, even if so doing will make almost no difference to the average vehicle speed on that road, it will just make the 90% that are currently exceeding the limit, legal again.

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Who the hell does this person think she is? .....she certainly isn't impartial

Poor driving kills - not speed...the sooner people like this get this into their thick skulls the better it will be for all of us.

And evidence from the USA...please, this one of the countries that have the worst record for inattentive driving and driving without due care.... Where you see women put makeup on whilst on the highway at rush hour whilst the men are shaving their beards!

Obviously if you you need to take avoiding action because said man/woman wasn't paying attention to road then doing 55 rather than 75 they are less likely to die...but the fact they weren't paying attention and they basically cannot drive is the cause not the speed!