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National Speed Limit

As many of you may know. One of the latest proposals the government have made is the reduce the National Speed Limit for single track roads from 60mph (for cars and motorbikes) to 50mph. They claim that it's for safety and carbon dioxide reasons.

There is a petition with large numbers opposing this.
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/noNSLreduction/

I for one can't fail to be disgusted with this proposal. It seems like the government just want to make the motorist's life hell. If it wasn't bad enough that they jumped on the carbon dioxide bandwagon for road tax... (Any decent biologist could spend many hours at length explaining how carbon dioxide is not the problem and that it's a natural part of photosynthesis and oxygen production, but that is besides the point) they are now looking to stick the knife in further and twist.

I hope as many people as possible add to this petition and their plans are not allowed to happen.
 
Have you tried walking along a country lane in recent years? Also, due to excessive speed by others, the pleasure of driving in most situations is lost. I welcome any speed reductions, across the board. I shall not sign the petition.
 
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I certainly won't be signing, and I believe the petition will be disregarded anyway due to the fact that the petition details are actually incorrect.

Following the announcement that the government is planning to reduce the national speed limit to 50 miles per hour, we the undersigned oppose this, since it will make no difference to road deaths and the cut in carbon emissions is so insignificantly small it's laughable.

That makes it sound like all roads will be subject to a 50mph limit, which won't be the case. It is rural roads that will be affected, i.e. country lanes and narrower other roads where sensible drivers already keep their speed down to a reasonable level anyway.

The reduction, to be imposed as early as next year, will affect two thirds of the country’s road network. Drivers will still be able to reach 70mph on motorways and dual carriageways and 60mph on the safest A roads.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article5864847.ece
 
Didn't somebody suggest that the new measures wouldn't require road signs to be changed, which prompted a number of people to point out that a large number of affect areas would end up with people confused about whether to go at 50 or 60 and the Police raking in more cash.

I'm also not sure about the economical argument, I mean for my automatic the car can slip into a higher gear and coast along with minimal revs at 60 but it needs more rpm at 50 in the lower gear.

Mind you, who can go at 60mph on rural single carridge ways now anyway? They're so full of un-fixed pot holes that you'd kill your car :) . Maybe fix those first.
 
"Have you tried walking along a country lane in recent years?"

Worse still, a country lane at night!

The vast majority of drivers are thoughtless, selfish, and couldn't care less about anything other than getting from A to B as fast as possible.
A *sensible* driver would not dream of exceeding 50 on *most* country lanes in the first place. There are, as with everything, exceptions, of course. For example, In my motorcycling days, I'd have no qualms about doing well in excess of that on, say, a straight road across a stretch of moorland devoid of all life - perfect visibility, no trees or hedges to obscure anything, no gateways which a child or tractor might be hiding in, ready to pop out unexpectedly.

These days, unfortunately, sensible drivers are few and far between - the situation where a friend of mine lives in Cambridgeshire is so bad that, despite being young, fit, and not too lazy to put one foot in front of the other, she will pay for a taxi to go down to the village shop/pub/etc. only about a mile away rather than risk getting clobbered by some speed maniac.

People seem to interpret the word "limit" as "mandatory speed" - not "this is the most you should do", but "you must drive at this speed, and no lower, irrespective of road conditions". Even among my personal friends, normally quite sensible, it is often a case of "engine on - brain off". I welcome anything that discourages them from hurtling along at speeds quite inappropriate to the road they are driving on, and if that means that a lower speed limit applies to stretches of road where driving at 60 would *not* be a problem, so be it - your tin box is not a God.
 
I typically drive at 55MPH on clear A roads and often get some idiot tailgating me. I used to live in the country and can't think of many rural roads where 50 MPH could be maintained safely for a significant period of time. :hrmph:

The attitude of many drivers with regard to sensible speeds was shown on Fifth Gear last night. They said that because a lot of crashes in the country involved colliding with trees that this highlighted bad road design. Sure it does, I can't count the number of times a tree has jumped out in front of me and caused an accident - on the other hand maybe taking your foot off the accelerator and learning to drive according to the environment would help. :rolleyes:
 
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I typically drive at 55MPH on clear A roads and often get some idiot tailgating me
Yes, it happens far too often. Try putting a sign in your rear window, "The more you tailgate me, the slower I'll drive!" like I have in mine. People tend to hang back a bit then :laugh:
 
People might have got the wrong impression. So I will state very clearly.

I completely oppose a reduction in the national speed limit.

There are too many stretches of road where 60 is perfectly fine. In some cases 60 is in my opinion way too slow. That said there are planey of roads where the speed you do must be adjusted according to road conditions.

I believe that is termed "driving with due care and attention." The flip side is "Driving without Undue Hesitancy".

For example a professional driver in a large vehicle would not pass a test for doing the speed limit on an A road where able to do so. A single track road is what I refer to. The limit for a Bus/Coach for example being 50 in this case. I know people who failed the PCV test for driving at 45 on such roads.

The point that most people seem to miss is that we shouldn't need some idiot governing body to dictate such matters. So again I completely oppose any reduction in the limit. I'm completely in favour of scrapping the limit and making the punishment for dangerous driving worse.

For those of us who are perfectly capable of determining what is a safe speed this proposal is an insult. Sure the petition may have incorrect wording from the person who started it but it goes to show the strong feelings on the subject.

When I posted this morning I was completely disgusted. Another stupid idea from a stupid government. That and the carbon dioxide bandwagon that they have jumped on yet again which is completely preposterous. The Safety issue is a complete farce also.

To drive safely is easy. Tailgating is a prime example of bad driving. Does anyone question why people tailgate or just get angry due to some git being up your ar*e. People do not leave enough distance between them and the car in front. etc etc etc.

The list goes on.

There is no need to reduce any limits. (Sure some roads need attention)
There is a need to get crap drivers off the road.

Puninshing the population isn't the answer. That's why I added my name to the petition.

As for the other concerns. Those for my own part I raised via the CPT as they have more of a voice than I have. (not appropriate for everyone I realise)
 
I mean for my automatic the car can slip into a higher gear and coast along with minimal revs at 60 but it needs more rpm at 50 in the lower gear.

Sounds like you need to get your auto box checked out. :D
 
before they add this to the large selection of already listed laws they ought to practice what they preach.

as an example, have you ever had to follow a police car through a town or village with a speed limit? l have and so have my parents, in fact a recent example l can name is a 40mph limit in a village area close to us, my parents were driving "AT THE LIMIT" yet the police car was pulling away quite quickly, l would estimate he was driving 20/30mph over the stated limit if he was running sirens then l wouldnt be so bothered about the issue, however if the police dont lead by example then the motorists dont have an example to follow!

then again, in my experiences of local police l dont really hold a great opinion of their traffic records, one village l used to live near had three local officers all who lost their licenses for drunk driving offenses and were only allowed to ride motorcycles.
 
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Sure it does, I can't count the number of times a tree has jumped out in front of me and caused an accident - on the other hand maybe taking your foot off the accelerator and learning to drive according to the environment would help. :rolleyes:

Those trees, something just has to be done about them :) before they start walking accross the motorways too. No wait.. they're doing that too!
 
I have said for years that ALL speed limits should be guideline figures only, and that the penalties for an accident above these guideline figures should be severe.

Killing someone using a motor vehicle should be classified and dealt with as "Manslaughter", as a minimum.

The charge of "Death by dangerous/reckless driving" should be abolished and the correct term "Murder" should be used.

Accidents involving drunk drivers, and those under the influence of drugs should (if anyone is injured), be charged as "Grievous bodily harm" or "Attempted Murder" and should ALWAYS include a 12 month ban MINIMUM (longer depending on circumstances of accident and injuries incurred); and no "they need their car for charity work" excuses and let-offs should be allowed.

Speed DOES NOT KILL; idiots kill, at any speed.
 
Those trees, something just has to be done about them :) before they start walking accross the motorways too. No wait.. they're doing that too!

WARNING: HEAVY PLANT CROSSING

Lol.
 
I enjoy riding my motorcycle at speed.

However, I am responsible and unless there's cameras up and down every motorway and country road, I will ride quicker than the speed limit.

In all residential areas I ride slower than 30mph and consider myself more observant than the majority of car drivers.
 
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Have you tried walking along a country lane in recent years? Also, due to excessive speed by others, the pleasure of driving in most situations is lost. I welcome any speed reductions, across the board. I shall not sign the petition.
Quite shocking to read that to be honest.
Im no speed racer of any sort, i never tailgate, or a lunatic or a pushy/angry driver, and i do keep to the speed limit - ready for when its possible that some kid or drunken fool stumbles out onto the road from a parked car blocking the view somewhat, and just all other typical run of the mill possible hazards. By keeping to the speed limit in such places, atleast if i do run someone over then i can think im within the law and its your own stupid fault, or your parents for letting you out onto the road, funny how people always blame the driver regardless isnt it? almost never the pedestrian, yeah... so drop the speed limit, while we're at it lets take all motors off the road and do the eco friendly thing and walk everywhere, like our grandparents had to.

Almost every where i drive now i always see atleast one of these type of drivers every couple of minutes:

- people pulling out of side roads, very slowly building up speed, to.. wait for it, 25mph! (or even 30mph sometimes which takes forever to get to) in a long and wide main 30mph limit road.
- people entering and exiting round abouts without direction indications
- pulling away slowly from traffic lights.
- cars parked on both sides of the street or staggered, if a fire engine had to get through...
- people driving in the middle lane of a motorway, no cars in the left lane for quite a distance.
- parking near schools entrance, parked cars every where, and they blame speed as the cause of accidents. Its parents too idle to park the car down the road which would also ease traffic congestion and would make the road more viewable for drivers driving down the road.
- people rushing over traffic lights when the other side is about to come to a stop, leaving a car or 2 either fully or partially blocking the other direction traffic.
- people parking on the road side outside their house, when they have an emptry driveway.
- slow moving traffic on the motorway, car infront builds up more speed than the car infront of him, results in him and atleast a few other cars behind him to break, which results in even slower moving traffic.
- and other things i cant think of right now.

Most drivers need to pay more attention, stop driving as if youre the only one on the road, help other drivers out alot more - 'plan ahead' instead of being a motorized lemming thats focused only on awareness of the road. Alot of drivers on the road would make drunken drivers look professional, they really would, big time.

Reading this, no doubt youd think im some sort of crazy driver. Im really not, im 28, never ever had a speeding ticket, i almost never get road rage, never pulls anyone up, keeps good/normal seperation distances, never pushes anyone to go, if i speed its usually like 40 in a 30, 50 in a 40, or a touch more if its a long wide road etc. Im no profesional driver either, im just quick off the ball i suppose, just feels that way when im following the drones of cars to work and back, bored out of my mind with my right arm resting on the door resting my head, thinking how slack and slow this world is.

Then i reads stuff like this, of how people are putting their foot down every where. Its the complete opposite from my experiance.. yet they want to drop the speed limit? seriously, get out and walk people. or use buses/trains, drop the limit anymore and the roads will become a cattle sheep market, peoples reaction timings will drop even more, then in 20 years time theyll drop the speed limit again.

Dont forget, those stopping distances in the highway code were made up decades ago. Now theres more widespread tarmac and other grainy surfaces on our roads, tyres have advanced a bit for more grip, brake pads all round, ABS. So if we need to drop the speed limit, it just shows how slow driving makes our reaction times drop.
 
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Dont forget, those stopping distances in the highway code were made up decades ago. Now theres more widespread tarmac and other grainy surfaces on our roads, tyres have advanced a bit for more grip, brake pads all round, ABS. So if we need to drop the speed limit, it just shows how slow driving makes our reaction times drop.

Yeah but what you have to remember is that this same government who is proposing this last week issued a warning that people could get too hot and should take precautions. blah blah blah

It's why I can't take them seriously. Common sense seems to have been lost.

I live in Ayr and am about 15-20 mins away from the Open Golf. From the roundabout at the end of my road till Turnberry the idiots have imposed a 30mph limit all the way. The locals are having to go between a 5 and 10 mile detour to avoid this. Then the police are controlling traffic on roundabouts. I thought the idea of roundabouts were to allow traffic to control itself????

Previous to this they reduced a stretch of dual carriageway to 50mph to allow them to alter the road layout for safety. Problem is they aint touching it for at least 2 years. The sad fact is that I still overtake people on this stretch of road. (And I have to do 50 due to those damned average speed cameras)

I am a professional driver and have driven large vehicles all over the country. I'd say 90% of all the accidents I have seen have been caused by some idiot driving too slowly. There is something really really wrong with these so called "sensible" drivers. (Coz that's what they say they are. I do not refer to actual sensible drivers) The problem is that they never crash. They cause the crash and drive past it umpteen minutes later.

These are the people who want to lower the limits.
They think everyone else should toddle along with them.
I'd get them off the road if I could.

Maybe if the limits were increased they might actually manage to do a sensible speed in the first place. Seems that's how these people work.
 
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After reading this thread I now know that you all hate me being a slow driver. Sometimes my max speed is only 14mph. The problem as I see it is people drive is people seem to assume the road ahead is clear if if they can't physically see that it is. A lot of the local roads are single lane, but people still think it is ok to do 40mph + even though their are a lot of blind points. Usually accidents are avoided due to luck rather than judgment.

I don't agree with a lot of the current speed reductions and even worse we now have a lot of suggested 20mph speed limits. For me rather than mucking about with the limits money would best be spent on ensuring clearly visible roadsides and improvement of visibility at junctions.
 
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