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Old Sep 12th, 2020, 15:32   #1
john.wigley
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Default 60 MPH Limit on Motorways

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/m...0air%20quality.

Will it work?

Back in 1965, the year that I learned to drive, long before many contributors to this forum were even born, the 70 MPH trial speed limit was made permanent. This was at a time when many cars (mine included) couldn't even reach 70, 80 was considered fast and three figure speeds supercar territory.

Safety standards were basic, front seat belts on new cars, but not the wearing thereof, were made compulsory that same year. Emission control was rudimentary in the extreme. Today, most family cars can do the 'ton' with ease and safety and emissions have both improved massively in the last 50 years.

Many now feel that 70 is perhaps too low, which does not reflect current practice. With motorways now generally moving nearer to 80, there has long been an expectation that the limit should be increased to that figure, but be more rigorously enforced. Denmark did this successfully, raising the existing, but widely ignored, 110 KPH limit on their motorways to 130.

Will people keep to 60, especially on a near empty motorway? Can it be effectively policed, enforced? Will it improve the environment? Or will it be largely ignored, perhaps becoming another cash-cow for the Government? Would wider use of variable speed limits be a better alternative to a blanket speed limit? And what about a minimum motorway speed limit?

Thoughts?

Regards, John.
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Last edited by john.wigley; Sep 12th, 2020 at 15:34.
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