Speed limits are always a contentious subject for discussion. Some think they are too high, while others feel a lower limit should be introduced, particularly on the UK’s motorways to hurry along the perceived ‘slow coaches’. Here we discuss the current motorway speed restrictions and ask the question – should they be raised or lowered?
Just to recap on the current legal limit for vehicles using the UK’s motorways. There are a range of restrictions in place depending upon the type of vehicle and how it is being used, but as a general guideline for cars, motorcycles, car-derived vans and dual purpose vehicles, the limit is 70 mph. When these vehicles are towing a caravan or trailer, the limit drops to 60 mph. Motorhomes and motor caravans with more than 3.05 tonnes in weight as well as buses, coaches and minibuses of not more than 12 metres in length can can travel up to 70 mph. Those more than 12 metres in length are restricted to 60 mph and for goods vehicles of more than 7.5 tonnes in England & Wales and Scotland, the limit is 60 mph.
According to RoSPA, inappropriate speed contributes to account for around 11% of all collision injuries reported each year, with 15% of crashes resulting in serious injury and 24% resulting in a fatality. While driving too fast and exceeding the speed limit is a major cause, further problems are created by drivers failing to take extreme road and weather conditions into consideration.
Many commercial drivers today are under pressure to meet tight deadlines and fulfil the requirements of their employers, but placing drivers under this kind of pressure will only lead to increased chances of an accident.
The question of increasing the current top limit on the motorway from 70 to 80 mph has been suggested in some quarters. Modern design and technology with improved braking systems has made vehicles much safer to drive at higher speeds than they were years ago. The argument against this is that people already drive at 80 mph because they believe the Police ‘turn a blind eye’ to being 10 mph over the limit – although this is an ‘urban myth’ - 70 mph is the speed limit and it should not be exceeded. The thinking being that if the limit should rise to 80 mph, people will then start driving at 90 mph and so the cycle of ‘upping their speed’ will continue.
Others believe the limit should perhaps be lowered to 60 or even 55 to improve motorway safety. One problem with this is modern cars are not designed to be driven at these speeds on a motorway and if most of us were to drop to this level all of the time, it could incur environmental problems due to increased emissions being generated from driving ‘too slowly’.
There is also the argument to set a minimum limit as many believe driving too slowly on a motorway is equally as dangerous as driving too fast. This would put pressure on less confident drivers, including those new to the road, to go faster.
Considering all the arguments for taking the limit, up or down, the logical approach would be leave the current speed limits as they are.
