speed limits

[metals]

when did the 70mph speed limit start on motorways

[steve2010]

1965

[THECORBYLOON]

The 70mph limit was first used on 22nd December 1965. Prior to that, there was no limit on unrestricted roads such as motorways and it was introduced following a series of accidents.

[Hippy]

If i remember rightly, it was a multiple pile-up in dense fog on the M1 and the politicos knee jerked the law.

It is a ridiculous restriction that should be removed. If anyone thinks that 70 mph is a sensible restriction to avoid dense fog fatalities they want their head examining. If they think that 70 mph is a sensible MOTORWAY restriction in good visibility they should be called upon to state why. In other places where there are no practical restrictions pile-ups re not commonplace, and if the 70 mph apologist says that it is a "safe " speed then I should immediately lobby for a 35 mph limit on motorways as that would be even safer.

[mortalman]

i think thecorbyloon has the answer there... in answer to hippy - it's all about reaction times, 70mph or 105 ft a second you have to be alert to avoid any problems. If everyone adhered to the 2 second rule then perhaps with newer cars and their technology we could raise the speed limits. back in 1965 70mph was a good top speed for most family cars.