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Should we abolish speed limits on motorways? (I had the absolute pleasure of driving through Germany recently and, I felt, it works like a dream - on a very bright, dry night I cruised along, perfectly safely, at twice our M/Way speed limit!)
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.But unfortunately, flip-flop, drivers (generally, not specifically) have not seen a commensurate improvement in their attitude and skills. It is not much use having a car that can stop from130mph in 200 yards (when the �standard� stopping distance from that speed is 325 yards) if the person in the lane to your left pulls out in front of you when you are 100 yards behind him.
The speed limits try to strike a balance between what is safe and what is reasonable. What is safe means different things to different people and the �worst case� (i.e. the most foolish, most inconsiderate, or most inept) drivers have to be accommodated. Wew are not all as good as you.
Raising the speed limit would raise casualties. Don�t take my work for it, look at what the professionals (not just the police) say.
The danger is that you (or I) may be among those increased casualties. You have to drive almost 100 miles to gain just 20 minutes by travelling at 90mph rather than at 70mph. I don't fancy being killed or seriously injured just so that you can have an extra few minutes in bed.
Almost all of Britain�s motorways are many times more congested than the unrestricted part of the German network. Just travel up the M6 (including the �mountain� section in Cumbria) at any time of the day or night and you�ll see what I mean. I would imagine (though do not know) that the unrestricted part of the German network is similarly less busy than the restricted sections.
In addition, in my experience, German drivers� attitudes are somewhat more mature than those displayed by many British drivers. As I said previously, we have to legislate for the worst case.
I would like to throw in my two pence worth.
I truly believe that the 70 mph limit is too slow.
I think most drivers could sensibly cope with an 80 mph motorway limit, not dual carriageways.
flip flop may have been correct on that road at that time on that day, but we have to generalise and I feel we are long long overdue a motorway raise to 80mph.
ps even if everyone does seem to drive at 80 minimum these days, it should be legal to do so.