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speed limits
when did the 70mph speed limit on motorways start
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The 70 mph National Speed Limit was introduced as a temporary measure in December 1965. It is often blamed on Barbara Castle, but at the time the Minister of Transport was Tom Fraser.
The reason given was a spate of serious accidents in foggy conditions, but it is often claimed that the MoT had been alarmed by AC Cars testing their latest Cobra on the M1 at speeds up to 180 mph.
It was confirmed as a permanent limit in 1967, by which time Barbara Castle (a non-driver) had become Minister of Transport.There was surprisingly little debate at the time: the fact that the average family car of the time could only just exceed 70 mph perhaps had something to do with this.
It should be noted that this limit applied to all previously "derestricted" roads, not only motorways.
All rural roads in the Isle of Man (including most of the famous TT course) remain genuinely derestricted, as a matter of interest.
The reason given was a spate of serious accidents in foggy conditions, but it is often claimed that the MoT had been alarmed by AC Cars testing their latest Cobra on the M1 at speeds up to 180 mph.
It was confirmed as a permanent limit in 1967, by which time Barbara Castle (a non-driver) had become Minister of Transport.There was surprisingly little debate at the time: the fact that the average family car of the time could only just exceed 70 mph perhaps had something to do with this.
It should be noted that this limit applied to all previously "derestricted" roads, not only motorways.
All rural roads in the Isle of Man (including most of the famous TT course) remain genuinely derestricted, as a matter of interest.
In 1987 the national speed limit in the United States
rose from a 55 mph limit imposed during the fuel crisis in the early 70s to 65 mph. In 1995 individual states
were allowed to set their own limits. A recent report found that the post-1996 rise in speed limits in many
American states has triggered a 35% increase in death rates. The report compared 22 states that raised
interstate highway speed limits to 70 or 75 mph when the federal speed limit was abolished in 1995 to 12
states where the limit stayed at 65 mph, and found that there were 1,880 more deaths on interstates between
1996 and 1999 in states with higher speed limits. The reverse effect is also evident: in 1974, when the national
speed limit was lowered to 55 mph, fatality rates dropped by 50% on the interstate highways and by 70% on
other four-lane rural highways.
rose from a 55 mph limit imposed during the fuel crisis in the early 70s to 65 mph. In 1995 individual states
were allowed to set their own limits. A recent report found that the post-1996 rise in speed limits in many
American states has triggered a 35% increase in death rates. The report compared 22 states that raised
interstate highway speed limits to 70 or 75 mph when the federal speed limit was abolished in 1995 to 12
states where the limit stayed at 65 mph, and found that there were 1,880 more deaths on interstates between
1996 and 1999 in states with higher speed limits. The reverse effect is also evident: in 1974, when the national
speed limit was lowered to 55 mph, fatality rates dropped by 50% on the interstate highways and by 70% on
other four-lane rural highways.
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