does anyone know!!!!!!

[joker2006]

which car was responsable for the 70mph speed limits on uk motorways?????

many thanks

[stevepj]

Not sure if it's 100%, but i'd heard that Jaguar were testing their new E type on the M1 motorway back in the 60's and the test driver took it up to 150mph. Somebody at the ministry of transport decided that this was pretty dangerous and we were on the way to speed limits.

[Paul22118]

As I remember the car that hit the headlines for a massive speed was the AC Cobra.  I think 180 mph sticks in my mind.  That started the legal ball rolling.

[Buenchico]

Jaguar's testing of the E-type at 190mph on the M1 is often cited as the reason for the introduction of the 70mph limit.

In reality, it was introduced (temporarily) in 1965 after a number of well-publicised high-speed crashes. The government then commissioned a report from the Road Research Laboratory (1967) which advised that the speed limit be made permanent.

Sources:
http://www.abd.org.uk/motorwayspeedlimit.htm
http://www.hants.gov.uk/hchs/scale20.html

Chris

[kempie]

Look here (with particular reference to point 2.7 and onwards).

[kempie]

Sorry Chris, your post wasn't there when I refreshed last.

[ursula62]

I heard that the 70mph limit was brought in at the time of severe petrol shortages - to reduce fuel usage - and it was never revoked after the oil industry got itself back on track.  Suddenly it became a safety issue instead!

[kempie]

The oil crisis didn't happen until 8 years after the introduction of the 70 mph limit.

[joker2006]

thanks guys for your help you are superstars