Why in the UK can't we drive at more than 70 m.p.h on the motorway like the rest of the civilized world?

70 m.p.h - only just enough to stop you nodding off to sleep. You know what? The British motorway speed limit was set in the 1950s by a little old lady with a purple rinse hair-do. You think I'm kidding? Look it up! The people that inhabit the UK have many profound difficulties with learning - this being only one of many. It's human nature to drive at 80-100 m.p.h when cruising on multi-lane highways - anyone knows that (if we're being honest with ourselves) - and that is because 80-100 m.p.h on the open road is perfectly in sync with the natural rhythms of our bodies - so therefore, it doesn't matter how many speed cameras you instal, how many spies you put in bushes with hidden radars etc. - you are never going to prevent a basic human instinct - which is to travel at comfortable speeds (80-100 m.p.h. as stated above). I mean, if we keep dawdling along at these snail speeds that we are forced to stick to year after year, evolution is rapidly going to pass us by. We'll end up in the Neanderthal sin bin of extinction by loathsome stupidity - believe me! And let's get one thing straight. Moderate speed never killed anybody. Careless driving, yes. Speed, no. The people in Britain need to wisen up before they become the laughing stock of the entire known universe (and the universe beyond that - let's face it, we're never going to make it into the scientific vision of the 22nd century - not at the rate we're currently travelling... lol, don't make me laugh... space travel? You've got to be out of your mind... we can't even agree on increasing the speed limits on our roads without arguing amongst ourselves and fights breaking out!)

mickey m

i am an international recovery driver , let me give you a few examples here .
so all vehicle should be able to go at higher speeds legally on our roads eh .
trucks - a truck went into the back of a stationary car at around 50 MPH , the fire brigade had to bring in themal imaging equipment to see if there was anyone in the back seats of the car , the driver , instant FATAL . i hear you say ( trucks shouldnt increase their speeds )
coaches - the coach that overturned after a car pulled out in front of it and the coach driver swerved to avoid it , the coach that overturned in france killing and injureing a number of passengers ( coaches shouldnt increase their speeds)
motorbikes - a car took the wrong road and turned around on a side road , pulled out into the path of a motorbike at high speed , the bike hit the car side on , in the drivers door , it hit it so hard the car overturned , triple FATAL . ( motorbikes shouldnt increase their speeds )
cars , i have too many examples to mention , so here is just one , the porsche boxter that hit a tree sideways , two people in it , hit the tree passenger side on at high speed , it totally demolished the passenger side of the car , NO DOOR , NO PASSENGER SEAT . NO PASSENGER , he litterally exploded ,
you still wanna speed , you got some choices
1 - do my job for a while
2- take it to an open day at your local race track
3- speed and maybe get away with it or maybe not
4- speed and take out someone innocent , or YOURSELF
IS IT WORTH IT MATE !!! NO

gtcelt

I wholeheartedly agree with 'Under Pressure' on this one. You are indeed a one-off.... a one off your head.

Regards the speed limits etc. I think that perhaps you're getting your capability and ambition in the wrong order.....
slow down for everyone else's sake.

Have you also noticed any difference in road widths and quality of the roads in other countries which have faster speed limits compared to the uk, or does that not enter into it? Or do you just have a love of uk hospital food?

It's a speed limit... not a target, and is in place for a good reason.

th3_m4n14k

I work for the North West Motorway Police Group.
If you were to see some of the accidents that ive seen, you would be campaigning to get the speed limit dropped to 60mph for Motorways. I used to have an attitude like you before I joined up for the force, then you come across your first major RTC (Road Traffic Collision) and you very quickly change your mind.

In my opinion, and I do believe in the public's opinion, it's people like you that cause some of the worst accidents on the roads, with your 'opinions' of what's safe, but at the end of the day, you are the worst type of driver - the inconsiderate one.

The next time you're driving at your break-neck speeds, have a think about how you plan to stop, say if a pedestrian decides to be stumbling drunk along the carriageway. And point two, would they have any chance at all of living at that kind of speed?... I think not!

Matt

Because unlike the Germans "unlimited" speed limit, we're alot much safer than they are.

The Tank

You are very wrong with your history and your reasoning.

The 70 mph speed limit was introduced in the early 1970s as a fuel saving measure. Until then there was NO maximum national speed limit. The motorways and cross-country trunk roads were death traps and the deaths per mile per thousand journeys was far higher than it is nowadays.

There was a world shortage of oil in 1970/71 and the UK was suffering more than most. The government introduced the national maximum speed limit and this actually reduced the consumption of road fuel oil by nearly 10%.

When the crisis was over the speed limit was retained because it was proven that the number of road deaths had also reduced significantly. Speed alone does not cause accidents but it does make the difference between a survivable crash and a fatal one. No amount of ranting by impatient drivers can alter that fact.

Under Pressure

Stupid and ignorant are quite different but you manage to combine the two really well, congratulations.

Okie-592

the autobans in germany have the lowest death rate of any motorway, first answer man, and only 45% are unspeed limted.

yes we should be able to do up to 100mph everyone does in rush hour anyway,

my dad did 190 at 2am on a empty motroway:)

Francis7

Think about it 70mph car hits something its survivable,same at 100mph car disintegrates,Also ask paramedics and doctors about deceleration injuries and you may live to grow up.

Pete T

Maybe you aren't very good drivers.

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