Cable Forum - View Single Post - 80mph speed limit 'would increase deaths by 20%'

MovedGoalPosts · 27-12-2011, 15:16

Most drivers fail to adjust their maximum speed to suit the driving conditions. This is often exacerbated by an inability to leave a reasonable distance between vehicles whcih unfortunately is made worse by our congested roads where if you do try an leave a gap someone else will fill it for you.

I was once told a statistic (which we all know can be manipulated) that in Surry 2% of serious accidents had drink as a factor, but 38% had speed as a factor (you could have more than one factor in the accident). Of course it's too much speed for the circumstances, not just breaking the limit. And that comes from driver judgement, or lack of.

In France some of their autoroutes do have a variable limit. It's signposted but not electronically enforced as we see on some of our congested systems on the M25 and around Birmingham. They allow 130km/h when it's dry but reduice to 110km/h in poor conditions. The question would probably be what determines poor?

27-12-2011, 15:16	#38
MovedGoalPosts Inactive Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 127.0.0.1 Age: 61 Posts: 15,868	Re: 80mph speed limit 'would increase deaths by 20%' Most drivers fail to adjust their maximum speed to suit the driving conditions. This is often exacerbated by an inability to leave a reasonable distance between vehicles whcih unfortunately is made worse by our congested roads where if you do try an leave a gap someone else will fill it for you. I was once told a statistic (which we all know can be manipulated) that in Surry 2% of serious accidents had drink as a factor, but 38% had speed as a factor (you could have more than one factor in the accident). Of course it's too much speed for the circumstances, not just breaking the limit. And that comes from driver judgement, or lack of. In France some of their autoroutes do have a variable limit. It's signposted but not electronically enforced as we see on some of our congested systems on the M25 and around Birmingham. They allow 130km/h when it's dry but reduice to 110km/h in poor conditions. The question would probably be what determines poor?