Should Speed Limits Be Increased?

Friday, 13. May 2011

The argument over motorway speed limits continues with a number of people now pushing to increase it from 70 to 80 miles per hour. Fleet operators are generally against an increase as they feel it wouldn’t make drivers any more productive or arrive at destinations any quicker. There would also be an increase in operating costs as higher speeds mean higher fuel consumption. The greenies have also said that CO2 emissions increase at higher speeds so not good for the environment (although I would suggest that getting to your destination more quickly could counter that one).

It would seem that Spain decreased its motorway limit to 68mph in an effort to cut down the country’s reliance on oil, every little helps I guess so wouldn’t that be a good reason to decrease the limit rather than increase it.

Some argue that there would be more injuries and fatalities if speed limits were increased but as I showed on a recent blog motorways are by far the safest place to drive with town centres accounting for the majority of accidents and fatalities.

My view, if we are looking for ways to improve fuel consumption and reduce accidents, would be to force drivers to move to their nearest lane rather than lane sit. Make it a driving offence which may be difficult to police but may focus the minds of those that sit on the outside lane at exactly 70mph and won’t budge.

This would free up thousands of miles of motorway and make driving a more pleasurable experience. For those that are concerned about accidents we should be addressing the problems in our town centres, what are the causes of accidents that result in so many injuries and deaths? Do you have a view? Let us know. By Graham Hill