Should we scrap speed limits?

Question

Liz Truss has said she wants to scrap speed limits on UK motorways. At present the current limit is 70mph but that's often lower on so called smart motorways.

Is this a good idea or not? I'd be interested to hear from Germans on this.

MrOracle · Accepted Answer

Germany certainly hasn't eliminated speed limits - they just have autobahns with MANAGED limits, and these road systems are designed specifically for that, as is their licensing system. You can't just pull the speed limit signs out of the ground and have an autobahn - not if you want people to live, anyway. The road itself needs to be built in specific ways (gentle, consistent-radius turns that are banked properly) and there are signs that when turned on activate temporary speed limits, when traffic is too heavy or if there is an accident ahead.

in my opinion it's a great system, but it's more expensive and will have lots of on-going costs, because it has to be managed at a higher level. Most countries don't want to spend that kind of money, or their roads were built in such a way that they can't be made to conform to autobahn standards, or their traffic levels are far too high, so "unlimited speed" isn't practical in most places. There are places in the desert or such as Montana in the US where this would work, but you're not going to be able to drive in the LA area or the Bay Area with no speed limits without tons of fatalities - there's too much traffic and far too many drivers are undisciplined, because the requirements for getting a driver's license are very low here.

andreasderjuengere · Accepted Answer

As you asked for a ''German'' perspective (I still have a German passport):

the ''unlimited'' speed is relative. I did enjoy high speed trips, but beyond -say- 170 km/h it requires quite some focus and after two hrs. or so it can be tiring.

140 was a good speed to go with the flow. To drive faster was just for the fun; sooner or later the traffic situation requires to slow down again. I was beyond 200 km/h only a very few times.

I had been driving in the UK as well and I must say and acknowledge that you guys do it at lower speeds, but driving there isn't ''slower''. Unless you're unlucky enough to pass London during rush hour.

I now live in a country with speed limits of 75 mph on highways, and 50 mph - annual traffic deaths are beyond 20000.

Driving slow is NOT driving safer!

''Speeding'' to me is not an offense; only because some guys tell me to turtle around on an empty and clear street is not a reason for me to waste my time.

Next to all modern cars are capable of exceeding any 'official' speed limit (throughout the world); I think that road building and the limits set should take this into consideration.

dustybiker · Accepted Answer

All I can think of is those once controlled idiots now changing lanes, without looking, at higher speeds. Not safe for bikers who are harder to see.

Missgingles · Accepted Answer

No! You want people driving 70 mph around schools and private areas? A lot more deaths..

DryGermanGuy · Answer

My two cents:
- in Germany we have more crashes and fatalities on country roads than the highway, not sure how it is in the UK?
- going from a 70 mph limit to unlimited might not work out too well
- depending on traffic density, this might be completely pointless and having more lanes much more useful
- with fuel prices as they are, do people really want to go 250 kph and double their fuel costs?

Adititte · Answer

As a german who has driven a top speed of 210km/h (130.5mph) i can say that it would need quite some time to get it to work relatively safe. Traveling at these high speeds you have to really focus and you can't rely on the others to realise or care that you are going this quick. People who allready have their license would have a hard time to get used to it i'd think. In germany you have to have at least 2hours (i think that is the mandatory time) of driving on the autobahn. This way you learn how to see if a car is fast or not and if the teacher thinks you are good enough you'll also drive faster then the recomendet speed of 130km/h. We theoretically have no speedlimits but that is only partially true. Most of the times we are limited to 120 or 130 km/h (that is 74.5mph or 80.7mph). I like driving fast but it gets verry exhausting after a while and a lot of people don't realise that their response time gets worse over time when going this fast since the brain has to work so hard.

Snakeyes7 · Answer

Speeding is a victimless crime so not only will driving will be a lot freer, the cops will make far less money pulling people over for it which is good news for those who wants to drastically reduce the funding of the police.

I don't know how it works in the UK but for many states in the US, many districts have ticket quotas meaning the cops must have a certain number of tickets before the monthly deadline and when the final week hits, they are ruthless. This could be a very good thing for the UK if this passes.

Here is another thing to keep in mind, people are probably going to misconstrue this as her *forcing* people to go faster than they are comfortable going by doing this but that wouldn't be true. She would be placing speed minimums instead. You would still free to go as fast or slow as you please.

I really hope this goes through because this is something I wish the US has done a long time ago.

DJB72 · Answer

While the German autobahn are among the safest in the world, Britain introduced a 70mph limit after a relatively short time because the British drivers couldn't tell the difference between the motorways and A-class dual carriageways. Britain's roads are often driven too fast by idiots who don't understand that on a relatively small island you'll get these things called "corners" to prevent the speed freaks entering the North Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea or Atlantic.

Frankly I'm glad I'm unlikely to be home before she's voted out. Although I don't like the opposition either

Yorkshire49 · Answer

No, I don't think it would be a good idea to scrap them altogether, and 70mph is quite fast enough for most drivers' abilities! I'm not sure Liz Truss was actually suggesting we do so anyway... I think she was responding to a direct question about the frustrating variable speed limits on the dreaded Smart Motorways, which often seem to be set far lower than necessary.

I think the new PM is spot on in her desire to get rid of All Lane Running Smart Motorways, as these deadly roads as hated by the vast majority of drivers, and often avoided where possible. We deserve nothing less than a permanent, continuous hard shoulder to give us a chance of survival if the worst happens, and I hope Liz Truss delivers that, as promised.

Soteris · Answer

Probably a bad idea. Humans are terrible drivers at the best of time. That said, I think we should replace most if not all drivers with self driving cars at which point you can probably remove the speed limit because they are far better at dealing with high speed traffic.

NewsReader · Answer

I would not remove them completely, but they should be increased. Most highways that I have been on have 55 or 65 miles per hour. That's too low. A faster speed limit would increase fuel efficiency and reduce travel time. When it comes to accidents... I'm not sure if it will help or not. It depends I guess.

goaded · Answer

A bloody awful idea, although at least UK motorways are usually three lanes rather than two. It will kill lots of people and fuel efficiency will plummet.

I would think officially changing the limit to 80 or 90 would be OK, vehicles are a lot safer today than 50 years ago, and people drive at those speeds anyway.

I did 140mph a couple of times, just to see what it was like, but that was all.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

In the past some US states had unlimited speed out in open areas of highway. Some still might have it. I don't know of it causing any problems. On divided highways out in the open, 100MPH is not really all that dangerous if the car is in good mechanical condition and the road is in good condition.

I've not driven over 100MPH longer than briefly, but I've driven 90-95 for hours at a time and felt perfectly safe. Unlike most countries, the US has long stretches of open road.

AviatorTom · Answer

Scrapping speed limits is a bad idea. Aside from the safety concerns, catching speeders creates jobs for the police, and provides income to the government. In short, speed limits are good for the economy.

jshm2 · Answer

I doubt Liz Truss even knows the speed on the motorway. She's like Boris in that she'll bullshit about everything, and then backtrack and bumble about "made a mistake".

AngryCarl · Answer

I don't think that's a great idea. How do you join the motorway if drivers in the slow lane are going like a bat out of hell?

There's an argument for raising the limit to 80 because cars are about a million times safer than they were last century.

As for smart motorways the smart thing is to avoid them.

Red_Arrow · Answer

Sounds like "The Purge" automobile style.

Midgetmcwidget · Answer

Get rid of smart motor ways they are death traps, get rid of speed limits and road furniture

Havthrills · Answer

They did that in the state I grew up. During the day was "reasonable and prudent" and at night was 65mph on the highway. Now it's 70 on the highway.

exitseven · Answer

I wouldn't mind that. One less thing to worry about on my way to work.

Anonymous · Answer

Might as well, that has been the de facto speed limit for at least as long as I have been driving.

Dargil · Answer

On major, divided highways, no. In residential areas, enforce them strictly.

Sandeeppingping · Answer

I mean that'll work for me, probably wouldn't for most people, but Ja I'm waiting fo da manschaft on this one

Fuentes · Answer

Lol I would be getting massive tickets cause I 95 them highways to weave in and out of traffic.

acooke-13 · Answer

I mean, to be fair people don't stick to 70 now anyway!

petitedollbabee · Answer

Terrible decision. Speed limits cause less car accidents.

Smoothing · Answer

Did she actually say this? If she did we are finished. The tories have done enough damage.

johnboymuscles · Answer

On one hand they're pricing is out of petrol on the other Liz wants us to burn more? All political ploys

Zolly99999 · Answer

No definitely not.. people will abuse it and kill other people

jimmy2 · Answer

We have 75 in Texas they drove 95 and crash and roll on a tire blow out

Jennz6 · Answer

We need transportation?

CubaPirate · Answer

Miss Trust or Liz Truss did you say?

Babygirl_S · Answer

No it shouldn't be done.

Should we scrap speed limits?

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