The current top speed limit of 70 mph was set in 1965 some 46 years ago and in the words of the Transport Secretary there has been “huge advances in safety and motoring technology” so making this limit somewhat out of date.
Mr Hammond further added ” Cars are much safer, they have more sophisticated equipment now then they did 40 or so years ago. They are capable of driving safely at higher speeds. There are enormous economic benefits to be had by increasing the speed limit and shortening journey times. and the current limit has lost it s legitimacy. We all know that many many motorists who are otherwise law-abiding citizens routinely ignore the 70 miles per hour limit.” he also commented that the increase in the limit would not have “a significant impact on safety.”
In opposition to this David Williams the CEO of motoring assist company GEM remarked “I simply cannot understand this. From a safety perspective we belive it would be a disaster, there are very obvious road safety implications including drivers having less time to react at higher speeds. Given the road safety record is currently heading in the wrong direction, this alone is a good enough reason not to raise the limit.” Further adding “Then there’s the environmental aspect. An increase in speed will have a huge influence on our fuel consumption and emissions.
The claim that this increase will “improve our economy” seems a little far-fetched, but in truth most cars sit so comfortable at the higher speed and adding into that mix the 46 years of improvements the increase does indeed seem to common sense.