Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Varche on 26 February 2011, 15:42:55
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Well the Spanish have just announced that the national speed limit will be reduced from 120km to 110km from 7th March in an effort to save fuel and the help the ongoing economic crisis which has hit really hard here (20% unemployed nationally).
Shades of the 70'S ?
Will other European countries do the same? 70mph down to 60mph in Britain?
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Well the Spanish have just announced that the national speed limit will be reduced from 120km to 110km from 7th March in an effort to save fuel and the help the ongoing economic crisis which has hit really hard here (20% unemployed nationally).
Shades of the 70'S ?
Will other European countries do the same? 70mph down to 60mph in Britain?
there's been a steady reduction of our NSL on loads of roads from 60 (for cars ;)) down to 50 .......... all in the interests of our safety :-? :-?
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Yeah, the professors point out momentum is proportional to the square of the velocity so small reduction in speed (10 mph) has a big reduction in energy transferred in a crash - and likelyhood of dying.
Of course, if the pillock wasn't dicking about with his phone / stereo / missus / dog ... then he wouldn't have crashed anyway.
Managed to dodge all the muppets on the road for over 20 years. Wonder when my luck will run out? Shortly after my eyesight, I suspect.
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Been there before, late 70's or early 80's, again to save fuel.... ::) ::) ::)
I have to admit that during one of the fuel blockades I was driving a Manual Mig, and careful driving and 50mph top end made a big difference to my MPG
Not sure I want the choice removed though... :(
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I drove to Reading on Thurs.....as i was ahead of schedule....and would only be waiting around for my customer....i slowed to 55ish mph on the m4....in fact i tucked in behind a HGV....might as well save the 10-15% in fuel, that the 'experts' reckon you save by slowing down 10mph.
My choice.....tho i wouldnt be able to go that slow on a long drive.
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I understood that this was because Spain imports about 20% of it's oil from Libya, whereas we only import about 4%. We still have a limited amount of North Sea oil.
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I understood that this was because Spain imports about 20% of it's oil from Libya, whereas we only import about 4%. We still have a limited amount of North Sea oil.
Yikes. I had better make sure I always have the car full. It won't be long before there is panic buying then unless Mr Bean (that is what the Spasnish actually call Zapatero) goes and snaffles someone elses supply from under them. :o :o
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Checked my trip computer tonight. Average MPG is 18.6 and Average speed is 17 mph, most of this is local running beckwards/forwards to GF's but generally I dont go much above 40 mph anyway unless I go out on a run somewhere.
My Mig is more economical @ 50/55 mph so does that mean I need to speed up. ::)
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Yes definitely echos of 1973/74:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/15/newsid_2559000/2559807.stm
It was a right pain!! ::) ::) ::) :(
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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8350157/Motorway-speed-limit-could-be-raised-to-80mph.html
but then you have this saying it could increase :D
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I think it should be increased to 90 on 3+ lane motorways and A roads, still 70 on Dual Carraigeways and 2 Lane motorways (ie. M11)...
I also feel that Caravans and trailers over 250KG should be restricted to 50 mph...
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The transport secretary seems quite keen on the idea of increasing the motorway limit. A little bit of common sense creeping back into govt. Yay. :)
http://uk.autoblog.com/2011/02/28/motorway-limit-increase-plans-to-speed-up-the-economy/
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I think it should be increased to 90 on 3+ lane motorways and A roads, still 70 on Dual Carraigeways and 2 Lane motorways (ie. M11)...
I also feel that Caravans and trailers over 250KG should be restricted to 50 mph...
Then you'll have a lane of caravans doing 50 MPH, a lane of lorries doing 60MPH, and a lane of dawdlers and slightly faster lorries doing 60.0076342 MPH, so nobody will ever get a chance to try out the new 90 MPH limit for cars. ;)
If they do, they'll be cruising along at 90MPH when someone pulls out on them at 60.0076342 MPH without appreciating that some of us like to make reasonable progress and bang!
The main issue on our roads is that we have quite a lot of traffic, and they are used more efficiently if vehicles are travelling at the same speed. Adding different limits for different vehicles just clogs them up more. The status quo seems fine for towing vehicles and HGVs. Most loads are stable at 60 MPH and most modern vehicles can maintain that sort of speed towing a sensible load.
The problem with upping the main speed limit is that the "drive by numbers" culture that our "speed enforcement by post" strategy has promoted means that there is no longer the common sense in many drivers to choose a safe speed for the conditions, and an increase in the speed limit requires that.
I'm no expert but I would say the conditions do not often exist to allow cruising at 90MPH safely, certainly at busy times. I guess this will become the norm if the limit is raised to 80, though.
Kevin
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I think it should be increased to 90 on 3+ lane motorways and A roads, still 70 on Dual Carraigeways and 2 Lane motorways (ie. M11)...
I also feel that Caravans and trailers over 250KG should be restricted to 50 mph...
They are here in Spain thankfully. Everyone(us included) has a small trailer. You wouldn't believe how many have problems. Just this week English friends had their towbar snap just behind the ball engagement. Fortunately it was just as they turned into the olive co operative. Next neighbour had two failures in a week. First was his towbar snapped in half where it joined the body.then yesterday the axle came away from the body on one side! :o :o :o
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1.Get the freight off the motorways and back on the railways where it belongs.
2.Stop stupid people from having driving licences.
3. Compulsory retesting for very old people - ie anyone who is 10 years older than me, at any point in time from my 60th birthday, until my dying day. :D
4. Free (subsidised) track days for motorcyclists and those poor car drivers who find travelling at high speed exciting somehow.
Albs long term roads policy. vote for me. :y ;D ;D
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4. Free (subsidised) track days for motorcyclists and those poor car drivers who find travelling at high speed exciting somehow.
Interesting idea. Would need a large'ish track though. Perhaps Northbound on the M6 and southbound on the M1 should be dedicated to those whose driving style involves mostly bouncing off the rev limiter in top gear. Everyone else can use a different route. :y
Kevin
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4. Free (subsidised) track days for motorcyclists and those poor car drivers who find travelling at high speed exciting somehow.
Interesting idea. Would need a large'ish track though. Perhaps Northbound on the M6 and southbound on the M1 should be dedicated to those whose driving style involves mostly bouncing off the rev limiter in top gear. Everyone else can use a different route. :y
Kevin
You mean you're not meant to do that on the M6? :-X :-X ::) ::)
TBH, I think road tax should be free, duty on fuel increased to include road tax (say at an average of 12k @ 35mpg) so that the people who use the roads more, pay more.
Obviously there would need to be exceptions/subsidies/surcharges but it would be a fairer way :y
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Nah, us road users are taxed far too highly already. Dismantle much of the wel(un)fare state, and use the money to make road use cheap for those who can demonstrate a decent level of competence when using them. Those who cant demonstrate their competence - lifetime ban.
Im starting to sound like Jammy. ::) :D ;D ;D
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Additions to the transport policy.
Ban caravans - end of, stay in a tent/ hotel/ at home. :P ;D ;D
Feasability study on the possibility of banning cars from the roads in summer, and motorcycles in winter. ;D ;D
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Additions to the transport policy.
Ban caravans - end of, stay in a tent/ hotel/ at home. :P ;D ;D
Feasability study on the possibility of banning cars from the roads in summer, and motorcycles in winter. ;D ;D
Yes. And to make that fair, any motorcyclist who sees a car on the road in summer can ram it, vice versa for bikes in the winter. ::)
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Scouse bully. :P :P
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Make all those who drive agressively use a pink FIAT 500 for a month to do their 30 days community service in a morgue.
Make all kids who drive like maniacs clean the pink FIAT 500s. At the morgue. After they've wiped down the slabs.
Make all bikers who behave like idiots ride a pink Honda c50 for a month dressed in pink one-piece leathers - if they enjoy looking like a bleeding Power Ranger then they can be the camp one. And they can deliver deliver the pizzas to the others at the morgue.
A nice bit of joined-up justice for you. :y
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Sounds like you are equating almost all road deaths with speed ? which imo isnt joined up at all. :-/
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Make all those who drive agressively use a pink FIAT 500 for a month to do their 30 days community service in a morgue.
Make all kids who drive like maniacs clean the pink FIAT 500s. At the morgue. After they've wiped down the slabs.
Make all bikers who behave like idiots ride a pink Honda c50 for a month dressed in pink one-piece leathers - if they enjoy looking like a bleeding Power Ranger then they can be the camp one. And they can deliver deliver the pizzas to the others at the morgue.
A nice bit of joined-up justice for you. :y
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ONE Daz is enough thanks! ;D ;D ;)
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I think it should be increased to 90 on 3+ lane motorways and A roads, still 70 on Dual Carraigeways and 2 Lane motorways (ie. M11)...
I also feel that Caravans and trailers over 250KG should be restricted to 50 mph...
Then you'll have a lane of caravans doing 50 MPH, a lane of lorries doing 60MPH, and a lane of dawdlers and slightly faster lorries doing 60.0076342 MPH, so nobody will ever get a chance to try out the new 90 MPH limit for cars. ;)
If they do, they'll be cruising along at 90MPH when someone pulls out on them at 60.0076342 MPH without appreciating that some of us like to make reasonable progress and bang!
The main issue on our roads is that we have quite a lot of traffic, and they are used more efficiently if vehicles are travelling at the same speed. Adding different limits for different vehicles just clogs them up more. The status quo seems fine for towing vehicles and HGVs. Most loads are stable at 60 MPH and most modern vehicles can maintain that sort of speed towing a sensible load.
The problem with upping the main speed limit is that the "drive by numbers" culture that our "speed enforcement by post" strategy has promoted means that there is no longer the common sense in many drivers to choose a safe speed for the conditions, and an increase in the speed limit requires that.
I'm no expert but I would say the conditions do not often exist to allow cruising at 90MPH safely, certainly at busy times. I guess this will become the norm if the limit is raised to 80, though.
Kevin
There is a hideously long stretch of dual carriageway in Franbce from somewhere near Bordeaux to Biaritz that is used by flotillas of heavy lorries. It used tobe a mare but they introduced no lorries in the fast lane. It is quite good now.
Isn't the A1 in North Yorkshire like that now?
I suspect that there are two tiers of wagon speeds. 56.00047mph and 60.000047 mph . Why not make both 60?
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Sounds like you are equating almost all road deaths with speed ? which imo isnt joined up at all. :-/
Have another look - I didn't mention speed once. ;)
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I thought it was implied, but if we are just talking about stupidity, thats covered in the section of policy which says - stupid people banned from having driving licences. ;) :D
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Yes definitely echos of 1973/74:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/december/15/newsid_2559000/2559807.stm
It was a right pain!! ::) ::) ::) :(
Was there another time a few years later? I only passed my test in 1974 but seem to remember a 50mph later 70's???
1973, Great Year, bought a new, and they were new on the market, Honda SS50 no noisy 2 stroke fizzies for me... :D :D :D
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If you believe that lying Stokie, Ive still got one. ::) :D