I usually drive at my speed limiter (as some of our vans are limited to 75) and other vans go past me, I bet they easily do 85 or 90…
Can’t see a problem, those that want to do 80 are already doing it, those that can’t cope will still do 55 in lane 1&2 with clenched buttocks and white knuckles getting in the way of the trucks. Either way the driver doing 80 will tend to be focused on what he’s doing as opposed to the silver topped Eddie spotters trying to mix it with the big rigs and getting a green rush by flashing in their favourite haulier 
Big Joe:
Can’t see a problem, those that want to do 80 are already doing it, those that can’t cope will still do 55 in lane 1&2 with clenched buttocks and white knuckles getting in the way of the trucks. Either way the driver doing 80 will tend to be focused on what he’s doing as opposed to the silver topped Eddie spotters trying to mix it with the big rigs and getting a green rush by flashing in their favourite haulier
^^This^^
I can’t see it making any real difference to road safety. Works perfectly fine in other countries without negatively effecting their population growth and given that firstly, there are an ever increasing number of what I term to be “Rolling Roadblockers” driving their cars at exactly the same speed of trucks, only to increase by 2mph when you go to the trouble of trying to overtake them…and secondly, the amount of average speed limits, controlled by overhead matrix signs, and the every present ■■■■ turpin speed camera’s, it could work quite well really. At the very least I dont think it’d make anything worse. I could be wrong, time will tell.
robinhood_1984:
I can’t see it making any real difference to road safety. Works perfectly fine in other countries without negatively effecting their population growth
Don’t forget that British Driving Standards are superior, so it will be working even better here (sorry, could not resist 
)
orys:
Don’t forget that British Driving Standards are superior, so it will be working even better here (sorry, could not resist
There we go then. Some people like to think Poles and Germans are idiots that can’t drive, hence why their higher speed limits are reckless and that they shouldn’t be brought here. If we’re really so much better, we’ll be fine.
att:
I feel anyone who wishes to see an increase in speeds on motorways is a ■■■■■.
Drivers have difficulty driving to the prevailing conditions as it is, with lot`s of aquaplaning in the recent wet weather, so it will become more dangerous…Couple that with poor education, low skill levels and a general ignorance and lack of consideration of and to other road users and we have a recipe for death.I hope I am wrong, but recent experience tells me otherwise.
+1
i can’t see a problem with increased speed limits. there are people that can’t control a vehicle at 50mph, there are people that can drive at 100mph with no problem whatsoever.
i find that general bad driving causes accidents, not speed.
we have all seen the BMWs, and Mercs tear arseing up the third lane doing a ton or more, when everyone can see that the road isn’t clear. do they slow down well in advance? do they [zb], they carry on until the last minute, then brake narrowly missing a collision. so these knobs don’t know how to drive at speed. but if it’s a nice clear road, and the weather is in your favour, then what’s the problem?
i do have one concern though. truck speed limits should be increased by the same percentage, otherwise we are going to see overtaking bans like in germany.
limeyphil:
i can’t see a problem with increased speed limits. there are people that can’t control a vehicle at 50mph, there are people that think theycan drive at 100mph with no problem whatsoever until they exceed their actual ability!
i find that general bad driving causes accidents, not speed.we have all seen the BMWs, and Mercs tear arseing up the third lane doing a ton or more, when everyone can see that the road isn’t clear. do they slow down well in advance? do they [zb], they carry on until the last minute, then brake narrowly missing a collision. so these knobs don’t know how to drive at speed. but if it’s a nice clear road, and the weather is in your favour, then what’s the problem?
i do have one concern though. truck speed limits should be increased by the same percentage, otherwise we are going to see overtaking bans like in germany.
FTFY!
Bad driving plus excess speed isn’t good is it? How many times are we going to hear this old chestnut that speed doesn’t kill? Utter bollox!
44 Tonne Ton:
Bad driving plus excess speed isn’t good is it?
The pillock that drifts down a motorway bang on the limit in the land of the fairies is the most dangerous driver.
44 Tonne Ton:
How many times are we going to hear this old chestnut that speed doesn’t kill? Utter bollox!
Your quite right, its stopping very suddenly that kills
Big Joe:
44 Tonne Ton:
Bad driving plus excess speed isn’t good is it?The pillock that drifts down a motorway bang on the limit in the land of the fairies is the most dangerous driver.
44 Tonne Ton:
How many times are we going to hear this old chestnut that speed doesn’t kill? Utter bollox!Your quite right, its stopping very suddenly from speeds >40MPH that kills
FTFY!
44 Tonne Ton:
limeyphil:
i can’t see a problem with increased speed limits. there are people that can’t control a vehicle at 50mph, there are people that think theycan drive at 100mph with no problem whatsoever until they exceed their actual ability!
i find that general bad driving causes accidents, not speed.we have all seen the BMWs, and Mercs tear arseing up the third lane doing a ton or more, when everyone can see that the road isn’t clear. do they slow down well in advance? do they [zb], they carry on until the last minute, then brake narrowly missing a collision. so these knobs don’t know how to drive at speed. but if it’s a nice clear road, and the weather is in your favour, then what’s the problem?
i do have one concern though. truck speed limits should be increased by the same percentage, otherwise we are going to see overtaking bans like in germany.
FTFY!
Bad driving plus excess speed isn’t good is it? How many times are we going to hear this old chestnut that speed doesn’t kill? Utter bollox!
you say utter bollox, but added the bit in red about exceeding there ability. i thought it was clear what i said. some can’t handle 50mph, but some are competent at 100mph.
my mum hasn’t been near a motorway, so she wouldn’t be competent at 50mph, my missus is happy doing no more than 65mph. i have a freind that thinks he can drive anything at any speed, he’s an idiot, and has had many accidents. but i’d be happy, if the conditions were right to do about 90mph. but if it isn’t safe, then you just don’t do it.
limeyphil:
you say utter bollox, but added the bit in red about exceeding there ability. i thought it was clear what i said. some can’t handle 50mph, but some are competent at 100mph.
my mum hasn’t been near a motorway, so she wouldn’t be competent at 50mph, my missus is happy doing no more than 65mph. i have a freind that thinks he can drive anything at any speed, he’s an idiot, and has had many accidents. but i’d be happy, if the conditions were right to do about 90mph. but if it isn’t safe, then you just don’t do it.
The simple fact of the matter Phil is every day you can see evidence on our roads of people who have a licence but are a liability to themselves and others with their lack of driving skill and now you want to allow them to go faster? As others have said there will also be that group who will see 90mph as the de facto speed limit, not 80mph. Our roads are too congested and skill levels too low for this to be safely implemented.
And what about the environment? We’ve just had new emission standards introduced in London for commercial vehicles and now we’re going to give up some of the gains form that, if there are any, to allow fuel to be used faster thereby creating more pollution? Hardly joined up thinking but we’re used to that from the D of T!
P.S. If you can find some way of bringing in a higher speed limit but guaranteeing my safety won’t be compromised then go for it!
i think a licence addition for new drivers. not a test, as it will be too expensive.
but additional motorway training, at a point when they feel comfortable to progress.
the trouble is. who will teach them? i have seen some motorway tuition cars, and it isn’t the sort of tuition i’d want my kids to take.
i’ve seen them enter motorways at very low speeds, then straight out to lane 2. and that’s tuition? 
i think motorway tuition should only be given by drivers that have had 10 years of checkable hgv driving experience. 
you’re in danger of starting another thread within a thread there, driving instructors…
limeyphil:
i think a licence addition for new drivers. not a test, as it will be too expensive.
but additional motorway training, at a point when they feel comfortable to progress.
the trouble is. who will teach them? i have seen some motorway tuition cars, and it isn’t the sort of tuition i’d want my kids to take.
i’ve seen them enter motorways at very low speeds, then straight out to lane 2. and that’s tuition?
i think motorway tuition should only be given by drivers that have had 10 years of checkable hgv driving experience.
When does your driving ban end Phil 
If the TC allows your LGV again will you be able to start your DCPC training then
44 Tonne Ton:
limeyphil:
you say utter bollox, but added the bit in red about exceeding there ability. i thought it was clear what i said. some can’t handle 50mph, but some are competent at 100mph.
my mum hasn’t been near a motorway, so she wouldn’t be competent at 50mph, my missus is happy doing no more than 65mph. i have a freind that thinks he can drive anything at any speed, he’s an idiot, and has had many accidents. but i’d be happy, if the conditions were right to do about 90mph. but if it isn’t safe, then you just don’t do it.The simple fact of the matter Phil is every day you can see evidence on our roads of people who have a licence but are a liability to themselves and others with their lack of driving skill and now you want to allow them to go faster? As others have said there will also be that group who will see 90mph as the de facto speed limit, not 80mph. Our roads are too congested and skill levels too low for this to be safely implemented.
And what about the environment? We’ve just had new emission standards introduced in London for commercial vehicles and now we’re going to give up some of the gains form that, if there are any, to allow fuel to be used faster thereby creating more pollution? Hardly joined up thinking but we’re used to that from the D of T!P.S. If you can find some way of bringing in a higher speed limit but guaranteeing my safety won’t be compromised then go for it!
There’s no way of guaranteeing anyone’s safety without bringing back the man with a flag walking in front of moving vehicles.Anything else is a risk and the biggest risks are from idiots driving too fast in the wrong places and/or in bad conditions at or under the ‘speed limit’.Motorway speed limits are totally irrelevant because the reason for being of a motorway is to drive (very) fast on it or there’s no point in having it and it’s just then a case of adjusting that speed to suit the conditions.If you keep dumbing down motorway speeds you’ll just attract more dumbed down drivers onto them who are unsafe at any speed.
The only place where speed limits are relevant is in the case of the 20 mph in urban areas although even they are often put in the wrong places where 30 mph is ok and then they put a 30 mph limit where they need a 20 mph one.
As for the pollution bs the green party haven’t got an electoral mandate so they can keep quiet until they get one. 
Carryfast:
There’s no way of guaranteeing anyone’s safety without bringing back the man with a flag walking in front of moving vehicles.Anything else is a risk and the biggest risks are from idiots driving too fast in the wrong places and/or in bad conditionsAgreed. So leave it as it is then.
at or under the ‘speed limit’.Motorway speed limits are totally irrelevant because the reason for being of a motorway is to drive (very) fast on it or there’s no point in having it and it’s just then a case of adjusting that speed to suit the conditions.
If you keep dumbing down motorway speeds
We’re not talking about reducing speed limits. Can’t you read?
you’ll just attract more dumbed down drivers onto them who are unsafe at any speed.
The only place where speed limits are relevant is in the case of the 20 mph in urban areas although even they are often put in the wrong places where 30 mph is ok and then they put a 30 mph limit where they need a 20 mph one.
As for the pollution bs the green party haven’t got an electoral mandate
The Green Party didn’t introduce the Fuel Duty Escalator a democratically elected Government did and part of the reason for doing so was to reduce fuel consumption and thereby emissions too.
44 Tonne Ton:
Carryfast:
There’s no way of guaranteeing anyone’s safety without bringing back the man with a flag walking in front of moving vehicles.Anything else is a risk and the biggest risks are from idiots driving too fast in the wrong places and/or in bad conditionsAgreed. So leave it as it is then.
at or under the ‘speed limit’.Motorway speed limits are totally irrelevant because the reason for being of a motorway is to drive (very) fast on it or there’s no point in having it and it’s just then a case of adjusting that speed to suit the conditions.
If you keep dumbing down motorway speeds
We’re not talking about reducing speed limits. Can’t you read?
you’ll just attract more dumbed down drivers onto them who are unsafe at any speed.
The only place where speed limits are relevant is in the case of the 20 mph in urban areas although even they are often put in the wrong places where 30 mph is ok and then they put a 30 mph limit where they need a 20 mph one.
As for the pollution bs the green party haven’t got an electoral mandate
The Green Party didn’t introduce the Fuel Duty Escalator a democratically elected Government did and part of the reason for doing so was to reduce fuel consumption and thereby emissions too.
If it would take a man with a flag walking in front of motor vehicles to guarantee the removal of risk how does a 70 mph speed limit do the the same thing and why would raising it to 80 mph make any difference. .
By imposing and ‘keeping’ the 70 mph limit was and still is a case of dumbing down speeds which has attracted drivers onto the motorways who are unsafe at any speed.Raising the limit to 80 mph won’t make any difference to that situation at all because the same dumbed down drivers will still be having the same accidents which they had before with the 70 mph limit.
While the increase to 80 mph will mean that less of the drivers,who drive at speeds above that now anyway,will be criminalised when they shouldn’t be,for using the motorway for it’s intended design purpose.Which was actually an unlimited fast multi lane road until Barbara Castle got her knickers in a twist about AC Cobras and E types being tested on the M1. 
As for ‘saving fuel’ it all depends on personal choice and viewpoints and I don’t think that any government has,or has ever had,an electoral mandate to impose fuel rationing by whatever means,and doing so on the basis of burn as much as you like so long as you’re prepared to pay for it,has more to do with raising taxes from the masses while saving income tax for the rich, than saving the planet from the hysterical,imaginary CO2 increase that the greens think will drown the place under melting ice etc etc etc blah blah.
Jezza Clarkson should be the Transport Minister.
44 Tonne Ton:
Big Joe:
44 Tonne Ton:
Bad driving plus excess speed isn’t good is it?The pillock that drifts down a motorway bang on the limit in the land of the fairies is the most dangerous driver.
44 Tonne Ton:
How many times are we going to hear this old chestnut that speed doesn’t kill? Utter bollox!Your quite right, its stopping very suddenly from speeds >40MPH that kills, so stopping suddenly from 80 mph instead of 70mph isn’t going to kill anymore people
FTFYTSA 
In most states over here the car and truck speed limits are the same with a few exceptions such as Texas where they have 85 for cars on most of the interstate routes and 75 for trucks. I-95 south of the Caroliners has 10 mph lower limits in some stretches fro trucks. Up here in the north east on I095 for instance nobody seems to take any friggin’ notice of the speed limits anyway ! From just north of Newark Nj to New Haven Ct the limit is 55 mph and I recon I must be one of the very few who is not doing 65 - 70 along that bit, I usually run at about 60 and sit mainly in the right lane (which is the law anyway) as other idiots trundle by like a race team untill the enevitable accident happens and some poor family gets wiped out of existence by some trash or container hauler who gets paid by how many loads he can do in one day.