Speed

[Pink piggy]

News from Denmark…

The Danes have just released results
of a 2 year study on two way rural
roads, where they increased the
speed limit from 80 km/h to 90 km/h.

In the study, accidents on the roads
tested reduced.

On sections of motorway where the
speed limit was raised from 110 to
130 km/h nine years ago, fatalities
have also decreased.

What the Danish road directorate
discovered was that the traffic that
had been traveling below the speed
limit sped up a bit, and those who
previously broke the speed limit
were less tempted to break the
90km/h one.

To begin with, the Danish police
were not keen on the idea...

Erik Mather, a senior Danish Police
Traffic officer, said: "The police were
perhaps a little biased on this issue,
but we have had to completely
change our view now the experiment
has been trialled for two years."

There is other evidence that not
treating drivers like automatons who
should blindly obey signs works in
terms of safety.

In European cities where all "road
furniture" and signage has been
removed in urban areas, drivers have
been found to automatically slow
down when they can see pedestrians,
cyclists and children may be sharing
the same space as them.

I think what’s obvious from the Danish
experiment is that if you remove
frustration from a driver’s immediate
experience, they will drive more
considerately.

Time for a higher speed limit on the
UK's roads?


All I know is that down here in Hampshire we have a stretch of road called Whichers gate and the speed limit is 30 because there have been some accidents, however these crashes were caused by vehicles going way faster than 30. The road should be a 40.

Then in Horndean we have a busy road that should be a 30 ............but its a 60 however I know of no accidents here.

[Paul Mabley]

The age old debate, sounds like the Danes have seen the light!

Apparently our proposed lift of motorway speed limits to 80mph was scrapped when they realised that most females were opposed to it and the policy was realised as a vote looser! Don't think they asked my wife

[Sean Smallman]

It all sounds very logical and good that the reality has been proven.

It's a shame our Ministers have ducked out of the 80mph limit. Which is probably the average most travel at anyway. Even plod gets over taken at above 70 these days

[garyw]

The removal of street signage and shared space has already happened in Coventry- so far numerous accidents and I believe a death.
Whilst drivers seem to slow down it seems the pedestrians seem to see it as even easier targets..

I think the raising of speed limits could indeed work for UK motorways during the week- but weekends!! crikey that's another matter!

[Martin & Kim 6853]

Am not going to comment on the removing of signage in towns yet
but will make comment on European motorways, have just done circa 1000 Kim's around Denmark & Sweden at speeds generally slightly higher than the speed limit!! But keeping up with other traffic where there was traffic. Two observations when comparing with uk motorways, first there is a big difference in traffic volumes and secondly the standard of lane discipline and overall standards are much higher than here.
Obviously am in favour of increasing the speed limits here, but let's not forget the high number of muppets and to****s on our roads that think they can drive! then let's put them in a town with no road signs

[AML911]

I sometimes feel the strain when driving (particularly in cities) from the visual bombardment due to the plethora of road signs, parking signs, advertising signs and at night stray and distracting lighting

As far as raising speed limits on motorways, perhaps if we were to adopt the lane awareness /discipline used by drivers in the States, then might we be able to safely overtake in any lane ..... this would maximise usage of road space and consequently obviate the need for higher limits?

[RichardKS]

Lorries should be restricted to lane one of UK motorways. End of. Sure fire way of easing congestion. Driver's who are clueless about lane discipline should be booked. End of. Lane three should be kept clear for those who choose to dabble with the speed limit. End of... ooops, shouldn't have typed that last comment.

[garyw]

Lorries should be restricted to lane one of UK motorways.

I'd usually agree but having been to Germany a few times and watching some people trying to gain and exit motorways via a train of lorries has it's downsides..!

[RichardKS]

Lorries should be restricted to lane one of UK motorways.

I'd usually agree but having been to Germany a few times and watching some people trying to gain and exit motorways via a train of lorries has it's downsides..!

As long as they're not tailgating each other. ..

[944-Scott]

Lorries should be restricted to lane one of UK motorways.

I'd usually agree but having been to Germany a few times and watching some people trying to gain and exit motorways via a train of lorries has it's downsides..!

As long as they're not tailgating each other. ..

Hmmm think A14 sometimes its hard to even read the signs because of the amount of lorries. Friday on the A12 I witnessed four lorries occupying/blocking both lanes trying to overtake each other for 7 miles