• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
More than 40,000 drivers back petition to increase speed limit on UK motorways

Home> News> UK News

Updated 12:00 1 Jul 2024 GMT+1Published 11:59 1 Jul 2024 GMT+1

More than 40,000 drivers back petition to increase speed limit on UK motorways

It appears many drivers want the motorway speed limit to be increased

Britt Jones

Britt Jones

If you’ve been on the motorway or dual carriageway recently, you might have some gripes about the speed limits when you’re in a rush... but should it change?

According to a new parliament petition, the speeds of UK roads have come into question and have been labelled as too ‘restrictive’ by those in favour of increasing them.

Whether it’s because you need to over-take slow drivers hogging the middle lane, or you’re late to an appointment, accelerating over the 70mph limit to make it on time is illegal and for some, a pain in the arse.

Drivers are backing a petition to increase the national speed limit. (Getty Stock Images)
Drivers are backing a petition to increase the national speed limit. (Getty Stock Images)

Advert

In light of the new speed-system for all UK drivers, over 40,000 people have signed a petition which calls for the government to raise the speed limit on motorway to 100mph and dual carriageways to 80mph, citing cars now have safer features.

The petition, which was filed in May, said: “The 70mph speed limit is 58 years old. Some modern vehicles have advanced safety features and faster stopping speeds.

"Faster travel could enhance reliability of supply chains and logistics. Adaptive cruise control and collision avoidance systems can enhance safety. We believe a speed limit increase will improve traffic flow, reducing congestion.”

A good point about the speed limit was made, explaining that it’s been nearly six decades since the limit was implemented.

But why was it set at 70?

Advert

Well, because of the obvious - speed-related crashes.

According to HistoryHit, numerous car crashes occurred during a particularly foggy autumn in 1965 which led to the government, police and National Road Safety Advisory Council to consult on a plan.

The think the current speed limit is too restrictive. (Getty Stock Images)
The think the current speed limit is too restrictive. (Getty Stock Images)

They realised that vehicles were traveling too fast for the weather conditions and suggested a four-month trial period for 70mph to combat accidents.

This then came into effect on 22 December, 1965. Clearly, this hasn’t stopped people from getting into accidents, and it also didn’t stop people from speeding.

Advert

But the limit was set to enforce consequences on speedy drivers.

In response to this petition, which saw an overwhelming amount of support - 42,796 signatures at the time of writing - the government quickly squashed any hope of a new law passing.

Just two days after the petition was filed, the government responded, sharing that it ‘has undertaken no recent assessment on increasing national speed limits and we have no current plans to undertake such an assessment on the basis of traffic flow or other factors’.

The petition claims that some cars have advanced features which would allow them to drive safely at higher speeds. (Getty Stock Images)
The petition claims that some cars have advanced features which would allow them to drive safely at higher speeds. (Getty Stock Images)

The response continued: “We recognise that technology is moving on rapidly and that vehicles are much safer than when the current speed limits were first introduced.

Advert

“But it is complex to model whether the economic benefits from reduced journey times would be realised because of the interaction of different factors, including any increase in road safety risk with resulting increase in collisions and travel time delays during closure and clearance of the road, and increased fuel consumption at higher speeds.”

So there’s no hope of faster travel, then.

For this to come just before the mandatory new UK speed limit law… comical.

This means that any new car manufactured in Europe needs to come with a speed tracking system. So, no speeding for anyone purchasing a brand new car!

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Cars, Driving, UK News

Britt Jones
Britt Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Man who lost nine stone in 10 months on Mounjaro reveals the surprising psychological side effect

    Marc McKee has referred to the medication as a 'lifeline' for helping him lose weight

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Missing 'Star Dust' plane vanished after cryptic Morse code message as Amelia Earhart plane 'finally discovered'

    The missing aircraft remained a mystery for more than 50 years

    News
  • 4 hours ago

    Max Verstappen releases statement as Red Bull sacks Christian Horner after 20 years

    Horner served as team principle and CEO of Red Bull Racing since 2005

    News

    breaking

  • 4 hours ago

    Amelia Earhart nearly followed a completely different career that didn't involve flying at all as missing plane 'finally found'

    Amelia Earhart's life would've followed a completely different path if she'd continued with her university course

    Originals
  • Motorists warned over bypassing new UK speed limit law despite it being legal to do so
  • Drivers warned that they face disqualification after police increase specific checks
  • Cost of buying a car could skyrocket as new speed limit law hits UK
  • 'B plates launched in UK' for drivers who are bad at one thing