Impending 80mph Motorway limit. Will it affect you?

[panhard65]

Catalytic convertors require heat to function and are a great idea in the U.S where most journeys are longer allowing them to heat up. Unfortunately in this country the chances of getting the cat hot enough to work properly are limited. When the emmissions test first came out in the mot it was a nightmare getting cats hot enough to function. Leave a 6 cylinder bmw ticking over for 5 mins and it will create more pollution than a properly maintained and tuned non cat car. The manufactures knew what they were doing back in the 80's making engines cleaner with lean burn technology but the government decided they wanted cats and cats don't work unless there is something to convert hence engines now use more fuel and when the convertor is cold create more pollution.

As for old cars on motorways what is wrong with the A roads a lot safer and more suited to the performance of the car. I would rather sit in a bit of traffic than take a chance with a 40 ton HGV on the motorway. Most people drive old cars for the enjoyment of it so taking your time on A and B roads seems the best way to go. I used to drive from Essex to somerset every friday afternoon in lots of different classics most of which could do 80 but I would rather take the scenic route rather than push the car flat out on a motorway just to keep out of the way of lorries. There again the 80mph limit won't affect the M25 as there is no chance of getting over 50 on it most days

[stilo_active]

80mph wont really affect me if I take the 205.Top speed of 83mph, apparently. It'll take me the length of the M5 to get to 80.

[Pillock]

Chompy, the motorway pub is actually a hotel, with a restaurant, accessible from services as well as local roads. It's hardly a drive-thru Wetherspoons.

 

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[catsinthewelder]

So what's going to be allowed to do 80 then?  I can drive at the current limit of 70 in the LDV minibus can I see if it'll do 80?  and if I can do I want to?

[barefoot]

Do you think I should get a flashing beacon for the roof of my t2?

Or will I still be ok tucking in behind a Tesco hgv and keeping to 52ish?

[Justin Case]

It's the difference in speeds that can be dangerous not absolute speed. So, let's have 80 and also make it illegal to limit trucks to less than 56mph, you could probably have them under some C&U regs which AFAIK is the reason for the odd figure (metric translation?). Less difference in closing speeds, less elephant racing, and best of all, Waitrose looking less smug

[dollywobbler]

So what's going to be allowed to do 80 then?  I can drive at the current limit of 70 in the LDV minibus can I see if it'll do 80?  and if I can do I want to?

 

Lucky you. Despite legally being able to do 70mph, the minibuses I drive are limited to 62mph, as are all new ones these days. Mind you, I've never driven one on a motorway and we can only do 60mph on a dual carriageway - and I've only done that once!

[Junkman]

Why can't they just abolish those stupid speed limits on motorways altogether?

[barefoot]

Why can't they just abolish those stupid speed limits on motorways altogether?

 

Because of the cock who spoilt it for everyone when he did 200mph in Cobra in the 1960's*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*is this really true?

[cms206]

56mph(90kph) for HGVs and 62mph(100kph) for PSVs (unless it has no seatbelts... Then its 59mph/95kph) explain the odd numbers. Legally all PSVs can do 70mph on a motorway but those built after 1/1/88? Should be restricted.

 

There are other fuckups with limits for big stuff, single carriageway roads for example - 40mph for anything over 7.5 tonnes. Unless it's a PSV. Then it's 50.

[Angrydicky]

Don't forget all the Tesco wagons limited to 50, 

 

 

As for old cars on motorways what is wrong with the A roads a lot safer and more suited to the performance of the car. I would rather sit in a bit of traffic than take a chance with a 40 ton HGV on the motorway. Most people drive old cars for the enjoyment of it so taking your time on A and B roads seems the best way to go. I used to drive from Essex to somerset every friday afternoon in lots of different classics most of which could do 80 but I would rather take the scenic route rather than push the car flat out on a motorway just to keep out of the way of lorries. There again the 80mph limit won't affect the M25 as there is no chance of getting over 50 on it most days

 

 

I agree, where possible I do try to stick to A and B roads but sometimes it's just not practical. You're dead right about the M25 though (certainly this end of it!).

 

Don't forget all those Tesco wagons limited to 50 as well, to be honest I think they cause more problems than the odd car doing 50 on a clear motorway.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

56mph(90kph) for HGVs and 62mph(100kph) for PSVs (unless it has no seatbelts... Then its 59mph/95kph) explain the odd numbers. Legally all PSVs can do 70mph on a motorway but those built after 1/1/88? Should be restricted.

 

There are other fuckups with limits for big stuff, single carriageway roads for example - 40mph for anything over 7.5 tonnes. Unless it's a PSV. Then it's 50.

 

Jesus. Mortal beings, who know they have a limited time on this earth, have spent time categorising vehicles into categories and sub categories, with special exclusions and other complications, just to definitively decide which vehicles will be forced to travel 14% slower than the other vehicles. 

 

Here, I'm proposing a slight simplification of speed limits:

[dollywobbler]

It gets ridiculous doesn't it? The regulations around seatbelts is also insane. If a bus weighs over 2450kg (IIRC) then the driver is NOT responsible for checking whether under 14s are wearing seatbelts. If it's a lighter bus, then the driver is responsible - as in a car. But those who passed their test after 1st Jan 1997 can't drive a 16 seater if it weighs more than 3.5 tons maximum weight. Or 4.25 tons if it's wheelchair accessible. And only if they volunteer.

[Wilko220]

Lucky you. Despite legally being able to do 70mph, the minibuses I drive are limited to 62mph, as are all new ones these days. Mind you, I've never driven one on a motorway and we can only do 60mph on a dual carriageway - and I've only done that once!

Yes, I think it's any minibus made after about 2003 has to have a limiter. Ironic that my asthmatic 18-year-old LDV 200 can outrun the brand new Citroen Relay I also drive (as long as there are no hills...)

[Richard]

You can't drive a 16 seater on a pre-'97 licence either if it's for hire or reward, you are restricted to 8 passengers.

[Cavcraft]

You could have the speed limit raised to 65mph for trucks, but most companies will still stick to 50mph to save fuel.

[dollywobbler]

You can't drive a 16 seater on a pre-'97 licence either if it's for hire or reward, you are restricted to 8 passengers.

 

You can if it's a community minibus, with an appropriate operators licence. You can even be paid (though most of the services I'm involved with are unpaid).

[catsinthewelder]

Licence wise I'm ok as I've done the D1 (they have to pay me to drive the things).  If our 54 plated LDV Convoy 17 seater is restricted then the speedo is telling massive porkies.