The message
from The Natural Philosopher contains these words:

My point precisely.
"WHO is as better judge of the safe velocity, m'lud, a driver of 40
years experience at the wheel of his car, or a bureaucrat in Whitehall'

Blame the politicians, not the bureaucrats in this case. The rot set in
in 1965 when an antediluvian socialist without so much as a learners
driving licence was appointed Minister of Transport and decreed that the
toffs in their fast cars would henceforth not be allowed to go any
faster than the peasants in their Volkswagens. VW Beetles were widely
advised at one time of being capable of being driven flat out all day. I
suppose we should be thankful that the bloody Beetle had a top speed as
high as 70 mph.

--
Roger Chapman