"RichardS" noaccess@invalid wrote in message
. ..
[snip]
Conversely, there are A roads and motorways where an alert driver in a
well
maintained modern car can safely travel above a limit that was imposed in
an
age when many cars could not hope to travel safely at that speed (even in
a
straight line in many cases).
[snip]


The most salient comment yet.

The 70mph limit was brought in in the late 60's when:-
Most cars had cross-ply tyres
Few had disc brakes
Even fewer had brake servos
None had crumple zones
Few or none had safety cells
Few had seat belts and their use was voluntary
Few had laminated windscreens
Halogen headlights were only a dream

and as a thought
Heaters in many cars were an optional extra
Heated rear windows were an optional extra on some cars
Many still had semaphore indicators
None had hazard flashers

It does not follow that the modern car requires a higher speed limit, but on
motorways (usually) without pedestrians it begs the question why the maximum
speed limit has not been reviewed.

Some years ago the TRRL did a trial - I think - near Maidenhead. They
monitored the speed of vehicles in a 30mph limit - the average was 43mph.
They then increased the limit to 40mph and the average dropped to 38mph. The
de facto speed limit on UK motorways is 80mph - in line with most of
Europe - so why not have a similar trial now?


--
Woody