Drivers, Know Your Limits

There are not too many drivers who can say that they have never exceeded the speed limit.

The rules are there to keep everyone safe, and it is astonishing how many drivers are unsure of the speed limit rules.

According to The Highway Code (available in most bookshops as a paperback at a cost of approximately £2:50 or available free online),  Rules 124
states:

You MUST NOT exceed the maximum speed limits for the road and for your vehicle. The presence of street lights generally means that there is a 30 mph (48 km/h) speed limit unless otherwise specified. 

Rule 125 continues to advise:

The speed limit is the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed irrespective of conditions. Driving at speeds too fast for the road and traffic conditions is dangerous. You should always reduce your speed when:

• the road layout or condition presents hazards, such as bends
• sharing the road with pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, particularly children, and motorcyclists
• weather conditions make it safer to do so
• driving at night as it is more difficult to see other road users

The National Speed Limit for cars and motorcycles (including car-derived vans up to 2 tonnes max laden weight) are as follows:

• Built-up areas*                  30 mph

• Single carriageways          60 mph 

• Dual carriageways            70 mph 

• Motorways                        70 mph  

* The 30 mph limit usually applies to all traffic on all roads with street lighting unless signs show otherwise.

The Good Garage Scheme advises all motorists to drive safely and if in any doubt about the braking system on their vehicle, visit a local member garage soon.

It's like having a friend in the know.

 

More speed, more fuel, more accidents

Following the traumatic collision on the M5 last week, the debate over the potential motorway speed limit increase has been re-opened.With seven people killed and fifty-one left injured on the Somerset motorway on Friday evening, the reality of an 80mph motorway has to be addressed more realistically.

The current speed limit of 70mph was introduced in the 1960s and although cars of today are much more capable of reaching higher speeds, reaction time for drivers remains the same.

It is inevitable that faster motorways will cause more serious accidents. As previous government statistics have shown, someone hit by a car travelling at only 40mph is 90% more likely to be killed.

The Good Garage Scheme has always been keen to help motorists save fuel and if the new law raising the speed limit is to be implemented, motorists will be spending more on fuel and also increasing CO2 emissions.

 The consultation for the implementation of the speed limit increase begins this year with a view to raising it in 2013.

Do you have an opinion on the speed limit increase? Would you be able to increase your fuel budget due to higher speeds? Let us know by commenting on this blog.

Government reveal plans to increase motorway speeds

In recent news, the Government announced it would like to increase the speed limit on motorways in England and Wales from 70 to 80 mph. It argues that it is sensible because motorists are already driving over 70 mph and it could cut journey times.

Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond said the current limit introduced in the 1960s "was out of date", but green campaigners say it will harm the environment and cause more deaths on the road.

According to the Good Garage Scheme’s website, staying at or within the speed limit not only increases driver safety but also reduces CO2 emissions and saves money on fuel costs.

At 70 mph motorists could be using up to 9% more fuel than at 60 mph and up to 15% more fuel than at 50 mph. Driving faster may make the journey time quicker but could cost more in both fuel and the increased cost of policing the motorways.

The new ruling wouldn’t be implemented until 2013 at the earliest - provided it gets the go-ahead, but there is a lot to debate in the meantime.

For more fuel saving tips, visit http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/driving