Thursday - September 29, 2011

Driving the Recovery?

Motorway speed limits could be raised to 80mph to shorten journey times and boost the economy

The current 70mph restriction is rarely enforced, police often turning a blind eye to anyone driving at up to 10mph faster than the limit.

Experts have argued that by having a higher speed limit that is enforced more readily, drivers are more likely to have respect for the rules.

A report in the Daily Mail suggests potential changes could be discussed as soon as this month’s Conservative Party conference.

It states that it is now only a matter of time before the change to the law is brought in, although speed restrictions on motorways will be better enforced.

But the Department for Transport refused to be drawn on the matter, describing the report as “speculation”.

“We need to make sure that we are looking at the right criteria when considering what level speed limits should be set at,” a DfT spokesman said.

“This means looking at the economic benefits of shorter journey times as well as considering other implications such as road safety and carbon emissions.

“Any proposal to change national speed limits would be subject to full public consultation.”

The latest figures from the DfT show that nearly half of cars exceeded the 70mph speed limit on motorways last year.

Sounds like a good idea to me for over here too. But I would want state vehicle inspection standards raised to check somehow if cars were stable at those speeds, had the properly rated tires, and had proper brakes. Then I’d want a major effort from the police to enforce safe following distances. People drive on the highways of NJ at 80mph or better all the time ... right on each other’s bumpers. That is not safe driving.

But it would be nice for many of us to get to work 15 minutes faster, and if such a speed limit were to stay around, new cars could be given a more appropriate top gear so that they’d get the same mileage at that speed as they do at 65mph.

Perhaps a bit better driver training could help us, and the UK as well:

The problem with driving is drivers. Not you, dear reader, obviously – your three-point turns are vehicular ballet. It’s the rest of them. As roads have become busier, and our society more self-centred, drivers have become more volatile. And a ton of speeding metal is a lot with which to entrust an angry idiot. Today, even being a passenger is stressful. Although trains can be unreliable, they rarely get cut up on wet motorways, or honked at impatiently by another train travelling three inches behind them. And I can count on no hands the number of times I’ve seen a train driver mouthing curses at a fellow train driver while attempting to run him into a bollard.

In short, our roads would be lovely places to drive if only people didn’t keep driving on them.

Hmmm, maybe. But on the gripping hand, meting out just punishment for offenses behind the wheel seems to be a universal problem ...

Saudi King Abdullah has overturned a court verdict that sentenced a Saudi woman to be lashed 10 times for defying the kingdom’s ban on women driving.

The revelation was made by a government official, who asked to remain anonymous, and who would not reveal the king’s reasons for intervening in the case.

A day earlier, a Saudi court found Shaima Jastaina guilty of violating the driving ban, and sentenced her to 10 lashes, igniting a firestorm in the conservative Muslim kingdom.

It was the first time a legal punishment had been handed down for breaking the longtime ban in the ultraconservative Muslim nation. No laws prohibit women from driving, but conservative religious edicts have banned it.

I bet the Saudis won’t let women drive because there is no peripheral vision in a burkha. That, and they’re all a bunch of 7th century misogynists. But I’m having a happy moment here, daydreaming of NJ having Sharia-esque traffic police ... tailgating? 10 lashes, right now! Didn’t use your signals? 5 lashes, right now! Pennsyltucky Left Lane Dick? 20 lashes, right now! OGB*? 3 lashes when you finally get to where you’re going!

Ach crivens, it’s pouring again. Our third thunderstorm of the day. I am turning into an amphibian, I swear.

Posted by Drew458     on 09/29/2011 at 01:00 PM   
Filed Under: • Economics • planes, trains, tanks, ships, machines, automobiles • RoPMA •  
• Comments (5) • Trackbacks(0)  Permalink •  

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