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All told, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond (above, no relation) has had a busy first year in the job.
One his first acts in government was to take a pneumatic drill to the M4 bus-lane, which as you'll have seen on TV made Jeremy very happy. Then he declared there would be no more Whitehall cash for speed cameras, which as you'll have seen on TV made the entire Top Gear studio very happy.
Now he's revealed that the coalition government is consulting on plans to raise the speed limit on Britain's motorways to 80mph in 2013.
The current 70mph limit was introduced in 1965, and as the Transport Secretary points out, it's now looking rather out of date due to the "huge advances in safety and motoring technology".
"Cars are much safer, they have more sophisticated equipment now than they did 40 or so years ago. They are capable of driving safely at higher speeds. There are enormous economic benefits to be had by increasing the speed limit and shortening journey times.
"And the current limit has lost its legitimacy. We all know that many, many motorists who are otherwise law-abiding citizens routinely ignore the 70 miles per hour limit."
Mr Hammond also said he not think the rise would have "a significant impact on safety".
It's not a universally popular proposal. David Williams, the CEO of motoring assist company GEM, is one dissenting voice, saying: "I simply cannot understand this. From a road safety perspective we believe it would be a disaster.
"There are very obvious road safety implications including drivers having less time to react at higher speeds. Given the road safety record is currently heading in the wrong direction, this alone is a good enough reason not to raise the limit.
"Then there's the environmental aspect. An increase in speed will have a huge influence on our fuel consumption and emissions.
"To say an increase will improve the economy is frankly ridiculous - unless of course they are looking at the duty they will receive in revenue from the increased use of fuel? It seems this move is being made to deflect the real issues that cause delays in journeys such as road works and potholes."
So where do you sit on the debate, TopGear.commers? A long-needed acknowledgment of modern motoring technology, or a recipe for disaster?
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What do you think?
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AstonMartyn commented on this article
at 05:54 pm on 30 September 2011
It seems to me most vehicles are doing 80 mph anyway so it won't make any difference to the actual speed people are driving on the motorways. Being a gearhead I am delighted at the prospect of driving on the motorway without fear of getting a speeding ticket.
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billybobjoe commented on this article
at 06:01 pm on 30 September 2011
"I simply cannot understand this. From a road safety perspective we believe it would be a disaster." Right...... I can tell you most people do more than 70. Sure, the reaction time will change but everyone will be doing the same speed initially so wouldn't that cancel most of it out? Anyways, I think it's a good thing. Finally update some out-dated laws.
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Astonking commented on this article
at 06:36 pm on 30 September 2011
they're experimenting seeing if it help people get to work on time/quicker, boosting the economy( could make them more money basically) if it doesnt work they'll change it back after a while...
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Shifty2031 commented on this article
at 06:57 pm on 30 September 2011
It won't for one second raise my fuel consumption - at 70mph in 5th gear the revs are the same as 80mph in 6th gear, but I'm going faster meaning I'm now using a similar amount of fuel but I'm spending less time on the roads... Seems like a no brainer to me!
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denverseven commented on this article
at 07:10 pm on 30 September 2011
There have been studies which indicate the body produces a certain amount of adrenaline at higher speeds. The adrenaline helps with focus and sharpens up reactions times. Increases the limit to 80 makes sense from a safety point of view - given we are all diligent drivers. But I would promote the "undiligent" to keep out of the fast lane. Also, consumption doesn't go up if we push up the limit to 80. Most modern cars have a certain efficiency point past 120. (In Canada) My Honda Accord sips less fuel at 80 than at 70. My Acura RSX-s sips less at 86 than at 80.
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