The proposed 80 mph speed limit has been causing quite a storm across all sections of British society. Those who have driven for years, as well as those who have never sat behind the wheel of a car – and everyone in between – seem to have something to say on the matter.
The idea of allowing cars to go faster is abhorrent to some. But the truth is that if you try and cruise along at 70mph on any UK motorway, you soon get the odd sensation that you're driving too slowly; being as you are over taken by pretty much every other vehicle on the road.
Some say that the new limit will only increase dangerous driving, but it is important to remember that driving at speed does not necessarily mean dangerous driving. Modern cars are technically much better at handling than they were, say, 30 years ago – and more importantly, safety has increased immensely. There is no reason to believe that driving at such speeds will increase the number of calls to the emergency services – or your annual breakdown cover provider.
Others say that because everyone already drives at 80mph, it will encourage driving speeds of closer to 90mph.
As the subject of speed is currently on the national debate table, perhaps it would be a good time to discuss the other speed limits on the road: there are a whole range of limits, which seem to be ideal for capturing motorists in speed traps. Making a more uniform set of limits might please many drivers.
It looks likely that the UK will join the 21st Century though, with substantial support for the 80mph limit, not least within the government. Whether or not this simply means the actual driving speed goes up to 90mph, remains to be seen.