Note: This is an old article.
This came through on the newsfeeds – it seems that the driving equivalent of the Neighbourhood Watch (link no longer live) is trying to persuade the government to trial an 80mph limit on “a managed and controlled motorway”.
I wonder if these fossils have actually considered the implications of this trial if it were to go ahead? Like, for example, what if people were killed as a result of it? I mean, that would be a hell of a price to pay to find out, wouldn’t it?
And what if, on this “managed and controlled” trial, there were no accidents? What the hell would that prove?
The people who are members of the group in question are often those who have the least regard for statistics or factual information, preferring their own beliefs and interpretations above those of “non-experts” who aren’t from their ranks. To that end, they are incapable of understanding the simple fact that increasing the upper limit to the range of speeds people will do on a road decreases the time they will have to think about how to deal with adverse situations that arise in front of them. There is no way, using any of the known laws of science, that that will make the roads safer.
If you hadn’t already realised, I don’t have a lot of time for “advanced” motoring groups, and this idiotic proposal isn’t likely to alter that situation. They are mostly bunches of nobodies who have acquired celebrity just through their very existence, and the choice of a corporate name which implies greatness. The “advanced” nature of their membership comes primarily from their members’ ages – and the implied “experience” that brings with it. All they appear to do is try and rub the noses of non-members in the dirt.
Having said that, at least RoSPA has always been opposed to increasing the speed limit on motorways for the reasons I gave above. They also have a concern that more serious accidents will result.
Quite rightly, other groups are criticising the anoraks for bringing this up now – so soon after the M5 disaster.
Mind you, people are going to great lengths to suggest that the M5 disaster wasn’t caused by speed. I’d just point out one thing: if everyone had been driving at 30-50mph, we wouldn’t be using the word “disaster” right now. That’s those laws of science, again.