55mph Speed Limit

[biggs682]

I noticed that cruising at 63 mph is just enough to keep ahead of lorries and also helps me cope with the stress of motorway driving and also helps me achieve a better mpg .

 

[katiewlx]

It would make sense to reduce the 60mph limit to say 50mph. This would mitigate both safety and energy issues.

I can never understand why some roads, even single track roads are at the national limit. (60mph), when no sane driver would drive at 60mph, but it wouldn't be illegal if they did.

theyre speed limits, not speed targets... just saying

 

[Bristolian]

I can never understand why some roads, even single track roads are at the national limit. (60mph), when no sane driver would drive at 60mph, but it wouldn't be illegal if they did.

The reason for this is all about saving money. For any speed limit except the national speed limit (NSL) highway authorities are required to erect signs to remind drivers what the limit is. The frequency of those signs is determined by the limit imposed (actually by how far you travel in a given time at that speed). Signs cost money, putting them up costs money and maintaining them costs money so just making the road an NSL one saves quite a lot of money.