I've travelled the M5 from Bristol to Gloucester for 2 years now. The speed limit is broken by many by cars and vans that pass me doing at least 80 to 90 mph.
I rarely see police cars or speed traps.
This is not a question of the validity of the 70 mph limit, this is about why this law is not enforced.
2007-08-15 04:51:20 · 15 answers · asked by Another Zac 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Commuting
Unfortunately there is not enough funding or effort being put into preventing speeding.
To the idiots above who think driving at well over 70 is alright. If I break into your house, is that alright - even if I don't break or take anything?
The law is the law - if it is changed all well and good - until it is changed the MAXIMUM LEGAL speed is 70mph.
FYI - Speed cameras and traps must be highly visible, (no more hiding behind hedges with your wife's black hair dryer) since a European directive, so if you can't see a camera (a bright orange box), it ain't there.
Large lorries are limited to 55 and so cannot creep up on a car doing 70.
2007-08-15 08:32:17 · answer #1 · answered by Steven 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually speed in itself is not a killer it is inappropriate speed which is the problem. Is it always safe to travel at 30mph in a 30mph zone? No it is not. Sometimes it is safe to do that speed, perhaps you may have noticed from time to time a policeman on some sort of point duty waving cars on in such a manner that it invites speeding (don't say "how can you tell?" you just can. The police in many counties do not enforce the limit fully but it is tactless to overtake a police car doing 90 mph on the motorway. Those near London have cameras all over the place and are really just a revenue earner. I am not questioning the validity of the law, but would make the point that if nearly everyone is doing 80 mph it is foolhardy to try and stick to 70. Even big lorries are doing more than that. Do you really want your car to have a kick up the bum?
2007-08-15 12:59:29 · answer #2 · answered by Scouse 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Motorways are the safest roads to drive on in the U.K. (according to the Government). They also have the highest average speed (according to the Government).
When it comes to enforcing the limit, it IS actually a question of validity. Many police officers do not consider 70mph to be a sensible speed on motorways, considering the advances made in car safety since the mid sixties, when the limit was introduced. Many feel it would be valid if raised to 80mph instead.
2007-08-15 14:27:39 · answer #3 · answered by Nightworks 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its the luck of the draw. The speed cops are regularly to be seen on the A55 in N Wales and I see drivers being pulled over on a daily basis. I do think the police avoid the necessity of pulling you over if you are driving below 80 mph. Fixed speed cameras are not in situe upon this stretch of motorway.
2007-08-15 12:17:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably because the police have greater emergency shouts. Where we live, if you drive home from the local pub, you don't see a car let alone police vehicles! Nearest station is 9 miles away...
A speeding fine is the normal penalty to have on your licence. Maybe society is to blame. We work harder and longer hours than Europe, yet they seem to take things easier, have more family time and get more value for thier money, exactly who are the fools??....
2007-08-15 12:03:00 · answer #5 · answered by needmorecubes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How many police cars do you think there are to cover all the motorways in the UK. But let me tell you, there are plenty of hidden cameras on all the motorways, especially the M4 approaching the M5, so wait for the brown envelope to drop in your letterbox.
2007-08-15 12:02:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
over here in America its like that to. and well where I live most of the roads seem not be enforced.I down the motorway people going like you said 80 90 and sometimes 100mph I think its ridiculous . someone could die.
2007-08-15 12:01:27 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the speed limit is enforced on all the uk moterways with cameras and marked and unmarked police cars and fixed and mobile speed cameras the reason that the police dont always stop someone is stopped by the moterway police for speeding is because it depends on their manner of driving
2007-08-15 14:41:01 · answer #8 · answered by the orical 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Police tend to take it safetlly on a Motorway so they do not cause any accedents on it to other drivers and themselves.
the tend to be less Cautious on A Roads, unless they are dealing with Idiots.
2007-08-15 12:33:43 · answer #9 · answered by bembesh 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it is but there are not enough police to stand all the way down the motorway so people just go as fast as thay want
2007-08-15 12:09:27 · answer #10 · answered by dannybones63 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋