The speed limit on a stretch of M4 in Wales is going to have the temporary 50mph limit made permanent. This is being done to improve air quality which seems fair enough in some ways.
It does raise some questions: will the limit be increased if / when electric cars are more common than dino-juice ones? Will the reduced limit make people choose a different route through the area that might be quicker so just move the pollution to a different built up area?
Will similar schemes be applied in other areas such as towns? What about A and B roads? A blanket reduction in speeds on the grounds of air pollution improvements would be quite something.
Are we coming to the end of the golden era of personal transport in terms of driving for enjoyment?Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
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22nd Jun 2019 2:29 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26776
It’s coming. 50 mph limits all over I reckon.
I’m afraid with the current anti car attitude that our leaders of government, local and national seem to have, it’s inevitable it’s going to happen. Another nail in the coffin of the car, and designed to persuade more of us to use public transport.
22nd Jun 2019 2:37 pm
Red Merle
Member Since: 30 Aug 2014
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There’s nothing in the article quoting any evidence that the trial achieved any meaningful emissions reductions. Is anyone aware of any evidence either way?2011 - 2015: 3 x FL2
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22nd Jun 2019 2:41 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26776
Well .... I’ve been down to Dorset from Manchester over the past couple of days. Not in my D4, but the F Type which is a 3.0 petrol.
Normally on a long motorway run the Jag averages 29.5 mpg on the lie o’meter. However the average for the past 2 days has been more like 37 mpg.
I can only put this down to the very long 50 restrictions on the M6, and M5. The M5 is even down to 30mph restriction for a long stretch over the raised section. It’s so slow 😡
The shenanigans of some impatient drivers on the M6 in the road works last night was a real eye opener! Scary stuff.
22nd Jun 2019 2:56 pm
Paul J.
Member Since: 09 Dec 2005
Location: Leafy Cheshire
Posts: 7629
On the basis that this 50mph limit is aimed solely at reducing pollution, I reserve the right to set my cruise control to 70mph....
An ex-Disco3 / FFRR owner ......
..... now on the JLR electric highway.
22nd Jun 2019 4:57 pm
nearlee
Member Since: 15 Dec 2012
Location: where the sheep are scared
Posts: 1777
All I'm going to say is electric cars will be a huge problem for this country in terms of pollution and fatalities.
There are far better systems out there.
As for 50 limits, yes it will help with pollution, not sure about accidents though.Just remember:-
Amateurs built the Ark
Professionals built the titanic
22nd Jun 2019 5:13 pm
Paul J.
Member Since: 09 Dec 2005
Location: Leafy Cheshire
Posts: 7629
Please explain? An ex-Disco3 / FFRR owner ......
..... now on the JLR electric highway.
22nd Jun 2019 5:35 pm
Fitzy73
Member Since: 09 Feb 2014
Location: Truro
Posts: 2407
As a D4 and i3 owner, not really sure why electric cars should specifically cause a problem for this country?Andy
22nd Jun 2019 5:58 pm
mse
Member Since: 27 Jun 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2704
Speed limits are silly and science flawed...especially for this.
I made a point of driving through a 50 for environmental reasons in 6th not 8th so my revs increased, because thats as silly as maxing people do 50 is.
Moving cars through faster seems better than bunching cars up in queues
Its sad that this country is slowly becoming a country of shout loud social media warriors
And i dont have a problem with trying to make the environment better - there are just so many ways to do it without these types of flawed science and attacksMike
22nd Jun 2019 6:26 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
Fitzy73 wrote:
As a D4 and i3 owner, not really sure why electric cars should specifically cause a problem for this country?
Thwe network will not be able to cope (system and cables are not man enough for the increased demand) and there is not enough electricity currently to support all electric vehicles for all.MY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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If the temporary 50 mph speed limit on a stretch of M4 in Wales is going to be made permanent "to improve air quality", then surely EVs should be exempt & allowed to travel at the former speed, 70 mph?
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22nd Jun 2019 7:06 pm
Fitzy73
Member Since: 09 Feb 2014
Location: Truro
Posts: 2407
Russell wrote:
Fitzy73 wrote:
As a D4 and i3 owner, not really sure why electric cars should specifically cause a problem for this country?
Thwe network will not be able to cope (system and cables are not man enough for the increased demand) and there is not enough electricity currently to support all electric vehicles for all.
For the moment at least, even with big government grants take up of electric cars is still limited, so I don’t see why infrastructure improvements can’t be incremental as sales increase.
Although, electric cars will probably never be for all anyway, as people with flats and in large cities just don’t have designated parking. We are at least lucky that when when the weather is good we can charge for nothing via our solar panels.Andy
22nd Jun 2019 7:39 pm
defector
Member Since: 23 Feb 2009
Location: Greater Manchester
Posts: 1471
I'm afraid there are plenty of anti car lobbyists, but nobody to represent motorists.
AA and RAC are useless for representing motorists and are solely a commercial organisation looking purely at selling to motorists, unlike when they were owned by the membership when they actually took motorist concerns into account and lobbied.
Government and Local Authorities love motorists for squeezing money out of them, but hate them using their cars.
My personal opinion is that we have peaked with car ownership and can only see a downward trend.
I actually know quite a few teens who haven't got a licence and not interested in cars - never saw that before
Where will the govt and LA's get their money when their 'car tax' cashcows decrease?
22nd Jun 2019 9:01 pm
Paul J.
Member Since: 09 Dec 2005
Location: Leafy Cheshire
Posts: 7629
Russell wrote:
Fitzy73 wrote:
As a D4 and i3 owner, not really sure why electric cars should specifically cause a problem for this country?
Thwe network will not be able to cope (system and cables are not man enough for the increased demand) and there is not enough electricity currently to support all electric vehicles for all.
This is not correct, the DNOs have been planning for this for a number of years. An ex-Disco3 / FFRR owner ......
..... now on the JLR electric highway.
22nd Jun 2019 9:01 pm
Russell
Member Since: 23 Aug 2007
Location: Kent
Posts: 10564
DNO's ??
It is correct the grid is often on the point of colapse and there is not the funding or investment to increase generation or infastucture for the national gridMY17 D5 1st Edition Namib Orange
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