I would support 10mph outside schools, and nursing homes, though that would eliminate the Darwinian aspect of the current law. Also twenty in residential areas, as this is where kids might actually play. Lower speeds would save lives.

Doubt it. It would cost too much for fuel. If they really want to speed the motorway up, they should let lorries do 70, but ban them from overtaking each other at speeds above 50.

80mph speed limit is fine, most do it, most dont stick to 70 (who hasnt occasionally gone above it to overtake?)

the police should enforce people to move over to the left lane at all times after over taking, that would cause a lot less congestion, and probably accidents.

WTF are children doing playing in the road anyway? It’s not the place to be. I saw some infant rolling in the gutter last year.

<my dad when I was 10>It’s not a play ground - use the park. </my dad when I was 10> <--- and he was right. Growing up where I did, you wouldn’t have played in the roads anyway. Where I live now, I’d get really angry if any kid of kine was playing in the road, and it’s pretty quiet here, but a road is a road.

You are allowed to exceed the speed limit temporarily IIRC just for over taking but you must drop back to the speed limit once the manoeuvre has been completed. Yes they should enforce pulling back in when lanes are empty. Though I suspect that the best solution would be 3 month bans with retests.

Have you seen just how much further a 44 tonner travels, when braking from 70mph, compared to 56mph? It's pretty scary. Plus, the brake systems aren't rated for it.

It could get difficult for the hauliers - they'll be compelled to upgrade, to see the benefits, but the initial cost could be a lot to bear.

You can pretty much guarantee that a fair few will not bother, and run at those speeds anyway. A comforting thought.

Although, there are plenty of Irish and continental trucks, running on our roads, with the limiter disabled already.

Just ban them from overtaking then.

I'm up for that.

For anyone that thinks 80 is too fast, there are three lanes, kindly stick to the left. I'll be very interested to see if there is a major increase in accidents a year after this is put into place, and again a year after.

20mph through towns is also a good idea, though it depends where. Through town centres I would agree with, lots of people about with some not looking (we can all be distracted through one thing or another), around schools and along streets where houses do not have a front garden/drive or where there is a green where children might be playing, I'd agree with that too.
However, take the hill in Aberystwyth up to the University (Google Street View Clicky) it's got mainly students walking up and down it, there is no reason why this sort of arrangement couldn't stay at 30mph/40mph.

I could agree with 20 or 25, but not on main roads that pass through towns or villages. Fine for residential roads where children live as it will only delay through first and last few minutes of most journeys.

It is clear that for towns that the limits of many areas will need to be looked at. Though will they have the money to have speed limit signs put up? That might kill the idea in towns at least where they have budget cutbacks.

I wonder if it would be cheaper to change guidelines and have speed limits printed on the road for towns?

I suppose it could but the problem is that you would need to repaint them periodically and check them annually to make sure that they were clear enough. Then in residential areas you run the risk of cars parking in a way that obscure them. Though it could possibly be cheaper in the short term. Longer term I think that signs would win out in terms of cost savings. Though why can't the government give them interest free loans payable over ten years that specifically cover the installation of road signs and they pay x per sign each year?

I don't think there's any need for much signage.

Street lamps at 100m spacings indicate a 30 zone, and have done for decades. You could just have a blanket 20mph in a town rule, with just signs to remind drivers at the town boundaries.

Bingo!

+infinity

^ this