Motorway speed limit of 70mph in UK?

Question

Can anyone explain the origin of the UK motorway speed limit of 70mph? Why not 100mph or something like that?

Answer 1

A quick trip to Wikipedialand reveals the following:

"From 1930 to 1965, most roads outside urban areas, including motorways, did not have a speed limit. However, in December 1965, after a series of multiple crashes on motorways, mainly in fog, an experimental speed limit of 70 mph was introduced for motorways and all other unrestricted roads and made permanent in 1967 for motorways and dual carriageways with a central reservation (with the limit dropped to 60 mph for other unrestricted roads). It was reduced to 50 mph in response to the 1973 oil crisis, and restored to 70 mph in 1974. The The Automobile Association have called for the limit to be increased."

Answer 2

mabey saving fuel.

Answer 3

I don't know the answer to this , but it may have something to do with Europe, Spains motorway is 120 kph which is about the same and I believe the same applies to France.

Answer 4

HELLO

IT WAS TO STOP BIKERS DOING THE TON

Answer 5

According to government legislation the 70MPH speed limit was enforced in 1965 due to a series of bad accidents involving vehicles at higher speeds.

The real reason however is in 1965 a man with a 427 AC Shelby Cobra was spotted doing approx 160 MPH on the M1 (A1/M) and no police vehicle at the time could chase or stop it. Since then we have got amazing police cars capable of 180 MPH and better cars with better crash protection. I say copy france and have 70MPH in poor weather and 90 In good weather. Works there, why not here?!?!?!

Answer 6

A = a crash you survive at 70 mph will kill you at 100 mph

B - you will waste an incredible amount of fuel going that much faster.  

It isn't worth it.