Why have the speed limits been changed in the UK in the last 100 years?

Question

Why have the speed limits been changed in the UK in the last 100 years?

Answer 1

because britain, the cars almost everything else has changed!

Answer 2

Roads are better and cars are safer.....

Answer 3

The speed limits have gone down we used to be unrestricted on roads that were not 30 40 etc but that all changed in the 70s with the fuel crisis when the national speed limit was reduced to 50 to save fuel.

That went back up again after that to current levels and the 60 on normal roads and 70 on motorways.

Answer 4

They haven't changed since the 60s when Ford Anglias, Austin A40s,Morris Minors etc were on the road. The maximum speed on a motorway was then 70mph...these cars could barely reach that figure and would take ages to stop at that speed. Today many cars are capable of twice that speed and can stop in half the time... but the speed limit on a motorway today???...still a ridiculously low 70mph.

Travel on any motorway on a nice, dry day and most drivers are driving at 80-90 mph( yes, you know it's true)..These are all criminals in the police's view but are all these drivers mad, certifiable and with a death-wish??..of course not. I say raise the speed limit on Britain's motorways to at least 80 mph, to de-criminalise these drivers...it's long overdue. The problem with that is that the government wouldn't rake in as much money from speeding fines if they did...or am I just being cynical?

Answer 5

They went up because advancing motor technology allowed this.Now they are coming down because of speeding.Soon you will have to employ the man with a red flag walking in front of you.

I am going to charge £5 an hour to do it.

Answer 6

Speed limits change for lots of reasons. Limits have changed to conserve fuel and for accident reduction.

Answer 7

If you mean the introduction of 20mph zones in built-up areas it's basically to protect the public, In my opinion because they haven't got the sense to look before crossing roads.

Answer 8

because to err is human and we have a lot of errs that's why we have humps in the road because idiot drivers cannot control their cars

look to the future  ,,,,controlled cars  and electric fences on the cawsy

Answer 9

The first ever speed limit in the UK for cars was 4 mph!! Can you imagine that restriction still being in place now?

Answer 10

The technology in cars has changed dramatically over the last 100 years, so the rules of the road have been updated accordingly.