UK Speed Limits

[snadge]

Oh I know the 'Predict-and-Provide' theorem is completely flawed. I was thinking more about adding a fourth lane to a motorway. Do a higher proportion of its users now exceed 70mph?

The average speed on most motorways is more akin to 50mph with all the money grabbing 30mph and 50mph cash collecting sections, a m/ways max speed is only as fast as it's slowest bottlenecks which are now being reduced to 30mph for cash collection purposes.

 

[T & P]

Oh I know the 'Predict-and-Provide' theorem is completely flawed. I was thinking more about adding a fourth lane to a motorway. Do a higher proportion of its users now exceed 70mph?

I recently drove up the recently expanded stretch of the M1 that has had roadworks for several years (M25 to Luton Airport stretch). It was absolute bliss and in some stretches it was just not 4 but 5 lanes. The road was half empty as well as it was late in the evening, but curiously enough few people seemed to be going properly fast. It was your typical lorries and slow vehicles on the slow lane, and then everyone else doing anything between 65 and 80-85 mph.

I don't know how to explain it but with the road so wide and empty (it felt like a runway), I myself didn't feel like driving too fast-about 75 or so, whereas often when travelling on the M4 I spend most of the journey on the fast lane with the other 80-85 mph traffic.

So I think in some cases rather than increasing the speed it might actually reduce it- at least for some drivers. If you have your typical 2 or 3 lane m-way you either go superslow, get stuck behind the middle lane hoggers at 65-70, or join the fast lane which if not busy will be going at 80+. In my experience of the semi deserted, 4/5 lane M1, there was so much space and lanes available drivers were allow to drive at the speed that took their fancy, rather than go with the flow. Those who love to floor it will have more ample opportunity to floor it for longer of course, but the rest doesn't have to.

Does that make sense?