We can help you claim
compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
Call: 0800 10 757 95
In 2011, the Government mooted plans to increase the motorway speed limit from 70mph to 80mph, immediately causing a furore amongst motoring experts, many of whom welcomed the proposals, and safety campaigners who were concerned that vehicles travelling at greater speeds would cause an increase in crashes and subsequent car accident claims.
In October, the Daily Telegraph published reports by two of its motoring correspondents who argued for and against the road law change.
Speed limit change arguments in the UK press
Paul Hudson, the paper's deputy motoring editor, took the pro-change stance, suggesting that the 70mph limit had been set 40 years previously and motoring technology had improved greatly since its introduction. Crucially, he said, it was not just engine performance which had advanced, but also suspension, tyres and braking systems and he suggested that the stopping distances quoted in the Highway Code were outdated, with most modern cars being able to come to a halt in much less distance than stated in the Department for Transport road guidance notes.
Mr Hudson agreed that the potential for an increase in personal injury car accidents was a factor to consider, but stated that "speed per se doesn't kill", suggesting that it's far more a matter of drivers using "appropriate speed" for the conditions they encounter.
He cited the French system used on autoroutes as a potential alternative to the UK's fixed-limit system – there is a 130kph (81mph) limit in good conditions and a 110kph (68mph) limit in bad weather, which, he says, French drivers adhere to.
Taking the no-change side was Daily Telegraph transport editor David Millward who openly admitted that he had been known to break the speed limit on occasion and saw the proposals as a political "no-brainer". However, he raised the point that only strict enforcement of the speed limit would mean it was a credible option, as, without enforcement, the speed limit would in fact rise to 90mph because guidelines put in place by the Association of Chief Police Officers allows "a margin for error of 10 per cent plus 2mph".
So, he stated, unless the Government plans to bring in a method of strict enforcement, such as speed cameras on the entire motorway network or equipping motorway police with hi-tech equipment and sweeping powers to stop and penalise all speeding motorists, an increased speed limit could have the effect of raising speeds on UK roads to potentially dangerous levels.
He added, "The practicalities of making the [80mph] policy work will need to be thought out and the conclusion may be that the messy compromise we have at the moment, with police enforcing 70mph with a sensitive and light touch, has a lot to recommend it."
Speed and the car accident claim
Most personal injury solicitors will be well aware of the devastating effects of high speed in a car accident as some of the most catastrophic injuries suffered by claimants are as a result of high-speed car crashes.
If you have been injured in a road traffic accident, whether as a driver, passenger or other road user, and you were not at fault, you may be able to make a car accident claim for personal injury compensation.
Our knowledgeable legal advisors can tell you quickly whether you would be eligible to make a claim and our Law Society accredited personal injury solicitors are here to offer top-quality legal advice and representation.
Call us today on 0800 10 757 95 to see if we can help you with your car accident claim for compensation.
