(Would you like the)Motorway speed limit to be raised to 130km/h

CiniO

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Haha, this could be a loaded question....

I think that if you are not capable of driving at 80kph + on a motorway, you probably have no earthly business being there. In my opinion.

And yes, I come across quite a few vehicles travelling at speeds lower than this on motorways.

See, the problem is that there are vehicles which are legally limited to 80km/h on motorway - all the cars and vans towing trailers.

So if they had maximum and minimum speeds of 80km/h they wouldn't have any choice what speed to choose.
Also vehicles might not be able to do 80km/h up the hills when fully loaded.

I think minimum speed on motorways applies in most EU countries but it's more likely around 40km/h.

Drummerboy08

Yep, I know, which is why its my opinion and not law. In an ideal world I suppose.

Ded_Zebra

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

It sounds great on paper, but I've highlighted the big problem with your statement....

No offence to members of AGS reading this, but there is very little enforcement on motorways (with the exception of shooting fish in barrels) so I don't think it would ever work.

Then when it is enforced, you'll have people challenging decisions in court, as any enforcement could only be subject to the Garda's opinion. It wouldn't be concrete like - you were doing 150kph in a 120kph zone, here's the proof.

Speed cameras that can be turned on? I know it takes big investment and it'll never happen but it could work

Drummerboy08

Who determines the conditions to turn the cameras on though? If its borderline, someone could easily argue the conditions were good enough for said speed...

Jesus.

AltAccount wrote: »

who's making this proposal? Someone reputable or a random looney who has no chance of influencing anything?

The latter

Ded_Zebra

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Who determines the conditions to turn the cameras on though? If its borderline, someone could easily argue the conditions were good enough for said speed...

You can't please all of the people all of the time. I'm sure similar systems could work in other countries, why not here.

Personally I'm not a fan of babysitting people and they should be allowed to make their own decisions.

billie1b

CiniO wrote: »

What should the minimum speed be in your opinion?

110km in lane 2 and 3 and 80km in lane 1 for slower moving vehicles (trucks and buses). The reason the slip road is there is to build up to the speed or match the speed of the traffic you are merging into, not to pull onto a motorway with a speed of 120km at 60km.
I had a lady one day in front of me pulling out from the Applegreen service station on the M4, she went down the slip road and completely stopped at the end of it, looked to her right and pulled out from a stop on the slip road straight into lane 1. Luckily it was a Sunday morning with hardly and traffic. If thats not dangerous, I dont know what is

challengemaster

corktina wrote: »

the limit was set just a few years ago when we went Metric. Cars have been capable of higher speeds for decades

I don't think there's much point in this, when did you last meet a Gard on the motorway?

I wouldn't say the limit was set, more converted, then rounded to the nearest figure. Saying the limits were set would imply some actual thought went into them.

Despite the lack of AGS presence everywhere else on the roads, they seem to have a fondness for sitting on certain on-ramps with their speed gun. I'd hazard a guess that there's a higher likelihood of being caught by AGS on the motorway than on other roads. Fish in a barrel has always been their style, though.

billie1b

CiniO wrote: »

See, the problem is that there are vehicles which are legally limited to 80km/h on motorway - all the cars and vans towing trailers.

So if they had maximum and minimum speeds of 80km/h they wouldn't have any choice what speed to choose.
Also vehicles might not be able to do 80km/h up the hills when fully loaded.

I think minimum speed on motorways applies in most EU countries but it's more likely around 40km/h.

Minimum speed limit in France is 80km on motorway and in foggy conditions maximun is 50km

CiniO

billie1b wrote: »

Minimum speed limit in France is 80km on motorway and in foggy conditions maximun is 50km

Sounded crazy for me, so I checked wikipedia, and indeed there is minimum 80km/h speed required, but only on most left lane (equivalent to most right lane in Ireland). Makes sense allright.

But general minimum of 80km/h on motorway is impossible, as there are vehicle unable to do such speed on inclines.

GTE

There is a minimum speed limit on motorways in parts of the UAE. Each Emirate is meant to be different but I have seen minimum limits very regularly. In fact, over 100 people were fined for going below the minimum limit in Abu Dhabi last year.

Something like 100 max, 80 for HGV and 60 minimum, I can not think for the life of me what is on the 120 and 140 max roads. Some places also have a buffer of +20kph on speed limits before fines are issued so maybe all that is worth considering here.

That said, you think we ignore the rules? Chaos over there but it works a bit better since you expect it.

ardmacha

But general minimum of 80km/h on motorway is impossible, as there are vehicle unable to do such speed on inclines.

Then either
- such vehicles should not be allowed on motorways
- the limited number of such inclines could have a lower limit for a short distance.

I wouldn't bother changing the limit, I'd rather see camera placed on on/off ramps to watch out for those who like to head for the exit from lane 3, those who couldn't be arsed accelerating to the speed of the traffic and those who cannot spend 30 secs behind such people and who like to shoot across the hatched area and lane 1 to get to the overtaking lane.

wotzgoingon

It should really be unlimited speed limit like the autobahn. I was never in Germany so I don't know if our motorways differentiate from the autobahn.

CiniO

wotzgoingon wrote: »

It should really be unlimited speed limit like the autobahn. I was never in Germany so I don't know if our motorways differentiate from the autobahn.

They do - greatly.

Mycroft H

ardmacha wrote: »

Then either
- such vehicles should not be allowed on motorways
- the limited number of such inclines could have a lower limit for a short distance.

If you banned them outright you'd practically take loads of HGVs off the road.

I used to drive a 23t rigid. It was limited to 83km/h by default and you would have to drop gears up long inclines and often you'd be only pushing 75km/h on long inclines particularly on the N11/M11 when up to weight.

billie1b

CiniO wrote: »

Sounded crazy for me, so I checked wikipedia, and indeed there is minimum 80km/h speed required, but only on most left lane (equivalent to most right lane in Ireland). Makes sense allright.

But general minimum of 80km/h on motorway is impossible, as there are vehicle unable to do such speed on inclines.

If a vehicle in Ireland that is slow moving or can't obtain 50kms per hour or more intends on using a motorway, they have to get prior permission from the relevant authorities and an escort down said motorway with a car in front and at the back with flashing amber lights or a garda escort.

On another note, if your speeding in France and the police clock you with a gun or on the car camera and your going 180km or more, they will not go after you or try stop you, as its classed as an endanger to the public. They take note of your reg and call to your house and arrest you for dangerous driving.

Leonard Hofstadter

Let's get rid of all the idiots who drive in the wrong lane on any three lane carriageway in Ireland first of all, and then we could have a serious discussion on raising speed limits on motorways, because let's be honest, 120 kph is a very low speed limit for motorways. If you drive in England, even though the speed limit is lower at 70 mph or 112 kph, you'll be left for dead at 80 mph / 128 kph and there'll be no shortage of drivers doing 85 - 90 mph / 135-144 kph.

The speed limit on many European motorways is 130 kph. Ireland's motorways are after all designed for 160 kph, so if we weren't so useless at driving, we could certainly have a motorway limit of 140 or 150 no problem - and I would be all for it. It might even encourage more people to buy cars with decent engines, which would be a good thing for the motoring enthusiast rather than the current situation where people automatically default to the smallest and/or least powerful possible engine.

GTE

captainspeed wrote: »

Let's get rid of all the idiots who drive in the wrong lane on any three lane carriageway in Ireland first of all, and then we could have a serious discussion on raising speed limits on motorways, because let's be honest, 120 kph is a very low speed limit for motorways. If you drive in England, even though the speed limit is lower at 70 mph or 112 kph, you'll be left for dead at 80 mph / 128 kph and there'll be no shortage of drivers doing 85 - 90 mph / 135-144 kph.

The speed limit on many European motorways is 130 kph. Ireland's motorways are after all designed for 160 kph, so if we weren't so useless at driving, we could certainly have a motorway limit of 140 or 150 no problem - and I would be all for it.It might even encourage more people to buy cars with decent engines, which would be a good thing for the motoring enthusiast rather than the current situation where people automatically default to the smallest and/or least powerful possible engine.

Is that post tongue in cheek?

Aestivalis

The maximum speed limit of any HGV on a motorway is 80km/h
For this reason, its a bit unfair to give out about other users doing 80km/h on a motorway.

GTE

Aestivalis wrote: »

The maximum speed limit of any HGV on a motorway is 80km/h
For this reason, its a bit unfair to give out about other users doing 80km/h on a motorway.

Having had thought about that at times, I think it is the perception of closing speed that is the issue.

Either;
- We can see that the HGV is going slower just down to the size of the thing where a cars speed is hard to detect until relatively close
- We just know that HGVs go slower and never expect a car to be going as slow or slower.

I don't know of scientific backup to the first point and am unsure how proper the second point is on the scheme of things but regardless, I have a much bigger issue with cars plodding along doing 80 personally. Odd one that, maybe I am a grumpy old man in my mid 20s. =P But to be fair, I have no way of knowing if they are doing 80 or not, it is just what I consider to be a bit slow relative to the rest of the traffic.

CiniO

Aestivalis wrote: »

The maximum speed limit of any HGV on a motorway is 80km/h

It's not.
90km/h for trucks.
100km/h for buses.

Only vehicles limited to 80km/h are cars and vans towing trailers.

Aestivalis

CiniO wrote: »

It's not.
90km/h for trucks.
100km/h for buses.

Only vehicles limited to 80km/h are cars and vans towing trailers.

The maximum allowed speed of any c class or above is 80km on every irish road. Source: DTT

Unless its different for D and E classes but I doubt it. Please correct if wrong.

Voodoomelon

I drove the whole M50 yesterday evening and then all the way back up again today and the lane usage is just appalling. Simply shocking, you just cannot use a motorway properly in this country. A further increase in speed on motorways nationwide would be ridiculous without a radical rethink of motorway driving education.

CiniO

Aestivalis wrote: »

The maximum allowed speed of any c class or above is 80km on every irish road. Source: DTT

Unless its different for D and E classes but I doubt it. Please correct if wrong.

I'm not sure what you mean by C, D and E class vehicles.
Maybe you mean driving licence categories.

Anyway - what I stated above is correct.
If your source shows otherwise, then it's not right (most likely not up to date).

Aestivalis

CiniO wrote: »

I'm not sure what you mean by C, D and E class vehicles.
Maybe you mean driving licence categories.

Anyway - what I stated above is correct.
If your source shows otherwise, then it's not right (most likely not up to date).

Yes they're vehicle categories that refer to weight and passenger classes.
C being rigid trucks
D being allowed to carry more than 8 passengers i.e busses
E being allowed to tow a HGV with trailer, i.e artic lorry.


Alright I just checked. http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/roads_and_safety/road_traffic_speed_limits_in_ireland.html

Certain vehicles in Ireland (specifically vehicles that are intended or adapted for the carriage of people, vehicles greater than a certain weight and vehicles that are drawing trailers) are subject to different speed limits than those outlined above.

• Single and double deck buses and coaches (carrying standing passengers) - 65 km/h
• Single and double deck buses and coaches (with accommodation for more than 8 passengers but does not carry standing passengers)
  - Motorways and dual carriageways - 100 km/h
  - Other roads - 80 km/h
• Towing Vehicles - 80 km/h
• Trucks (with a design gross weight of more than 3,500kg)
  - Motorways - 90 km/h (since 1 April 2012)
  - Other roads - 80 km/h

Appears you were right somewhat, so I stand corrected.
Which is pretty stupid, seeing as I just passed the C category driver theory test and it was constantly repeated that the maximum speed of any truck on Irish motorways is 80km/h. It was the up to date theory test and everything, unless they brought out a new one in 2013?
If they havent changed it yet, then its just typical irish.

But one thing I need clarified is the "towing vehicles" limit. Isnt an E category HGV technically towing a trailer?
Seeing as E is just a trailer addon to the C category.

GTE

Voodoomelon wrote: »

I drove the whole M50 yesterday evening and then all the way back up again today and the lane usage is just appalling. Simply shocking, you just cannot use a motorway properly in this country. A further increase in speed on motorways nationwide would be ridiculous without a radical rethink of motorway driving education.

Hard to pick the best one from Google Images, but I say the Boards 47 next sticker campaign be a lane discipline bumper sticker :P



Lanes appropriate to us of course.

Mycroft H

Aestivalis wrote: »

The maximum allowed speed of any c class or above is 80km on every irish road. Source: DTT

Unless its different for D and E classes but I doubt it. Please correct if wrong.

Cinio is right.

80km/h for a Car Trailer
100km/h for a Bus
90km/h for a Goods Vehicle above 3.5t.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/roads_and_safety/road_traffic_speed_limits_in_ireland.html

CiniO

Aestivalis wrote: »

But one thing I need clarified is the "towing vehicles" limit. Isnt an E category HGV technically towing a trailer?
Seeing as E is just a trailer addon to the C category.

Trucks towing trailers (so licence category CE) also come into higher (90km/h) speed limit on motorways.

80km/h applies to car and vans (under 3.5 tonne weight) towing trailers.
Possibly also buses towing trailers, but I'm not sure about that.

wotswattage

130km/h is fine for me for uncongested sections of motorway but the particularly busy sections (Dublin end of the M7 is the only one i have experience of really) a higher speed limit would mean an even greater difference in speed between the 85km/h brigade and the people moving at the actual limit (me when possible). It would almost certainly lead to more accidents...

You'd have an extra 10km/h to shave off every time some fool saunters across to the overtaking lane without judging your approach speed.

seamus

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

No offence to members of AGS reading this, but there is very little enforcement on motorways

There isn't really any need for it, they're the safest roads we have. Aside from patrol cars pulling people for dangerous manouvers, dangerous loads, etc, the Gardai should ignore speeds on the motorways.

wotzgoingon wrote: »

It should really be unlimited speed limit like the autobahn. I was never in Germany so I don't know if our motorways differentiate from the autobahn.

Granted, I only drove them twice for about 5 hours in total, but I can't say I noticed any infrastructural difference on the autobahn. There were iffy sections of tarmac just like you'd get here, the lanes were the same width, random pieces of roadworks where the limit dropped to 60km/h with about 100m warning, basically all the same issues you encounter here.

The only difference I noticed was lane discipline. And only in the overtaking lane. People stayed TF out of the overtaking lane unless overtaking. But lane discipline in the other two lanes wasn't perfect. People driving @60km/h, slow vehicles using the middle lane to overtake other marginally slower vehicles, clogging up the system, people merging @80km/h, etc etc, all of the same things you'd see here.

The thing is, good discipline in the overtaking lane makes all that stuff go away because the lane is generally empty when you need to use it. There's not some gob****e overtaking at 122km/h, and blocking you from overtaking.

I would be in favour of opening up motorways to learners on a second permit, and including a 10/15 minute motorway test in the main one. People would then have to learn how to use motorways properly rather than relying on hand-me-down misinformation from family and friends.