Driving law proposals to increase motorway speed limits to 100mph rejected over road safety fears
Petition to increase speed limits has already received over 42,000 signatures
PA
Drivers in support of raising speed limits on motorways to 100mph have been dealt a blow as the Government said it had no plans to change motoring laws.
The petition which called for an increase in dual carriageway speeds from 80mph to 100mph will also be suspended from tomorrow due to the General Election which will see Parliament dissolve.
The petition received mass attention from the public with over 42,000 signatures over the six-month duration.
It highlighted how the current speed limit is 58 years old and that faster travel could enhance the reliability of supply chains and logistics.
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Department for Transport warned that higher speed limits would be “complex to model”
PAHaving quickly hit 10,000 signatures, the petition prompted a response from the Department for Transport.
The DfT said it recognised that technology is moving on rapidly and that vehicles are much safer than when the current speed limits were first introduced.
However, it said new speed limits were "complex to model" and would be difficult to analyse whether the economic benefits from reduced journey times would pose a road safety risk to drivers.
The spokesperson added: “Speed limits are set to achieve a balance between a transport system that is an engine for economic growth but one that is also greener and safer and improves the quality of life in our communities.”
When GB News asked the motoring public what they thought of the proposed driving law changes, the measures received mixed responses.
One person argued that certain stretches of the motorway would be suitable but added that “people's lane discipline is terrible, and others would just use it as an excuse to go even faster”.
Another person detailed how UK motorways would not be able to cope with a higher level of traffic despite the potential benefits of improved efficiency.
However, someone else said 100mph could be “perfectly safe” in some circumstances, as evidenced by stretches of the German Autobahn motorway system.
The Department for Transport added that the safety of road users is its priority, and any change to speed limits would be evidence-led.
The Government department said it would look at the impact on safety, air quality and carbon emissions, traffic flow and other road conditions.
The ability to set speed limits, including the national limits, in Scotland and Wales has been a devolved power since 2015.
The petition was supposed to close on June 13, 2024, and if it reached 100,000 signatures, it would warrant a debate in Parliament.
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The petition was due to close on June 13
PAWarning petitioners, the Government said that due to the General Election on Thursday, July 4, all parliamentary business including petitions will stop.
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