Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Plans to cut speed limits ‘will significantly improve road safety' – minister

irishnews.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 92 posts

Re: Plans to cut speed limits ‘will significantly improve road safety' – minister

#31

Post by croes »

master-lincoln wrote: post #18
jiofj wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A limit of 120km/h in a good motorway is a bad joke. The only purpose is to be able to give tickets to take money from people.

Looks like apart from Germany there is no country in the world that allows more than 140km/h https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speed_limits_by_country

Some german politicians have an interesting "logic". There are highways with speed limits because of they high accident count, after the speed limit the count dropped, therefore the speed limit isn't necessary anymore.

Re: Plans to cut speed limits ‘will significantly improve road safety' – minister

#32

Post by whelp_24 »

saiya-jin wrote: post #10

Switzerland has 120kmh instead of typical EU limit of 130kmh. Slightly less pollution of all types, slightly safer roads, cars last slightly longer. Typical swiss driver is anything but typical driver basically anywhere - polite, respectful, and just doesn't break rules in mormal situations. I really like it this way, and couldnt care less for the limit, saving 1-2 minutes is neglible every time. That being said, any…

It sorta sounds like you don't really enjoy driving. After Germany is safe too, even with the unlimited speed.

Re: Plans to cut speed limits ‘will significantly improve road safety' – minister

#33

Post by Spooky23 »

lazzurs wrote: post #4

Anyone that thinks this is going to change anything in Ireland has never driven around Ireland. To say speed limits as taken as an amusing suggestion here is the biggest understatement I’m going to make all day.

I never thought I’d be on a road narrower than farm roads at home with two way traffic going highway speeds.

Then i found myself backing into a hedge to avoid a large speeding tour bus in Ireland!

Re: Plans to cut speed limits ‘will significantly improve road safety' – minister

#34

Post by wiredfool »

jiofj wrote: post #28
wiredfool wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are 2 countries I've driven in in Europe with higher limits, France (130 in good weather) and Germany (unlimited in some sections). UK is 70mph. Max I've seen in the US is 75mph. Most traffic in Germany, even in the unlimited sections, tends to max out around 130. France tends to hit that 130 and not go above it. I stand by 120 as a generally reasonable speed for a motorway with a speed limit.

So basically you are saying that you have seen 130, that it works well, but you still stand by 120. Makes no sense. Where I live the upper limit is 120. If you drive at 120 people won't stop overtaking you. It's done this way because they have those mobile car radars to give people tickets when they need money.

What I'm saying is that the natural speed is around 120km/h, even on the far nicer roads in Germany and France. If the limits there are higher, and the bulk of drivers still aren't driving faster, then maybe 120 is just fine for what we have here.

Re: Plans to cut speed limits ‘will significantly improve road safety' – minister

#35

Post by throw3747874747 »

JeanMarcS wrote: post #25

Ideal would be speed limit based on the road. I drove some "roads" in Ireland, where speed limit is 80km/h but driving faster than 40km/h is daredevil behavior. And don't mention the fact that some roads are not large enough for crossing another vehicule, but it can happen (and sometime the locals drive at 80... A lot of surprise braking !) But it's obviously more difficult to implement, and more difficult for the sp…

This!

Some country side roads are very narrow, surrounded by stone walls on both sides. There are no sidewalks obviously.

Re: Plans to cut speed limits ‘will significantly improve road safety' – minister

#36

Post by petercooper »

cameronh90 wrote: post #17
lazzurs wrote: post #4

Anyone that thinks this is going to change anything in Ireland has never driven around Ireland. To say speed limits as taken as an amusing suggestion here is the biggest understatement I’m going to make all day.

In the UK we're starting to install average speed cameras in lots of places. Almost every major road in my area has an average speed camera on some stretch. And I, for one, I think it's great. It's not a popular position but I'm a speed limit enforcement maximalist. I think if you're going 31 in a 30, after accounting for measurement errors, there should be enforcement action. Driving is one of the most dangerous thi…

I think if you're going 31 in a 30, after accounting for measurement errors

Sure, it is a limit rather than a recommendation. In terms of statute, anyway. Almost every social or legal convention in the UK pragmatically treats it as a recommended speed for some unknown reason and you could even pick up the attention of the police doing 40mph in a NSL on a bad day. (I even recall my driving instructor telling me I should "do the speed limit" unless I had good reason not to!)

Getting older, I'm in support of your idea, though. Stick the cruise control on at 50mph and see how big an entourage could be mustered with no easy way to overtake. It could almost be as fun as speeding was. I've long assumed this is the way lorry drivers keep things interesting..

Re: Plans to cut speed limits ‘will significantly improve road safety' – minister

#37

Post by Spooky23 »

serpix wrote: post #15
saiya-jin wrote: post #10

Switzerland has 120kmh instead of typical EU limit of 130kmh. Slightly less pollution of all types, slightly safer roads, cars last slightly longer. Typical swiss driver is anything but typical driver basically anywhere - polite, respectful, and just doesn't break rules in mormal situations. I really like it this way, and couldnt care less for the limit, saving 1-2 minutes is neglible every time. That being said, any…

130km/h is just ludicrous. The consumption compared to 100km/h is about 50% extra and the time saved is wiped out with just one bathroom break.

Depends on the car. With a V6, it’s pretty negligible.

My SUV gets better mileage at high speed cruising due to the gearing. As long as you’re not constantly accelerating/decelerating and going with the flow.

Re: Plans to cut speed limits ‘will significantly improve road safety' – minister

#38

Post by tcfhgj »

londons_explore wrote: post #19

Speed limits are a classic safety vs economy trade off.

In Germany a speed limit of 130 would save a billion euros each year[0]. It would also save fuel, i.e. carbon and particulate matter emissions

[0]: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092180092...

Re: Plans to cut speed limits ‘will significantly improve road safety' – minister

#39

Post by linuxftw »

cameronh90 wrote: post #17
lazzurs wrote: post #4

Anyone that thinks this is going to change anything in Ireland has never driven around Ireland. To say speed limits as taken as an amusing suggestion here is the biggest understatement I’m going to make all day.

In the UK we're starting to install average speed cameras in lots of places. Almost every major road in my area has an average speed camera on some stretch. And I, for one, I think it's great. It's not a popular position but I'm a speed limit enforcement maximalist. I think if you're going 31 in a 30, after accounting for measurement errors, there should be enforcement action. Driving is one of the most dangerous thi…

If you want people to obey the speed limit, pay them more money. You don't need to speed to work or home if you live within a reasonable commuting distance of your office. You don't need to speed to go to some recreation activity if you make enough to actually enjoy your leisure time.

Re: Plans to cut speed limits ‘will significantly improve road safety' – minister

#40

Post by em500 »

saiya-jin wrote: post #10

Switzerland has 120kmh instead of typical EU limit of 130kmh. Slightly less pollution of all types, slightly safer roads, cars last slightly longer. Typical swiss driver is anything but typical driver basically anywhere - polite, respectful, and just doesn't break rules in mormal situations. I really like it this way, and couldnt care less for the limit, saving 1-2 minutes is neglible every time. That being said, any…

In the Netherlands highway limits have been 120km/h for several decades. Around 2010 it was raised to 130km/h (a pretty pretty popular measure by most accounts). In the last few years it became clear that the country as a whole was emitting many nitrogen compounds in the air, so as an emergency measure in 2019 the maximum highway speed was lowered to 100km/h. But only on specific sections at specific hours of the day (6:00-19:00), which keeps confusing me on the few occasions when I drive on a highway (a few times a year). So I just default to always 100km/h on all highways.
Post reply on HN