70 mph stickers

[izzeybear1]

I have heard of salesmen selling sand to arabs and fridges to eskimos but I must congratulate the one that convinced royal mail and others to purchase stickers for the back of their vans stating that the vehicle is restricted to 70 mph.
Now I may be wrong but every vehicle is subject of a maximum speed of 70mph, there are exceptions which reduce this maximum to comply with vehicle type.
Can anyone explain to me the purpose of the stickers.
Izzeybear

 

[OmOnWeelz]

It probably means that the vehicle is governed to 70mph as most vehicles travel nearer to the 80 - 85mph speed limit

on M'ways.
Traveling towards Catwick airport this morning on the M25 through the variable speed limit and speed camera zone, the majority of cars and vans were travelling at 75mph plus. Once they cleared the road works past the A3 80mph plus is the norm.
I can't see the point of the various stickers companies place on the back of vehicles or why people harp on about 70mph or Xmph and the law, the only issue with speed is how well the authorities can manipulate speed limits to raise revenue

 

[RobinF]

I drive a van that has one of these and is restricted to 68mph. I agree that it is silly!
Now I am going to open a can of worms why does everyone think that speeding along breaking the law at 80mph plus is ok?
Speeding is breaking the law, regardless of where,when,type of road,vehicle etc unless they up the limit.
Now I will go and hide from the fallout!

 

[mcghee]

restricting these vehicles to 70mph may well be a fine idea. but why the need to have "resticted to 70mph" written on the vehicle like some kind of an apology?

as some people have already said, since no one should be doing more than 70mph no one should ever need to know whether the vehicle in front is restricted . so, as izzeybear pointed out, they are a farcical waste of money.

when will the police cars be restricted to 70mph? you should always lead by example.

and could i politely ask that we try not to get into another moral argument about speeding? please.

 

[MichaelE]

I agree that speed limits should be adhered to towns.schools and known blackspots etc ,but maybe some commonsense on motorways and duel carriageways with national speed limit when traffic and conditons allow that little bit extra?

 

[emmerson]

Michael, how much is "a little bit extra"? And when does it become "a little bit more"?

 

[Surfer]

If a vehicle is restricted to 70mph and is tootling along at about 65mph and due to a silly move by another motorist in order to avoid an accident the vehilce needs to accelerate, what happens then?

 

[ShadySadie]

If a vehicle is restricted to 70mph and is tootling along at about 65mph and due to a silly move by another motorist in order to avoid an accident the vehicle needs to accelerate, what happens then?

Perfect driver would pre-empt that and never ever need to accelerate or go over 70mph

no doubt one will pop up soon to tell you that Uvongo

I read that trials on banning lorries from overtaking on more motorways and dual carriageways are to be extended. If every car was governed to 70mph it would cause chaos on our roads.
Lorry "elephant racing" is as stupid and more dangerous than many car driver habits. Like many driver actions, most get igored until there is an accident or revenue targets need a boost.

 

[JonnyG]

If a vehicle is restricted to 70mph and is tootling along at about 65mph and due to a silly move by another motorist in order to avoid an accident the vehicle needs to accelerate, what happens then?

Perfect driver would pre-empt that and never ever need to accelerate or go over 70mph

no doubt one will pop up soon to tell you that Uvongo

I read that trials on banning lorries from overtaking on more motorways and dual carriageways are to be extended. If every car was governed to 70mph it would cause chaos on our roads.
Lorry "elephant racing" is as stupid and more dangerous than many car driver habits. Like many driver actions, most get igored until there is an accident or revenue targets need a boost.

I liked to read that article sadie? there are indeed already in place on certain 2 lane carriageways restrictions on lorries overtaking one another, but this does not apply to 3 lane carriageways/m/ways, and will not.
indeed if one uses hindsight then yes introducing governors to cars set to 70 mph, would be no more stupid than governing the speed of lorries, and introducing the same type of circumstances too.
We could then watch "elephant racing" and indeed rat racing too......

 

[602]

Hi,

If everybody drives at the same speed (eg - the speed limit) then you will eventually get bunching. Then, when you get an accident ..... it will be a big one.
Ducks, to avoid returning flak.
602

 

[OmOnWeelz]

That's about right 602.

 

[JohnnyV]

I agree that 70 mph seems too low on a lot of Motorways, and I confess that I am a sinner and do exceed the limit (however only when I feel the traffic conditions allow).
Have to disagree slighty re the 'bunching' though - I regularly use the M25 & M42 where there are variable speed limits in place across the carriageways - most people do obey the limits (only because there are so many cameras on virtually every gantry) and you do find the whole motorway running at 50 or 60 and it does seem to work well with less braking and resultant 'stop / start' which is one of the major contibutors of accidents.
I never thought I would defend a system with Cameras involved - I must be sickening for something !
On the OP - I have a 50 & a 60 on the back of the Van - because most 'non towers' would be unaware of the limits set for us, and it might just save them getting too worked up before I get the chance to let them pass.

 

[OmOnWeelz]

Have to disagree slighty re the 'bunching' though - I regularly use the M25 & M42 where there are variable speed limits in place across the carriageways - most people do obey the limits (only because there are so many cameras on virtually every gantry) and you do find the whole motorway running at 50 or 60 and it does seem to work well with less braking and resultant 'stop / start' which is one of the major contibutors of accidents.

We've been rolling with laughter about this post for a couple of hours now. You need help JohnnyV

25 variable limit stretch is a fairly local road for us and the variable limit is a complete joke to those of us who have used the road since pre-variable limit days. As for the 42, as regular NEC vistor for many years the 42 system has just made going to and from the NEC far far worse.

 

[Surfer]

Contrary to the above we have found it makes for a easier and more relaxed motoring as the same applies to the M25. A nice steady 50 - 60mph and less bunching. Only ones that get caught are the speedster ones too stupid to read the speed limit on the gantry and who also weave in and out of traffic.
On motorways it is surprising the number of middle lane hogs who will not move over to the left even if it is clear for miles. They should have their licence to drive revoked as they are the ones that cause bunching in the fast lane which in essence is supposed to be for overtaking! The number of times I have had to go from the left lane to the far right lane to avoid undertaking is countless due to these selfish morons.
Rant over!

 

[JohnnyV]

OmOnWeelz, maybe its the time of the day that I use the 25 ? But I use the M42 at rush hour night and morning at least three times a week and have done for the last eight years - with the fourth lane (hard shoulder) and the speed system it is miles better than it used to be - traffic hardly ever becomes stationary where before you used to stop start on a regular basis.

 

[ShadySadie]

A nice steady 50 - 60mph and less bunching. Only ones that get caught are the speedster ones too stupid to read the speed limit on the gantry and who also weave in and out of traffic.

We're about 15 minutes drive from the M25 via the A3 providing the variable speed limit is not in operation. When it is, it is chaos much of the time. The only real progress on the M25 between the A3 and the M40 is the widening of the road but the numpties don't like to admit that a bigger road works so they keep that quiet.
I'm really struggling with the concept of M25 traffic running smoothly a 50-60mph, when does that happen?
I used the M25 last week with 50MPH warning and we were doing 15mph. With 60mph showing it's quite often at a stand still. We have it on good authority that the variable limit and the M25 speed cameras have been being used less in recent times because the chaos they cause.
The usual moves are when the speed limits flash a change. Some people slow gently, others panic and brake, some continue at the same speed and others make rapid lane changes or dive across lanes to exits even if doubtful that they can make the exits.
Friends of ours ended up on top of the M25 armco with their recovery trailer and tug and the car from the trailerover the armco still attached to the trailer. The accident was blamed on the speed limit channging a car lane changed forcing them to brake hard and then another vehicale behind did the same and hit the trailer sending the outfit out of control.
My David always says that the best days are the ones when you get a warning saying 'variable limit not working'. We're not big users of the M42, going to last years Autosport show the speed changed in morning traffic and a few cars in front of us there was a multiple crash, sombody braked for the reduced limit and four or five cars tail ended one another.

 

[smiley]

Am I missing the point
Stickers are sold to restrict vehicle to 70mph. This must be a rip off for stupid people!!!

How can vehicles be restricted to 70mph when there is no higher speed limit in force on our roads.

Restricted stickers would only apply to a lesser speed.....DOH

 

[kopite]

hi all and happy new year.I dont want to get into another heated debate over this again but to know the speed of the vehicle i`m overtaking can help me to make a right choice.I`m a HGV driver and when on a dual carriage way i can see the speed sticker on the truck in front and work out how long it will take to get passed if its busy i`ll wait.so my point is if you know the max speed of the trucks and vans around you we can make better decisions when overtaking.Take care all

 

[Dustydog]

hi all and happy new year.I dont want to get into another heated debate over this again but to know the speed of the vehicle i`m overtaking can help me to make a right choice.I`m a HGV driver and when on a dual carriage way i can see the speed sticker on the truck in front and work out how long it will take to get passed if its busy i`ll wait.so my point is if you know the max speed of the trucks and vans around you we can make better decisions when overtaking.Take care all

Unfortunately Kopite they are not all as considerate as you.
I've lost count the times one 56mph is trying to overtake another 56mph. We now play a game to see how many miles it takes

 

[OmOnWeelz]

Am I missing the point
Stickers are sold to restrict vehicle to 70mph. This must be a rip off for stupid people!!!
How can vehicles be restricted to 70mph when there is no higher speed limit in force on our roads.
Restricted stickers would only apply to a lesser speed.....DOH

Doh! I think you've missed the point by a country mile

Restricting the speed on a vehicles really doesn't have to have any thing to do with the law

Very many vans and cars and other vehicles can easily exceed the 70mph limit and many do. Driving a T4 VW today at 65mph a huge crew van VW was flashing cars that weren't going fast enough for the VW driver. The cars were easily doing 80mph.
Many white van man drivers travel nearer to 90mph than 70mph so restricting to 70mph may be quite a sensible idea.
I don't think you gave this much thought Smiley

 

[mcghee]

the original question had nothing to do with whether vehicles should be restricted or not. the question was why waste money on stickers to inform other drivers of a restriction which no driver should actually be exceeding anyway.

it'd be a bit like putting signs saying no murdering in this part of town, like it's allowed in any other part of town.

 

[JonnyG]

the speed restrictions that are famously in place around the M25 and indeed in parts of the M42, do work, but dont work as well as they should. WHY? because there are quite a few selfish gits out there who seem to believe it doesn't apply to them! So the speed limit restrictions are not followed, and as a result make a tolerable situation something of a nightmare at times and in certain sections where they apply. But if these speed restrictions were not in place at certain times, then the situation would be much much worse then some think it is now.
So we can thank all those Pratts who simply don't follow the restrictions when they are in operation because of their self importance,and for the awful traffic conditions that so often happen at such times.
Me I would like to see camera equipment in place that gives out speeding tickets to every motorist who does not follow the overhead instructions, but they simply don't do this and instead of using average cameras plus 8 or 9 mph above limit before they do give tickets out they should be flashing at only 2 mph above limit and also there should be electronic signals stating " speeding tickets being issued"
With a bit of luck those pratts that deem themselves above following motorway signals could actually be banned in one short journey, and then see how much better the m/ways flow........

 

[MichaelE]

The Police have to allow 10% on speed to allow for speedo discrepancy.

 

[smiley]

Correct I did miss the point I think it was selling sand to arabs that did it!! LOL

Yes, certain vehicle ie council vans, mini buses etc have an engine inhibitors/restrictors (I think thats the words they use) making them unable to go faster even if they wanted to so, when we normal people who like to go a little quicker very naughty I agree with that too!!! we will know why the vehicle in front will not do more speed.......

That sand just drains the brain...

 

[Philspadders]

Michaell- No they dont. If they clock you doing 71 the chances are your speedo is reading 76/77, not 66/67.
Sadie wrote
We're not big users of the M42, going to last years Autosport show the speed changed in morning traffic and a few cars in front of us there was a multiple crash, sombody braked for the reduced limit and four or five cars tail ended one another.
Thats not the speed limit , thats pratts driving too close to each other.

I drive around 600 miles per week, motorway, urban and rural. I Use the M42, especially the northbound stretch where vehciles over 7.5t are restricted to the nearside lane , and in this section the traffic flows much better.
As for the M25 , when i first used it many years ago it was bad, but at least once a week i *** down to Farnham from Sheffield and now find the M25 quiet easy , especially with the variable speed limits.
The biggest problem with the M25 are drivers hoping junctions, mums on school runs that sort of thing.

As a foot note, on Wednesday this week i was doing around 65 in lane 3 on the M1 , northbound between jn 44 and 45 ( i rarely get above 75mph during normal working hours as the roads are so busy) when i nearly ploughed into the back of a prat doing 55 in lane 3. cars in lane 2 were undertaking. The chap driving was probably mid to late 60's and simply did not have clue. Nice volvo, 06 plate , new swan neck and 12s/n sockets.

M ways need minimum limits not just max.
I was doubly annoyed as lane 3 is mine as i drive a beemer 320 at work and the volvo had no place being there. In fact i had to tailgate him and flash my lights to get him to move over. How dare he use MY lane.