The recent 37 vehicle crash on the M5 in Somerset which resulted in seven people tragically killed and more than 50 injured may not be enough to deter the Coalition from gearing Britain up for a
The recent 37 vehicle crash on the M5 in Somerset which resulted in seven people tragically killed and more than 50 injured may not be enough to deter the Coalition from gearing Britain up for a motorway speed limit increase from 70mph to 80mph.
But who cares about road safety or increased carbon emissions when you can put the pedal to the floor for that extra 10mph down the motorway? Well certainly not the Transport Secretary, Phillip Hammond.
The Tories believe the change will boost the economy by speeding up journeys and shortening delivery times. Everyone else believes it is so they can bomb that little bit faster down the motorway in their swanky cars making more cuts as they go.
If Britain hosts some of the safest roads in Europe why is it deemed necessary to change a working system? Should we all, like the Tories, throw caution to the wind by pushing safety issues aside to forefront the economic impact?
Whilst the environmentalists, road safety campaigners and the Lib-Dems shake their heads let us consider what will really happen.
To the slow lane snails an extra 10mph is nothing when they will happily sit behind a line of chugging lorry drivers, who are limited to 60mph, as they excruciatingly attempt to overtake one another. An extra 10mph probably will not tempt the greedy middle lane driver, who just will not budge, to use the motorway properly.
The meandering speedsters (probably Phillip Hammond) have long been driving at the unofficial speed limit of 80mph since 70mph was imposed in 1967. The speedsters rejoice at the prospect of the unofficial speed limit rising to 90mph and finally having a playground for their ridiculously fast cars.
Cars are definitely more advanced since the 70mph limit was imposed and it does seem dismal that Britain is cautiously flagging behind the likes of Germany which hosts some unrestricted roads.
However, this should not justify a potential increase in motorway casualties in which a parliamentary conciliatory body suggests may rise between 5-10 per cent.
The M5 accident is the worst motorway pile-up Britain has seen since 1991 and such a speed increase could only make a tragedy like this worse. Faster speed equals greater impact; greater impact means the possible loss of more life and all for an extra 10mph.
To me, it seems like a cunning disguise where we think we are witnessing a heroic Tory effort streamline our economy when really they want to play Top Gear, risk lives and learn nothing from the recent road tragedy.
