80mph motorway speed limit planned

30/09/11

By Shaun Teale

The Government is to begin a consultation on raising the speed limit on Britain's motorways from 70mph to 80mph, it was announced.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the current limit was "out of date" and a higher one would bring economic benefits.

It is understood the consultation will be launched later this year with a view to introducing the new limit in 2013.

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "There are good reasons for making 80 the new 70, and good reasons not to. Drivers travelling that 10mph quicker might reach their destination sooner, but will use about 20% more fuel and emit 20% more CO2.

"There is also likely to be a slight increase in road casualties."

The current national limit was set in 1965.

According to Department for Transport figures, as many as 49% of drivers currently flout the 70mph limit.

AA president Edmund King said: "Eighty miles per hour in a modern car in good weather at a safe distance from the car in front is perfectly safe. Driving at 50mph tailgating the car in front is not."