Road Safety Bill [HL]

I believe that the effect of my noble friend’s amendment would be to increase the frequency and severity of collisions. Not least are two   particular aspects of concern. First, there is the differential between 80 and 90 miles per hour. If the   motorway speed limit became 80 miles per hour, then motorists would tend to exceed it towards 90 miles per hour. Secondly, there are the relative speed limits between heavy goods vehicles and other vehicles. To increase this difference would add to the current danger of our motorways. Just now, the difference is between 56   miles per hour for heavy goods vehicles and 70 miles per hour for others. The current amendment, if adopted, would thus cause this difference to widen between 56 and 80 miles per hour respectively.