Motorways 'Not Safe Enough' To Handle 80mph Limit, reports say

England’s motorway network is unsuitable for an 80mph speed limit, the Road Safety Foundation has said.

It found that only half the network had adequate barriers which would provide protection for motorists if they lost control of the car.

The Government is due to launch a consultation on proposals to raise the motorway speed limit from 70 to 80mph later in the year.

Underpinning the move, which was announced by Philip Hammond, the former Transport Secretary, was the belief that cars are now safer than they were when the limit was set.

Should the Government press ahead with the proposals, trials would be carried out on selected parts of the motorway network first.

Edmund King, the AA’s president sounded a note of caution. “Some stretches of motorway are more suitable for 80mph than others.

“If you don’t have adequate central reservation barriers, a hard shoulder and variable speed limit message signs then the road is not safe for 80mph.”

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