Government proposes motorway speed limit increase to 80mph

Consultation to begin this year with a view to raising the limit in 2013The Department of Transport is launching a consultation on increasing the speed limit on England and Wales' motorways to 80mph.

According to DfT statistics, as many as 49% of drivers flout the current 70mph limit. It says advances in technology have made cars much safer, contributing to a drop of more than 75% in the number of people killed on British roads since the 70mph limit was introduced.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "This government has already scrapped the M4 bus lane, cut central government funding for money-making speed cameras and announced new measures to crack down on boy racers and reckless drivers while standing up for the decent majority," he said.

"Now it is time to put Britain back in the fast lane of global economies and look again at the motorway speed limit which is nearly 50 years old, and out of date thanks to huge advances in safety and motoring technology"

"Increasing the motorway speed limit to 80mph would generate economic benefits of hundreds of millions of pounds through shorter journey times. So we will consult later this year on raising the limit to get Britain moving."

The consultation is set to begin this year with a view to raising the limit in 2013.

Further information: Department for Transport