Submitted 2 weeks ago by okwithmydecay@leminal.space to unitedkingdom@feddit.uk
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/07/lower-speed-limits-uk-oil-prices-ippr-thinktank
It has recently changed to 20 mph in most towns in Scotland and it’s much nicer.
Instead of “30 really means 40” it has become “20 really means 30” in many people’s minds.
Plus the people actually doing 20 mph of course makes being a pedestrian a much safer environment. Anecdotally I find people to be a lot calmer now as well.
We all need a slower pace of life in the hyper fast modern age, I’m all for the 20 mph changes!
I used to have a 20 mile commute four times a day on dead flat roads. I bought a super-efficient car (skoda fabia greenline} and played with the speeds and gears to my hearts content to find the scientifically most efficient speed to use the least fuel. The result was that the slowest speed the car could maintain in the highest gear was most efficient. That was 30mph in 5th. I would usually average over 100 miles per gallon of diesel. Spent a lot more time in the car than i would have at 60mph, but audiobooks are great. This doesn’t add much to the discussion here. 60mph is much better than 70mph, and i’ve driven in wales with the 20mph limit in all urban areas and it doesn’t seem to cause any problems - i’m totally in favour.
Going slower will just make congestion worse, cars spending more time on the road means more cars on the road.
This just sounds like a cynical way to make more money from speeding fines.
LOL, so raising speed limits will end traffic? and we’ve been wasting money building new highways this whole time!
yakko@feddit.uk 2 weeks ago
It’s factually accurate, economically sound, and will make drivers furious. I’m all for it.
baggins@beehaw.org 2 weeks ago
Not this driver 😉