Little time will be saved by raising speed limit

Only when manufacturers produce an engine which uses less fuel as a vehicle’s speed increases can the facts from your correspondent Peter Horton (Yorkshire Post, May 26) stack up.

On a recent journey to the south coast using motorways and similar roads my car’s trip computer indicated for the whole journey an average speed of 61mph and fuel consumption average of 64.1mpg, but on the return on the same roads and similar conditions an average speed of 65mph produced a fuel consumption average of 57.5mpg. This in a car with at least two “overdrive” gears.

I do not suffer from boredom or drowsiness at a cruising speed of 68mph as my attention has to be intense watching the antics of the motorists shooting past me.

How much time do we save for the extra 10mph anyway and how often do we catch up with the speedster at the next congestion?

If keeping the speed limit at 70mph means that most motorists will not exceed 80mph how many would consider that an 80mph maximum would mean they could then speed up to 90mph and would it make 80mph a more safe speed?

I am pleased to contribute to a reduction in carbon output and maintain what I consider to be a safe economic speed.