Bikers Inc Investigation: Should Speed Limits Be Reviewed?

[Bikers Inc]

As humans evolve, they invariably get better at operating machinery and adapting to higher speeds. The ability to adequately react and perform at a faster speed is therefore a natural development as generations progress. At the same time, the efficiency of the vehicles that are being manufactured has undoubtedly improved, making them quite technologically-advanced.

 

It is therefore timely to review the current speed limits that are imposed on our roads. Should our default speed of 60kmh be increased or should our maximum legal speed of 90kmh be raised? Or should both be revised upwards? Not long ago, speed limits were raised but was it commensurate with the reality of technology and evolution?

 

Bikers Inc intends to investigate this in our next issue and invites all from the motorcycling community to forward their thoughts and opinions to us. For starters, the accompanying poll will address public opinion on whether current speed limits are satisfactory. If you have further comments, please post your view in the thread. This will enable others to participate in the discussion by responding to one another's views.

 

Alternatively, you may wish to offer your thoughts to us directly by dropping an email to [email protected] as well. Just as the Carver One discussion from our previous issue has facilitated active dialogue from various factions, so too do we hope that this will result in something positive for the comunity at large.

 

EDITOR

BIKERS INC

A proud publication of WILD MEDIA PTE LTD

[contrarian]

The speed limit of 50km/h is common in many cities around the developed world.

 

The reason for this speed limit in urban areas is that roads aren't just for the improved, modern engine. Urban roads have to cater for the rigours of urban driving, such as bus stops, pedestrians, vehicles joining from or turning to side roads, junctions, etc.

[xiaobanz]

Actually i don't mind that they revise the speed limit a bit. Esp on the PIE towards the east. I find that 80km/h is a little slow for the power we are getting nowadays with the new vehicles. About 90km/h should be ok.

[xxes123]

Actually i don't mind that they revise the speed limit a bit. Esp on the PIE towards the east. I find that 80km/h is a little slow for the power we are getting nowadays with the new vehicles. About 90km/h should be ok.

 

the 80km/h stretch of PIE has the highest motorcylist death toll esp .. so unlikely ur wish will come true

[skateboy]

KPE at 70km/h?

[DeusExMachina]

KPE at 70km/h?

 

Catered for the lowest common denominator.

 

 

I say... screw the LCDs...

[ehem]

.... 70m/sec??

 

[Refugee]

the problem with singapore roads isnt the maximum speed limit...

 

there are just too many cars on the road...

 

freaking expressways are designed with not that much cars in mind.... thus the problem of congestion...

 

if all the expressways had 8 lanes EACH DIRECTION... there shouldnt be congestion (i presume)

 

but then again, there might not be enough land for housing anymore... HAHAH!

 

darn it.

[-Imran-]

Increase speed limit will cause more death...

Ever ride during morning peak period on PIE ??

 

The way to reduce conjestion, is to really enforce those slow moving vehicle (LORRY, BUS) to stick to left lane only. And to educate drivers/riders to keep safe distance.

 

Many times I did see, cars brake and slammed onto front vehicle and motorcycle doing stoopie on pie accidently. (even saw pulsar did that and still crash onto front vehicle)

[GuiNNeSS]

Its not the speed limits that causes death , its the drivers/riders mentality.

 

If every driver/rider can drive within their limits , practice safe/courteous driving/ riding i dunt see why there should be a speed limit in the 1st place .

 

Its because many are unable to , thats why the gahment has to implement measures to ensure that .

 

one thing i can never understand is why ECP before fort road exit is 70km/hr speed limit . i dont see any major constructions or steep bends whatsoever .... IMHO its the speed limit of 70km/hr that causes the jams ( kiasu drivers slow down to 50-60km/hr causing a ripple effect) ... and the gahment as smart as they can be ... set up an ERP instead of removing the speed limit .

 

 

P/S : Speed has never killed anyone ....its the sudden removal of it that gets you.

[MrLau]

Reality on the safe riding is NOT how fast you can go, it how fast you can stop.

 

Technology advancement doesnt mean our human body can take higher impact.

 

at 1920, you fall from a horse cart travel at 80km/h, die.

 

at 2008, you fall from a motorcycle travel at 80km/h, also die.

 

Law of physic never change, wherever or whenever.

[GuiNNeSS]

Reality on the safe riding is NOT how fast you can go, it how fast you can stop.

 

Technology advancement doesnt mean our human body can take higher impact.

 

at 1920, you fall from a horse cart travel at 80km/h, die.

 

at 2008, you fall from a motorcycle travel at 80km/h, also die.

 

Law of physic never change, wherever or whenever.

 

didn't know horse carts can travel that fast those days ....how many Horse power one ?

[MrLau]

didn't know horse carts can travel that fast those days ....how many Horse power one ?

 

Haha... that just an example.

 

Well let me quote a better one :

 

If you were fall from a 1980 CB500 travel at 80km/h, die.

If you were fall from a 2008 CB400 VTEC3 travel at 80km/h, also die.

 

NO matter how advance the bike, same result.

[biking nomad]

Haha... that just an example.

 

Well let me quote a better one :

 

If you were fall from a 1980 CB500 travel at 80km/h, die.

If you were fall from a 2008 CB400 VTEC3 travel at 80km/h, also die.

 

NO matter how advance the bike, same result.

 

could the fact that they are Honda's be a common denominator in those road fatalities?

 

hehe!

 

Speed limit is not the problem in SG. In fact, congestion is only a problem at certain times of the day. It can be improved a great deal if heavy/slow moving traffic below 70-80 sticks to the left lane and the cruising at 90 road hoggers switch lanes after overtaking. (If they actually manage to overtake anyone!).

[xiaobanz]

I think cos of the congestion in SG that's why there are even more ERPs around town lately. Heard they are going to built more operational ERPs soon. Then quite bad already. They wanna deter people from getting cars and take public transport.

[marxseet]

I personally think that normal road speed limit @ 60Km/Hr is fine for general public safety. However, I strongly believe that certain expressway should be higher. As a matter of fact, I think it is partly the speed limit that slow down the traffic at most of the time.

 

Another thing to take note is that along Bukit Timah you will find that with so many traffic lights and traffic merging into main road and yet the speed limit is 70km/h. Toward the end of Bukit Timah at the Poly side, from Bukit Panjang towards Ngee Ann direction (4 lanes) uninterrupted road, the speed limit is strangely set @ 60km/h. On contrary, the opposite side where the vehicles come from Ngee Ann Poly towards Bukit Panjang direction, the speed limit is 70km/h.

 

I also want to urge all bikers to beware of that stretch of road for especially towards the Ngee Ann Poly direction. The traffic Police most of the weekend stand on the sheltered overhead bridge to clock speed limit (Beauty World). Don't waste money on this kind of traps. Safe and smooth riding Gentlemen:thumb:

[marxseet]

In actual fact, USA had did a studies and found that increase speed limit will have a better flow of traffic. But I do agree with some of the mentioned on heavy vehicles and road design and management.

 

I believe, there should have a time frame set for the heavy vehicles (excluding Public bus of course). Maybe 4 ~ 6am, 9 ~ 12 noon and 1pm ~ 4:40pm. This could avoid crashed with the peak hours traffic and greatly reduce the number of accident. On the other hand, LTA should look for better design of road signs. Just look at some of the divider at the express way, I have seen them banged and replaced so many times. Fundamentally, something is seriously wrong here with the LTA Management.

[FalconRider]

No matter how high is the speed limit raised, the main concern is how cautious and safety are the riders?How safe is the bikes if there is no proper maintenance and care?

[yenyenpark]

Increase speed limit will cause more death...

Ever ride during morning peak period on PIE ??

 

The way to reduce conjestion, is to really enforce those slow moving vehicle (LORRY, BUS) to stick to left lane only. And to educate drivers/riders to keep safe distance.

 

Many times I did see, cars brake and slammed onto front vehicle and motorcycle doing stoopie on pie accidently. (even saw pulsar did that and still crash onto front vehicle)

 

aiya.. if they were to get slower vehicle at left lane... sure motorbike r in their mind too.. did u see the "motorbike and slower vehicle on left lane" sign along PIE??

[DeusExMachina]

aiya.. if they were to get slower vehicle at left lane... sure motorbike r in their mind too.. did u see the "motorbike and slower vehicle on left lane" sign along PIE??

 

 

That's an antiquated sign.

 

LTA would love to remove it. But it costs too much to do so, so just leave it there..... unless we all wanna pay more ERP to have it removed.

[Arcfire]

Its really an ironic sign to still be having around.

 

On the other hand, if you're not operating a motorcycle (Read: Container truck) AND you are going very fast, you have the right to keep right.

[tyrant1983]

Reality on the safe riding is NOT how fast you can go, it how fast you can stop.

 

Technology advancement doesnt mean our human body can take higher impact.

 

at 1920, you fall from a horse cart travel at 80km/h, die.

 

at 2008, you fall from a motorcycle travel at 80km/h, also die.

 

Law of physic never change, wherever or whenever.

 

Think what the threadstarter means is that with more advanced technology, we are now able to stop safely in a shorter time. Braking times have been reduced with better brakes and instances of skids have been lowered with better tyres.

[Bikers Inc]

Thank you for pointing out my perspective there tyrant1983. Nevertheless, all the comments have been interesting and they do give me a better understanding of the views at the ground level. Honestly, we were expecting a different response than what we are getting now - a good thing, otherwise the whole article may have become irrelevant.

 

Thank you all for your involvement and do keep them coming in. I will keep you posted when I begin writing the article itself. In the meanwhile, I humbly urge all of you to invite those who have yet to submit their vote to do so as, with a larger sample size, we can have a better survey. I am hoping for at least 50 respondents (currently 33) but preferably around 100 to be credible enough.

 

Once again, we thank you for your continued support and invaluable contribution...

 

EDITOR

BIKERS INC

A proud publication of WILD MEDIA PTE LTD

[DeusExMachina]

I don't think the LTA really factors in how much braking technology, or even how stable new chassis and suspension technology has made bikes and cars today, compared to yesteryear.

 

I'm thinking that their 'engineers' figure out a safe speed based on road design, projected traffic flow, and then factor in things such as driver skills (for which, the lowest common denominator... aka the most c0ck drivers... will be the benchmark) and then dumb it down further to increase their margin of error.

 

In the end... a smoothly paved, wide, flowing expressway like the KPE... capable of safely supporting speeds of 90kph... or even 110kph safely, gets dumbed down to 70kph.

[BadgerBadgerBadger]

 

I'm thinking that their 'engineers' figure out a safe speed based on road design, projected traffic flow, ...... .

 

road design i hear? i thought our roads are designed to aid the flow of rainwater!!

an example is on the PIE towards Tuas just outside the poly..