Classics to be banned from motorways?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by V.R.M., Sep 21, 2018.

  1. Apologies if this has been discussed before but Ive just seen an interview with the head of highways England - Jim O'Sullivan which I'll repeat below.... Not that long ago someone asked what would be the price for removing the MOT on 40yr plus classic vehicles and I wonder if this is it?

    "Along with statements about upgrading speed, he also revealed perhaps what could be come the future of motorway driving, fully autonomous with very little human engagement. The plan to remove classic cars from motorways initially but eventually all non-autonomous vehicles seems to be perhaps one of the most contentious points of the interview.

    In a world that is fully reliant on vehicles, could it possibly be that in thirty years we would no longer be allowed to physically drive on a motorway but instead let a vehicle do the work for us?

    This shocking idea shows the ideal way the government intends to send this country. Only on Tuesday did the government announce £100 million Research and Development funds for zero emissions development, along with other massive industry heads contributing millions. There are also plans to send a driverless vehicle on the roads by 2021, a mere three years ahead.

    Mr O’Sullivan backed his point on removing classic cars by saying “Do you know what? Classic cars are not a lot of fun on a motorway if you have ever driven one.” Due to the lower speeds and the lack of technology in the car, in thirty years or so, it would be considered unsafe to have cars that cannot communicate with every other vehicle on the road, and while they may not be allowed on motorways in the not too distant future, there are no plans to ban them altogether, as “I [Mr O’Sullivan] think that classic cars are something people will continue to enjoy for many years to come. I can’t see a problem with continuing to operate classic cars.”
     
    cunny44 likes this.
  2. Moons

    Moons Supporter

    Don't see what wrong with that tbh.

    He's right, they are miserable on motorways.

    I'd be much more concerned if you drive something non autonomous and not electric as having your daily banned is far more serious.
     
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  3. Jack Tatty

    Jack Tatty Supporter and teachers pet

    I think the driver her or hisself has to be the judge of whether it’s safe to drive on a motorway. Some bays (as one example of a classic) can happily do 70mph, others struggle at anything over 55mph. You see some modern low loader lorries straddling two lanes, with an escort vehicle going pretty slow too. At the moment you’d think most motorway users have enough about them to pay attention to what is on the road in front of them and to anticipate slower moving vehicles. Personally I never really liked motorway driving in the Bay cos you feel like you’re driving in a tin can with very little in the way of safety equipment. Plus fewer motorways seem to have hard shoulders too. Having said that, plenty of A roads are pretty much same as motorways in terms of speeds.
     
    Kkkaty, cunny44, Day and 1 other person like this.
  4. I’m not to bothered really ,my future means of transport will probably be electric and at the moment can be driven on the pavement at speed :D
     
  5. matty

    matty Supporter

    Yer right I will believe it when it a proper proposal.

    How many classics are driven on motorways compared to non classics and how many are involved in accidents. Classics are not a problem.

    They need to educate people on how to drive on a motorway first and reduced the number of car journeys.
     
  6. scrooge95

    scrooge95 Moderator and piggy bank keeper

    To be honest, motorway driving in the camper wouldn't be my favourite part of ownership by a long stretch - necessary at times, but to be avoided if time and route allows. If they ban classics, it'll be inconvenient, but so be it. As said above, if it affects my daily drive (which is diesel and approaching it's 17th birthday) that'll hack me off a lot more.

    Not sure how I feel about driverless cars.... I know there are some shocking drivers out there, and taking human error out of the equation might compensate a bit for folk who seem to have gained their licence in toy town, but it still worries me. Machines don't have that common sense, human judgement thing; and they can fail. Ah I don't know. Worry about it when it happens, nothing I can do about it anyway (sorry, being very apathetic and a bit resigned to the machine taking over)
     
  7. I am in full support of this proposition.
     
    Moons likes this.
  8. Baysearcher

    Baysearcher [secret moderator]

    “Perhaps”
    “What could become...”
     
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  9. Day

    Day

    I don't enjoy motorway driving...too monotonous and boring and makes me sleepy.
    We avoid them as much as possible.
    Remembering too that the journey is part of the experience in a vintage vehicle not only the destination.
    You see more of the real land too on A , B roads.
     
  10. "could it possibly be ... "
    My 5 year old Honda Accord can't talk to anyone, the bloody radio barely works, so there is a big technology change required before we have a road full of Lightning McQueens chatting to each other. If you think about it modern cars don't really need to have a manual gearbox but they continue to do so as people don't like change.

    If it hasn't already happened I'll be close on being in a box underground in 30 years so I aint going to worry about this too much.
     
    Kkkaty likes this.
  11. You having a bit of a tough time barn..?
     
  12. Sproggy4830

    Sproggy4830 Supporter

    're the below quoted from original post....
    How many mororway today, can you consistently travel faster than 50mph , even with most cars capable of attaini g speeds in excess of 100 mph ?



    “Doyouknow what? Classic cars are not a lot of fun on a motorway if you have ever driven one.” Due to thelower speeds and the lackof technology in the car, in thirty years or so, it wouldbe considered unsafe tohave cars that cannotcommunicate with everyother vehicle on the road,
     
  13. I’d rather go on the underground now .
     
  14. Well there won’t be any road tax mot or insurance so I’ll be better off o_O
     
  15. I agree too - I try to avoid the motorway in the Bay and MG as much as I can - they are only fun to drive in country lanes.
    I can see that the future is electric driverless cars by 2050 anyway - but I reckon that motorways are going to be the first place to be driverless only .
    I can't see motorbikes ever being autonomous so maybe they will not be allowed on motorways either .
     
  16. Surely they only need to put two tracks on the motorways n use trains ,oh no that’s what we used to have wasn’t it :thinking:
     
  17. Merlin Cat

    Merlin Cat Moderator

    I think I’m quite safe driving myself on the mway it’s the other muppets around me. Going 55-60 wouldn’t be such a problem if other cars didn’t tank it and drive a foot from your backside.

    I prefer non mway driving usually in the camper if it’s windy or slinging it down but I’m happy mway driving too, especially if I have a long journey and am pushed for time.

    I do t want a driverless car, I love driving :) (apart from when my knee hurts)
     
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  18. I am a dismal driver and have completely lost any love that I ever had for it.

    Sod Cornwall & Scotland, if I could manage to drive somewhere about an hour away & flat, mid morning with little traffic then that'd be the ideal camping holiday for me.
     

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    Merlin Cat likes this.
  19. Oh dear!....I wont be allowed on the M25 anymore......result....no more visiting Kent via Dartford.
     
    mgbman likes this.
  20. Your giving up driving ..?
     

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