When The UK Has To Save Fuel By Limiting The Driving Speed Of Its Citizens

Illustration (Unsplash / Andrew Teoh)

JAKARTA - Today, December 15, 46 years ago or in 1974 the British government issued a policy to save on the use of fuel oil (BBM). The policy is in the form of rules for drivers in their country to limit their speed.

Quoting the BBC, Tuesday, December 15, the regulation limits the speed on roads to not exceed 112 km per hour, while on double traffic lanes the limit is 96 km per hour, and on smaller roads it can only be up to 80 km per hour. Previously, all motorists on any road were allowed to travel up to 112 km per hour.

These rules apply to anyone. Those who attempt to violate will be reported. The maximum penalty for speeding is to be fined 100 pounds.

After the regulation was instituted, the police continued to patrol in unmarked cars. The state apparatus is also equipped with a speed measuring device.

Police predict the new speed restrictions will lead to an increase in the number of speeding offenses. However, it also has the benefit of reducing the number of road accidents.

The move, as explained by UK Energy Minister Eric Varley, is part of a package of 12 energy conservation measures aimed at saving £ 700 million in imports every year. The country's transport ministry even said the speed reduction saved around £ 10 million per year in fuel costs.

UK Energy Secretary, Eric Varley (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

In addition, the speed limitation also includes restrictions on the use of heating and electricity use outdoors and advertisements. This policy is also supported by other programs such as providing loans to industry for energy-saving investments and doubling thermal insulation standards for new homes.

Another advantage of this regulation is that it reduces noise pollution, aka reducing traffic noise, in addition to reducing vehicle emissions. Slowing down of vehicles also improves accessibility for more vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists and reduces the perceived traffic risk to local communities.

However, there are also those who argue that this regulation has not completely succeeded in reducing traffic speeds. This was stated by the local council of Bath and North East Somerset Council. Even the British Parliament estimates that 95 percent of all drivers admit to exceeding the speed limit.

Cause

The background for the issuance of this policy was explained by the UK Energy Minister, Eric Varley. According to him, this was done because the price of imported oil at that time increased five times.

At that time, fuel prices skyrocketed after the Middle East embargoed oil during the Arab-Israeli war. The embargo even continued after the war ended in 1973.

In that period, the price of oil jumped from about US $ 3 per barrel before the war to more than US $ 11 per barrel. The crisis also led to a recession in 1975, in which the Middle East played a role in rising oil prices.

Apart from the UK, the United States (US) also enforces similar regulations. The US Congress also imposes a national speed limit of 89 km per hour. However, these speed restrictions are not very popular, especially in Western countries.

In 1987, the US allowed to raise the speed limit to 104 km / h on interstate highways in rural areas. All speed limit controls were lifted in 1995.