As the government proposes to increase the speed limit on motorways to 80 miles per hour, Epping residents gave their views.

Lee Gerbaldi, 23, Broadoaks, Epping.

“I think it is a good idea. Most drivers on motorways do not follow the speed limit anyway. I don’t think that it will have much difference to the number of accidents.”

David Hawkins, 67, Station Road, Epping.

“I do not really agree with the proposals. When I lived in America and they cut the speed limit there were fewer accidents. People always push the speed limit and if it was set at 80 miles per hour people would go faster.”

Catherine Berry, 23, High Street, Epping.

“It would not be that big a change because people go at 80 miles per hour on the motorway anyway. I think that it may lead to people going faster on country roads just off motorways though which could be dangerous.”

Datapa Roua, 64, Rahm Road, Epping.

“I am very much against it. People would not be travelling at 80 they would go at 90. There is a big risk of more accidents.”

John Steer, 58, works at the Treetops Care Home, Station Road, Epping.

“I think they should introduce a system like they have in France where you can only drive at top speed on motorways in good weather, and in bad weather the speed limit is automatically lower. I think that if the limit was as high as 80 miles per hour people would stick to it.”

Lisa Kulick, 49, Tempest Mead, North Weald.

“I do not think it is a bad thing as most people drive at 80 miles per hour on the motorway anyway. If it works in Europe there is no reason why it should not work here.”

Richard Ainge, 60, Stradbroke Grove, Buckhurst Hill. “Our roads are too congested for high speeds. An increase in speed limits would result in more accidents here as cars follow each other more closely.”

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