Should there be new 80mph speed limit on motorways?

The government wants to increase the speed limit on motorways in England and Wales to 80mph.

Ministers say it makes sense because people are already driving that fast and it could cut journey times.

Transport Secretary Phillip Hammond said the current limit introduced in the 1960s "was out of date".

But campaigners say it will harm the environment and cause more deaths on the road.

If it gets the go-ahead it won't be brought in until 2013 at the earliest.

SOME OF YOUR TEXTS ON THIS STORY

Gemma from Manchester

"I hate to admit but I do speed on the motorway I go to 80mph or 85mph because I think it's not so bad. It's only 10 or 15 miles over the limit and I think a lot of others think the same. If it was an 80mph limit people will do the same. So does that mean everyone will travel at 90- 95mph? That's too fast to react I think."

Lee from Hamilton

"Speed limits should be reduced if anything. Safe vehicles or not human error is the main cause of accidents. My car has five airbags but I don't fancy being in an 80mph crash to test them! No technology can make up for our reaction time at that speed."

Garrick from Solihull

"Changing the speed limit to 80mph won't make a difference, everyone drives around that speed anyway. What needs to be introduced is a much stricter law on not hogging the middle or outside lanes or not keeping left, that is what causes frustration and back logs."

Mark from Huddersfield

"I lived in Germany for many years where there is no limit. They have fewer accidents than us."

Kat from Dundee

"I agree strongly with the speed limit being increased. I think people will be less likely to speed due to fuel consumption as the price of fuel is so ridiculous."

Lewis

"I'm not bothered if the speed limit goes up to 80mph or not, but they do need to increase the 56mph limit for trucks. They cause so much of the traffic problems as they are made to drive slower than everyone else."

James from Hampshire

I drive a lot in Europe and 80mph is fine, it works well in France Belgium and Germany. What the safety groups should focus on is training of drivers for lane discipline which is awful in the UK compared with Europe. Perhaps we need to have tests every few years with a compulsory motorway component.

Lorry driver Paul in Penkridge

"I've never been affected by a speeding driver, only affected by lane hoggers. As a lorry driver I find people that drive on motorways at just under a lorries speed to be my main problem. Then when you go to overtake they speed up. It slows the inside and second lane causing congestion."