

The Fastest Man on Water Ready to “Sail”īelieve it or no (and, y’know, believe it, because it’s fact), the water speed record was set more than 30 years ago! And it was set by a man in a wooden boat. That’s because Bolt has a set a running speed record of 27.78 miles per hour. And it’s likely he’s one of the fastest humans to ever have lived, by the way: his natural prowess and modern training techniques have propelled him to speeds so fast he could get ticketed while running through a school zone. Meanwhile, in Australia’s Northern Territory, several sections of the epic Stuart Highway, which runs through the Red Centre of the country, have no speed limits.As far as we know, Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is the fastest human being alive. On the Isle of Man, in the Irish Sea between England and Ireland, thirty percent of national roads are speed unrestricted, making it a big draw for thrill seekers.

Motoring organisations in Germany question the value of speed limits in bettering safety standards, and point to the fact that Germany’s road casualty figures are on a par with neighbouring France. But true speed demons should try driving the autobahns of Germany, where large sections of road have no limits at all.

Countries around the world have adopted different speed restrictions, while some have none at all! The speed limit on motorways in France, akin to a large part of Europe, is 130kmph (80mph).įor a faster ride, head to Poland where the limit is 140kmph (85mph). Around the world in speed limitsīritain’s motorways are still governed by the 70mph limit. One of the BAT twin-cylinder motorcycles entered into the inaugural 1907 Isle of Man TT, often considered one of the most dangerous Motorsport events in the world.
#Speed demons history channel trial#
The four-month trial began at midday on 22 December 1965. It was suggested that a speed limit be used during periods when the road was affected by fog, ice or snow, and that an overall maximum speed limit of 70 mph should be tested out. They concluded that the crashes were caused by vehicles travelling too fast for the conditions. Two policemen approached the team at the services afterwards, but only to get a closer look at the car!Ī number of car crashes during the foggy autumn of 1965 led the government to hold consultations with the police and the National Road Safety Advisory Council. The absence of any speed limit meant their test run was perfectly legal. The driver, Jack Sears, registered speeds of 185 mph during the run, which is the highest speed ever recorded on a British motorway. They didn’t have a long enough stretch of straight test track to check the top speed of the car, so they opted to use a section of the motorway instead.

They were there to speed-test a Cobra Coupe GT in preparation for Le Mans. On 11 June 1964 a team from AC Cars met at 4am at the Blue Boar Services (Watford Gap) on the M1. Obviously, the average car in the 1960s wasn’t capable of travelling all that fast. When the first motorways were built, starting with the Preston Bypass (later part of the M6) in 1958, they were unrestricted.
#Speed demons history channel drivers#
Outside of these areas, drivers were still free to go at whatever speed they liked. In 1935, a 30mph limit was introduced for cars in built-up areas. The Act also introduced the driving offences of dangerous, reckless and careless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.Īn increase in deaths on the road forced the government to think again. The decision was made because the current limits were flouted so openly that it brought the law into contempt. In 1930, the Road Traffic Act abolished speed limits for cars altogether. By 1903 the speed limit had risen to 20mph. In 1865, motor vehicles were limited to 4mph and 2mph in residential areas. The experiment initially lasted four months, but the limit was made permanent in 1967. On 22 December 1965, a temporary maximum speed limit of 70mph (112kmph) was introduced on Britain’s motorways.
