Most speed limits are irrationally low. 70 in today's world on motorways is plain stupid. When it came in (just after AC tested their Le Mans car at over 180 on the M1 near Birmingham, empty motorway, 3 am, result, outcry from handicapped) most cars could barely do much better, and there were plenty of Minis etc about that could barely manage at 70.

Nowadays about half new cars will double it, or nearly so. A 15 year old Volvo T5 WILL double it! Handling and braking have all improved beyond measure. I could live with 90 but 100 would be a more sensible motorway limit.

The A228 near me has a 40 limit on it. It has a bad accident record, but exceeding 40 is not the cause. 60 would be a sensible limit (there are virtually no houses on it) and it would alleviate the kamikaze overtakers.

As for Volvos, don't you know how easy it is to tune the "redblock" from the 740s and 940s? try www.brickboard.com.

There is a maniac in Sweden who has allegedly got over 800 bhp out of a redblock (track only). Quite a few roadgoing redblocks are up about 350bhp. My 16 valver is nowhere near that (yet), and indeed I don't really plan to go much over 250 to 300 bhp, not even when I win the pools.