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M4 cameras dangerous, say drivers
By David Millward, Transport Correspondent
(Filed: 25/04/2005)

The RAC Foundation yesterday called for an urgent review of the first fixed motorway speed cameras. Far from improving drivers' behaviour, motorists are now bunching at high speeds between junctions 14-18 on the M4 in Wiltshire, said Edmund King, the foundation's executive director.

The cameras were introduced by the Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership in an attempt to reduce accidents on a stretch of the motorway. But most motorists are now travelling at just under 79mph, the speed at which they face being fined.

Critics, who included one of the local Tory MPs, said the cameras were installed as a money-making exercise rather than an attempt to improve road safety.

"We are getting reports of bunching," Mr King said. "Drivers are saying it is more dangerous, not less. Before the cameras came in drivers were going at 70 to 80 mph, with some going below."

Although the evidence is anecdotal, reports of motorists failing to keep their distance will reignite the debate over the spread of speed cameras.

It comes as the AA prepares to include the location of fixed cameras in the next edition of its road atlas. A number of electronic devices are already on the market which do the same thing, as does at least one satellite navigation system.

Dashboard detectors, which use radar or infrared technology to spot working cameras, were due to be outlawed under the Road Safety Bill, which fell before the election because of a lack of Parliamentary time.

This would have brought Britain into line with many continental countries, such as France, which not only outlaw the devices but impose draconian penalties for any motorists found to be in possession of one.

The issue of raising the speed limit has divided motoring organisations. The RAC Foundation supports the change, proposing variable ceilings according to road conditions at the time.

But the AA Motoring Trust urged caution and pointed out that police forces often allow a fair amount of leeway when it comes to enforcement.

"If we raise the limit to 80mph, does that mean in reality we will be allowing 90mph, or will we be taking people to court for going three miles an hour over the limit?" asked Andrew Howard, the trust's head of road safety. "If we are to review speed limits, we will also need a major review of enforcement."
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But no mention of M4 Protest.

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Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

This matches my experience in driving down a section of the A3 yesterday that I don't normally drive along, where it drops from NSL to 50mph around Guildford.

Traffic was flowing nice and freely in the NSL section, and because I wasn't familiar with the stretch of road I was unaware that it was about to drop to 50mph. The car in front of me suddenly braked extremely hard, didn't cause me a problem because I was following at a safe distance, of course, but I found it very surprising that a car would brake so hard in free flowing traffic. A short while later, the 50mph sign came into view, and it all made sense. The traffic then went through the 50mph section much more tightly bunched and congested than it had been in the NSL section, before reverting to nice free flowing traffic as soon as the road reverted to NSL.

I would expect the same problem whenever you compress the range of speeds people are happy to drive at. This will inevitably cause many cars to still catch the vehicle in front as some speed differential will remain, but if they are no longer willing to achieve a sufficient differential to change lane and swiftly pass the car in front, bunching is the likely outcome.

This is absolutely the case and My experience of driving the Wiltshire section of M4. The M4 in south wales has been aggressively inforced for some time now and I have to say that its the most stressful driving environment I have encountered.

Having said that...as the cameras are spreading the bunching is getting worse everywhere.

wrote to the south wales camera brigade with this point. they denied it and said that bunching, lane discipline etc etc was a matter for the police and I should write to them!!!