Safe Speed Forums

So there we were on Friday evening, driving northbound on the M6 just north of Birmingham when suddenly out of the blue came a 40 limit sign. That was a bit sudden thought I, but since I wasn't driving I just came to the conclusion that I'd missed the 3/4mile warning sign. That was until we came across the next restriction a few miles later... At NEITHER sets of restrictions was there a 3/4mile warning sign which resulted in much panic braking since both restrictions were overlooked by SPECS systems.

Guess what? When we drove back past there on Sunday there was a huge tailback on the northbound carriageway following an accident there.

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

So,

Was it the most dangerous speed limit you've ever seen? Only you can answer your own question...

BTW, I know the roadworks you're on about and I'm going through there again on Sunday. I'll have a look out for those signs.

If they're in the same state as when I went through them yesterday you'll see just how rediculous the speed limit is.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

Smartarse!

I should say that it was the most dangerous thing I've seen in a long while. Suddenly having to shed 30mph with no warning at all? Rediculous.

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

I came across this as well going south to the M6 Toll about 3 weeks ago. The restrictions are south of Stafford.

Note there is also a Gatso in place a few miles north in each direction at Keele Services. I requested Highways Agency and Stafford SCP to explain themselves, because the dangers of this are so obvious. I pointed out the dangers and was told camera is only operational whilst a 40 mph limit is in place to protect workmen working on the lighting, with camera well within boundary of the limit. In addition, limit is not applied 24 hours, only whilst work is in progress. Outside this it is shrouded-off.

Maybe this forum is starting to influence them, as at one time it would have been 40 mph 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

I also saw NO advance warning for the SPECS site, other than the sign at the start, and remember commenting to the wife about this as we passed the first camera. However, don't worry too much, 'coz the SPECS measure your average, not your speed passing the first camera array.

The best bit, which made me laugh (maybe I should have cried !), is that clearly somebody in authority has thought about what might happen with 3 lanes of steel at 60-70 in the wet with somebody jamming the brakes on when seeing the first camera, ( A BIG BANG !!!), and put up small signs advising us that average speeds are being measured. Trouble is, how many people know what that means ??

There is clearly something wrong and somebody needs to be severely disciplined in the Highways Agency or the contractors. Perfection is expected of us public, let it also apply to them.

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Good manners maketh a good motorist

I think that inappropriate motorway speed limits are a real safety hazard.

Some people stick to them rigidly, others totally ignore them (especially if the limit starts miles before the first traffic cone is seen)

The result is a huge speed difference between those who are compliant and noncompliant. I have witnessed quite a few near misses due to this phenomenon.

Also, there appears to be some real cowboy speed limit sign placers out there. I have lost count of the number of times I have seen roadworks with incorrect speed limit sinage; this often takes the form of no NSL or "end of road works" sign at the end of the road works and no limit signs at the entrance to a road works speed restricted zone. This causes confusion and no doubt, great variations in speed and ultimately accidents.

Good question, I wonder too. Late last year I was driving up to Liverpool up the M6 and passsed through roadworks on the Staffordshire/Cheshire border which was using a Specs system to police a 40mph limit.
A Renault Megane Scenic came tootling up in L2 and then slowed to 40 mph as it drew level with me. Both driver and passenger were staring intently at one of those trafficmaster camera sets on a pole; as soon as they'd passed what they clearly though was the 'speed camera' the driver sped up again
I do think some folks are so dumb they deserve to get pinged

I've seen this done on numerous occasions in roadworks on dual carriageways - the limit dropping to 40 with no 3/4 mile warning, usually with a camera following shortly afterwards.

The slightest lapse in concentration (concentration on the verge, that is, not on the road ahead) and they've got you. Which, of course, is the whole idea.

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“For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.” - H. L. Mencken

Rigpig

Might not be a case of people being "dumb", more likely people are lost due to the fact that there are so many different types of "road monitoring" systems in place now.

Anyone know what the tall ones with the glass bowls on the A1 near Dishforth are?

most of them still appear to hold this time scale although the reason for which baffles me. are the limits not there for the safety of roadworkers? therefore when there are no roadworkers on site then surely the reduction is speed limit is unnecessary?

the police seem to agree anyway. a few months ago i drove down the M3 and there was a 50 limit over a short distance for works on the hard shoulder. no workmen on my side so i carried on at 55 (limited) quiet happily. unbeknown to me, i had a police car on my tail who didnt bat an eyelid. a couple of miles down the road, he pulled out and went after some idiot who passed with his mobile stuck to his ear

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Richie

SSAFA supporter
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126025031585

absolutely

the more that get pinged, the less congestion for those of us who know what we are doing

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Richie

SSAFA supporter
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126025031585