Safe Speed Forums

Went to Erdigg today.. M56 SPECS… all can say is did not feel as “comfy” as I should have been. Was travelling per GPS at steady 38 mph. Cars passing me – all above the 40 mph limit - and all I know I was bothered about was where were the wretched cams and I know I spent more time looking at the dash than I ever do. Normally – just a glance ..with these .. I do not think.. I know I kept checking that speed. It’s how I know I fluctuated precisely between 35 and 38 mph and can be emphatic about it. I cannot be so precise about any other road I travel along. I am certain I was checking that damned speed more than I would normally do. I am sure I don't look at the GPS so often as that - and this was the first SPECS I've encountered as they had normal Gatsos during the widening and I avoided them in the past anyway.


If you post up to that forum for some thoughts on this .. I'd like to know if others think as I do. Think I'm normally relaxed driving - think a 10 % feel margin and within flow of traffic – verified by the odd glance down. Did I feel any safer a driver? I cannot say I felt as relaxed as normal and I think I was perhaps less patient with my passengers if they spoke as a result… basically I told everyone to shut up a bit stroppily as I needed to concentrate!

Then went for a scenic drive down to Marianna’s. Not been to Wales for a while but now know what you are all on about! Every road had a cam sign … no cams or vans but I found I was looking for them all the time. Don’t feel good about this. Know I did not exceed any limit.. found again I was checking more often than I think I normally do. I think I shall be trying to note how often I check my speedo from now on. I am sure I don't check every two minutes though as a norm... and I am sure I was today as a result of all those signs.

On the other hand - couple of plus factors. Came up to a nasty bend and a neon sign told me to slow for it and flashed up an advisory 30 mph. (Road was NSL - bend I’d say “pushing it at 40 mph .. but was in the older Ford and not your lovely car.!)

Another plus – though I think I prefer the rumbles on the A6. They had a series of three green oblong signs warning of an impending 30 mph as I came out of a 60 mph. Bit like the road paint and rumbles at Carnforth. But even so .. was a fair enough warning.

Still - on the plus side - thoroughly enjoyed Erdigg and weather cleared to bright sunshine too.

I feel exactly the same - the M42 with the gantry gatsos does exactly that to me...

Why? The M42 HADECS camera system doesn't work properly. And it's not type approved for speeding offences anyway

I feel compelled to reply to this. I am also IAM, and try to drive at the speed limit all the time - no matter how pointless and revenue raising it may be.

The driving in England is appaling, and is only exascerbated by these infernal cameras, which I contend is their true purpose! Not for revenue, think about it - even £60 million is only a rounding error for the government. However, pissing off drivers so that they don't drive - that's the target!

Isn't driving with an obscured or missing front numberplate a lesser offence than speeding?

You CANNOT be caught by Truevelo

IIRC, yes it is.

The current penalty for no numberplate, illegally sized numberplate, or using an illegal font (I'm sure I'll be corrected if I am wrong) is a fixed penalty of £30 and NO points.

If I may say so that seems an odd approach for an IAM member. Do you not think it better to drive at speeds that are safe, rather than at the limit all the time?

Mad Moggie why don't you, or your sister, write to the Welsh Tourist Board and explain to them the effect of all the speed cameras and how it is putting you, or your sister, off visiting Wales. You can contact them at;

Heledd Parry, Wales Tourist Board, Brunel House
2 Fitzalan Road, Cardiff CF24 0UY
Tel: 029 2049 9909 , Fax: 029 2048 5031
Email heledd.parry@tourism.wales.gov.uk

Also email press@tourism.wales.gov.uk

See: Speeding Ticket Holiday in North Wales !!! at;

http://www.safespeed.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5865

A reply warrented I feel:



Do I think that one should drive at a speed that is safe for the road - yes. Is it possible - no (the speed limit will prevent this). I passed the advanced test last year, and sadly the examiners are now well in to the observe the limit at all times mantra. To avoid losing my licence I will drive at the speed dictated by law, I feel that Mr. Smith has the right idea, protest in words not actions.

And to answer the question, do I feel that I witness more bad driving in this country, the answer is a very definite yes. This is not due to a lack of ability on my part, I will observe, and actively manage the traffic around me. This includes the idiots doing a full u turn on a roundabout from the left lane, tailgaters, who refuse to overtake, the drivers who plough though a 30mph limit at 50, but then shake their fist at me when I overtake them in an NSL when they do not alter their speed.

I drive 120 miles per day, and will witness in the order of 50 - 100 examples of poor driving in each journey. The difference between a good and bad driver (imho) is wether or not this will cause you a problem. Provided one has followed the COAST technique, bad drivers will simply cause you to tut and point, rather than crash.