The new Average speed cameras on the A40 /westway West Lond
Discussion
A few observations:
There are a few sections where it is almost impossible to be done for speeding (unless it's 3am or similarly low traffic levels and the lights are on green).
There are other sections where almost every safe and responsible driver/rider would be done for speeding under most traffic levels, unless they deliberately crawl along at a speed slower than is natural.
There appears to be a huge reduction in the number of motorbikes. This might be because bikes used to travel faster therefore many would overtake, whereas now we only see bikes if they are nearby. Whereas I don't mind driving with the average speed cameras, I certainly would not want to ride on the A40. If bikes are diverting due to the speed cameras then a large reduction in bike crashes would be expected on the A40, only for those crashes to occur on other roads instead.
I assumed my mpg would improve with the average speed cameras but have actually found it's worse. A friend mentioned that his mpg had also gone down. His theory was that he might be going faster elsewhere to make up for the time lost. My theory was that the temperature was lower. I've since noticed that distances between vehicles is often much shorter in the average speed camera section and throttle movements may be more erratic than the "natural" throttle movements outside the average speed camera section.
Are drivers starting to use cruise control now?
There are a few sections where it is almost impossible to be done for speeding (unless it's 3am or similarly low traffic levels and the lights are on green).
There are other sections where almost every safe and responsible driver/rider would be done for speeding under most traffic levels, unless they deliberately crawl along at a speed slower than is natural.
There appears to be a huge reduction in the number of motorbikes. This might be because bikes used to travel faster therefore many would overtake, whereas now we only see bikes if they are nearby. Whereas I don't mind driving with the average speed cameras, I certainly would not want to ride on the A40. If bikes are diverting due to the speed cameras then a large reduction in bike crashes would be expected on the A40, only for those crashes to occur on other roads instead.
I assumed my mpg would improve with the average speed cameras but have actually found it's worse. A friend mentioned that his mpg had also gone down. His theory was that he might be going faster elsewhere to make up for the time lost. My theory was that the temperature was lower. I've since noticed that distances between vehicles is often much shorter in the average speed camera section and throttle movements may be more erratic than the "natural" throttle movements outside the average speed camera section.
Are drivers starting to use cruise control now?
Dave Finney said:
Are drivers starting to use cruise control now?
I use the speed limiter function - set to 55 in the 50 zone & 45 in the 40 zone. Cruise is a pain as too many numpties brake for the cameras, switch lanes for no reason & generally behave in a random manner so you are constantly having to reset the cruise. I've also noticed on both the A40 & A406 that many of the old fixed cameras are now either gone or pointing into the weeds but people have got so used to braking for them that they do it automatically regardlessDr Jekyll said:
Since the limits haven't changed, why should it make any difference? Were A40 travellers seriously just ignoring the limits habitually and just hoping for the best?
Well I was. So twice a day commuting + hundreds of other random trips round the north circ. a year for 6 or 7 years, and err.... Where's the justification for limiting everyone to 40mph?It's b
ks.CoolHands said:
Well I was. So twice a day commuting + hundreds of other random trips round the north circ. a year for 6 or 7 years, and err.... Where's the justification for limiting everyone to 40mph?
It's bks.
The limits have been 40 / 50 for many years now (although I recall when long stretches were 70) so what you are actually asking is "where's the justification in enforcing the existing limit", which, if you think about it unemotionally, is a pretty daft question.It's b
ks.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
The limits have been 40 / 50 for many years now (although I recall when long stretches were 70) so what you are actually asking is "where's the justification in enforcing the existing limit"...
Well, Transport for London have been trying to deceive citizens into believing that their speed cameras improve road safety. That's despite the fact that the mass prosecution system relies upon the honesty of citizens.If citizens try to deceive the authorities, the authorities can threaten to put citizens in prison. If citizens had the power to put Transport for London officials in prison, would those officials carry on deceiving citizens?
Dave Finney said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
The limits have been 40 / 50 for many years now (although I recall when long stretches were 70) so what you are actually asking is "where's the justification in enforcing the existing limit"...
Well, Transport for London have been trying to deceive citizens into believing that their speed cameras improve road safety. That's despite the fact that the mass prosecution system relies upon the honesty of citizens.If citizens try to deceive the authorities, the authorities can threaten to put citizens in prison. If citizens had the power to put Transport for London officials in prison, would those officials carry on deceiving citizens?
The truth is most drivers feel that the 40mph from before Shepherds Bush till the (more reasonable) 30mph limit on the approach to Marylebone feels way too slow for way too long for a wide 3 lane road. I guess this is much of the camera frustration for drivers who are normally happy to be limit compliant. Its a 'because we say so' situation...
Zod said:
Dr Jekyll said:
Since the limits haven't changed, why should it make any difference? Were A40 travellers seriously just ignoring the limits habitually and just hoping for the best?
You don't know the Westway, do you? It has always been treated as what it looks like - motorway. As such, using my own private lane of the M1 and M25 is now quicker. And my private lane on the M40 has been extended out to High Wycombe in recent times also.
Callughan said:
Has something changed recently on the westway? Last couple of weeks i've noticed the majority of drivers going at way above the average speed limit.
I am stunned these days by the sheer number of cars that fly passed us when we are sitting at the appropriate speed on cruise control.... How are these idiots not getting tickets? Or are they?
Slaav said:
Callughan said:
Has something changed recently on the westway? Last couple of weeks i've noticed the majority of drivers going at way above the average speed limit.
I am stunned these days by the sheer number of cars that fly passed us when we are sitting at the appropriate speed on cruise control.... How are these idiots not getting tickets? Or are they?
Zod said:
I don't get it either. Every time I join it now, I have to remind myself about the average cameras, but a large proportion of vehicles behave as if nothing has change.
Found myself doing exactly that the last couple of times I've used it. If I'm not careful I can find myself plodding along in such a queue. Mind you, I've still not become use to the section from Ruislip to Acton not being NSL and that probably changed 20 years ago!
Interestingly, I don't seem to own a car that is happy sitting at 50mph. It's an odd phenomenon but not one has a gear that at 50 is in a sweet spot for the engine. Odd.
Zod said:
I don't get it either. Every time I join it now, I have to remind myself about the average cameras, but a large proportion of vehicles behave as if nothing has change.
I think a lot of people still don't know what an average is, brake for the cameras, then speed up again....Well on the north circ (A406) I can join at some places and drive at 140mph if I want so that might explain it. Eg if I join at Ace cafe, or even before that at at Harrow road / Wembley point junction, I can scream past of all of you up to Hanger Lane as the only camera that will see me is near Hanger Lane.
So probably similar on A40 between certain junctions.
All in the name of safety, hey!
So probably similar on A40 between certain junctions.
All in the name of safety, hey!
CoolHands said:
Well on the north circ (A406) I can join at some places and drive at 140mph if I want so that might explain it. Eg if I join at Ace cafe, or even before that at at Harrow road / Wembley point junction, I can scream past of all of you up to Hanger Lane as the only camera that will see me is near Hanger Lane.
So probably similar on A40 between certain junctions.
All in the name of safety, hey!
They're not average cameras on he N Circular. They've been smart on the Westway; the elevated section has cameras that cover each section between exits and on-ramps. Whether they are on, I don't know.So probably similar on A40 between certain junctions.
All in the name of safety, hey!
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff