Speed Cameras on M25
Discussion
covboy said:
I think he's saying people should look further ahead than the end of their bonnets and adjust their driving accordingly
There is definitely that, if only people thought about maybe reading the road rather than simply reacting to the car in front! My general understanding of motorway driving is that if you keep a sensible distance and read the road accordingly, you can adjust speeds without braking at all. Obviously you don't avoid all braking but if I'm sitting at 70mph and see a reduced speed limit, I should be able to simply come off the throttle and slow to 60mph and in most cases that works.
But say I'm sitting at 70mph and I'm moments away from passing under a gantry and it suddenly displays 60 or 50mph, if I don't brake quickly I'm going to pass under there at 64/65mph and as much as you'd hope there's a grace period, I have no idea what that is so risk receiving a fine/points. Many drivers aren't simply driving at 70mph though and they're also not keeping the correct distances so the sudden braking caused by the unknown grace period when the sign changes could be far more problematic.
Yes I know, people are idiots and should be keeping distances etc. but the average driver doesn't do that they simply react.
Probably an obvious statement but with the misunderstanding of what grace periods drivers have with these varying limits I can't help thinking that they are just a piggy bank raking in the fines and although I wholeheartedly agree that there are times that speed limits do need adjusting, I don't think it's entirely safe springing it on a driver and causing a sudden panic.
What would make sense is using dot matrix signs on the gantries that indicate a 10 second count down to a speed limit change '60mph in 10, 9, 8 etc.' Would certain minimise that sudden braking. Might also be a sh*te idea haha
ashleyman said:
Doesn't help when the speed changes when you're just about to go under the signs. How many MOPs do you think know there is a time limit between sign coming on and camera coming on? How many MOPS do you think drive at 75, see a sign for 60 so then slow down, see the next sign illuminated and expect it to say 60 but it says 40 and then have to shave the speed off quickly.
Be realistic.
You've only got to read some of the tales being recounted on this forum of peoples experieinces on SAC's to realise Joe Publics alarming lack of knowledge when it come to driving regulations,Be realistic.
4040vision said:
When the signs change you get 1 minute before any enforcement so why panic?
Probably because the general public don't know that mate. 
I don't consider myself to be the fountain of all knowledge nor am I ignorant to these things but I've only heard of this 1 minute window on here.
Alex_225 said:
There is definitely that, if only people thought about maybe reading the road rather than simply reacting to the car in front!
My general understanding of motorway driving is that if you keep a sensible distance and read the road accordingly, you can adjust speeds without braking at all. Obviously you don't avoid all braking but if I'm sitting at 70mph and see a reduced speed limit, I should be able to simply come off the throttle and slow to 60mph and in most cases that works.
But say I'm sitting at 70mph and I'm moments away from passing under a gantry and it suddenly displays 60 or 50mph, if I don't brake quickly I'm going to pass under there at 64/65mph and as much as you'd hope there's a grace period, I have no idea what that is so risk receiving a fine/points. Many drivers aren't simply driving at 70mph though and they're also not keeping the correct distances so the sudden braking caused by the unknown grace period when the sign changes could be far more problematic.
Yes I know, people are idiots and should be keeping distances etc. but the average driver doesn't do that they simply react.
Probably an obvious statement but with the misunderstanding of what grace periods drivers have with these varying limits I can't help thinking that they are just a piggy bank raking in the fines and although I wholeheartedly agree that there are times that speed limits do need adjusting, I don't think it's entirely safe springing it on a driver and causing a sudden panic.
What would make sense is using dot matrix signs on the gantries that indicate a 10 second count down to a speed limit change '60mph in 10, 9, 8 etc.' Would certain minimise that sudden braking. Might also be a sh*te idea haha
Exactly this. We have the Traffic Officers droning on about it being driver's fault (which it is) whilst completely failing to comprehend human nature. It's all I AM THE LAW, and it's probably going to drive accidents up. But you know what? Even if that happens they'll just ratchet things up further. Anything but admit making a massive mistake.My general understanding of motorway driving is that if you keep a sensible distance and read the road accordingly, you can adjust speeds without braking at all. Obviously you don't avoid all braking but if I'm sitting at 70mph and see a reduced speed limit, I should be able to simply come off the throttle and slow to 60mph and in most cases that works.
But say I'm sitting at 70mph and I'm moments away from passing under a gantry and it suddenly displays 60 or 50mph, if I don't brake quickly I'm going to pass under there at 64/65mph and as much as you'd hope there's a grace period, I have no idea what that is so risk receiving a fine/points. Many drivers aren't simply driving at 70mph though and they're also not keeping the correct distances so the sudden braking caused by the unknown grace period when the sign changes could be far more problematic.
Yes I know, people are idiots and should be keeping distances etc. but the average driver doesn't do that they simply react.
Probably an obvious statement but with the misunderstanding of what grace periods drivers have with these varying limits I can't help thinking that they are just a piggy bank raking in the fines and although I wholeheartedly agree that there are times that speed limits do need adjusting, I don't think it's entirely safe springing it on a driver and causing a sudden panic.
What would make sense is using dot matrix signs on the gantries that indicate a 10 second count down to a speed limit change '60mph in 10, 9, 8 etc.' Would certain minimise that sudden braking. Might also be a sh*te idea haha
speedking31 said:
Hackney said:
Because they don't know and don't care to find out preferring to live in a case of near constant panic at the sight of a road sign.
And back in the day, a minor transgression wouldn't have mattered and at worst you'd get a ticking off from a traffic cop. Now the computerised fining system doesn't care about weather conditions, traffic conditions or the fact that you're driving has been generally impeccable, it just sends a fine, thus encouraging paranoia. Better to be 10 mph under the limit than 10 mph over, no matter what the consequences.And to your point - in this instance - their driving hasn't been impeccable, it's been erratic, hasn't shown planning ahead, or (often) checking the mirrors before hard braking.
S11Steve said:
Pistonheader101 said:
None of the cameras on the m25 work. Zoom past them no problem
Given how many NIPs I get for my fleet on a daily basis for speeding on the M25, I wouldn't be taking the risks you do!So far this month we've received these....
And been flashed by m25 temp speed camera (2245hrs) doing I think 50 in a 40! Worst thing is I thought it was 50 speed limit! And about 400 yards later it turns to 60 and then 40 again! Unfortunately another driver behind me also got flashed. So pissed off as never had points and now fearing the worst.
HantsRat said:
Just because some drivers are stupid enough to slam on their brakes when a speed limit sign changes with cars close behind doesn't make it the fault of the sign.
It's like blaming the person who told someone to jump of a cliff if they actually do it.
(Appreciate it's 18 months later). Once, sure. When you're a system designer and you design a system humans will use with entirely predictable behaviour that you fail to account for?It's like blaming the person who told someone to jump of a cliff if they actually do it.
Then it's either even more stupid initially or, and eventually, deliberate.
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