M4 / M5 Gatsos are now live - beware!

M4 / M5 Gatsos are now live - beware!

Author
Discussion

Gerradi

1,522 posts

119 months

Sunday 11th January 2015
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Pebbles167 said:
(although a speed awareness course isn't so bad i guess)
Might see you there , Nip arrived yesterday, caught by a bush dweller though rolleyes

BigGingerBob

1,700 posts

189 months

Monday 12th January 2015
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st, I will probably have a nice letter on the mat when I go back to Devon this weekend. Bugger.

Pebbles167

3,418 posts

151 months

Friday 23rd January 2015
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Whats with the average camera's that have gone up recently? Two of them are obviously not operational considering they are not complete (and a sign saying so) but there are two others. Complete and with no signs. Possibly set at 70mph?

aardvark64

95 posts

185 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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Probably for the next round of roundworks.

Best wishes, Colin

dazren

22,612 posts

260 months

Saturday 7th March 2015
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Quite remarkable to see a 50 mph limit being enforced going northbound on the M5 near Cribbs Causeway at 6am this morning. You guessed it, clear conditions, no traffic whatsoever. Brings the whole system into disrepute. Give us your money!!!!!!!

Sigmamark7

314 posts

160 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
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dazren said:
Quite remarkable to see a 50 mph limit being enforced going northbound on the M5 near Cribbs Causeway at 6am this morning. You guessed it, clear conditions, no traffic whatsoever. Brings the whole system into disrepute. Give us your money!!!!!!!
You are clearly missing the point and obviously don't care about the impact on the local insect population. At 6am on a Saturday, all the insects are preparing for a day out at The Mall, with lunch at MacDonalds on their way home. At 70 mph, the insects stand little chance of crossing the Northbound carriageway safely with their friends, hence the 50 limit. Just because you can't see them, doesn't mean they aren't there - a bit like the voices in the heads of the nutters who set these limits!

On a serious note, it would be interesting to learn how these limits are set, what the protocols are for setting them and what authority those pushing the buttons actually have. Is it the Police, or someone who is just doing it because they are too fat to get into one of those Traffic Officer vehicles who bimble up and down all day closing off lanes because someone is changing a tyre on the hard shoulder 10 miles further on?

TDIfurby

1,997 posts

174 months

Tuesday 10th March 2015
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From what I have gathered on the odd M5 trip past brizzle since the new system went up is the speed limit is often not really correlated to the traffic conditions. If I could say they seem a little "trigger happy" ?? Perhaps trying to show johnny taxpayer that their money is being actually used to do something rather than there just being blank signs when it's fairly quiet.

A 50 limit at 6am on a quiet carriageway does appear a little ludicrous.

BristolRich

545 posts

132 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
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Sigmamark7 said:
On a serious note, it would be interesting to learn how these limits are set, what the protocols are for setting them and what authority those pushing the buttons actually have. Is it the Police, or someone who is just doing it because they are too fat to get into one of those Traffic Officer vehicles who bimble up and down all day closing off lanes because someone is changing a tyre on the hard shoulder 10 miles further on?
From my time working with the Highways Agency, setting gantry signs, matricies and giving the go for snow clearance etc was the role of one of the HA Traffic Officers in the local control centre (still is/ was at Aztec West). The physical "setting" was based on numerous info sources - sensors, camers and information passed from Police and HA or Term Maintainance staff.

I would hope with the introduction of the new VSLs that its more advance than that with sensors being able to detect when traffic flows are such that the system is, within reason, self regulating ...but noting the inconsitent use of the VSL (I too have seen the VSLs set low early in the morning) it would suggest not.


Barry Ashcroft

1,958 posts

220 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
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Came through this morning at 10am 60 limit dropping to 50 near Aztec then back to 60 till the M32 motorway very quite no need for it except to generate fines especially when it drops to 50 as you need to be alert to see the changes.

aardvark64

95 posts

185 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
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Anyone know how mere mortals are supposed to get the HA to to be more sensible?

Complaining on forums, i.e. amongst ourselves, obviously doesn't work; didn't vote for the fascist speeding scameras that have crept in since the last general election; certainly didn't vote for the HA minions who don't seem to care about the chaos they cause with the arbitrary nature of the speed limits they impose (what do they do, roll dice?); and also not eligible to vote for clowns as mayors 'cos I live outside the city bounds.

Suddenly feeling very old and grumpy...

Best wishes, Colin

Sigmamark7

314 posts

160 months

Wednesday 11th March 2015
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aardvark64 said:
Anyone know how mere mortals are supposed to get the HA to to be more sensible?

Complaining on forums, i.e. amongst ourselves, obviously doesn't work; didn't vote for the fascist speeding scameras that have crept in since the last general election; certainly didn't vote for the HA minions who don't seem to care about the chaos they cause with the arbitrary nature of the speed limits they impose (what do they do, roll dice?); and also not eligible to vote for clowns as mayors 'cos I live outside the city bounds.

Suddenly feeling very old and grumpy...

Best wishes, Colin
I share your pain and similarly feel old and grumpy. Since I have a Race License, my uncorrected eyesight has been tested and meets the required standard, but I confess that sometimes I find it hard to distinguish between the 60 signs and the 50 sign, particularly when they change them from 60 to 50 and back again! Maybe this is because I tend to be concentrating on the cars around me and the gantries are only on the very edge of my peripheral vision.

Anyway, I have no idea how to effect change within the HA, nor how to effect the removal of the vocally anti car Mayor of Bristol, but the power of Forums (or lack thereof) will be demonstrated shortly by how the position of Jeremy Clarkson gets resolved.
Maybe if the BBC are actually stupid enough to get rid of him, we could try and get him a modest replacement income as Mayor of Bristol.
Now that is something worth voting for!!

JumboBeef

3,772 posts

176 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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I know this thread says the cameras are always live but I went along the M4 past Bristol when the signs were off at a fair chat above 70 yesterday and not a single camera went off....

VerySideways

10,237 posts

271 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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JumboBeef said:
I know this thread says the cameras are always live but I went along the M4 past Bristol when the signs were off at a fair chat above 70 yesterday and not a single camera went off....
They don't have to "go off", but you might want to keep an eye on your letterbox...

andylaurence

438 posts

210 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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They've been off (not flashing) for the past few weeks. Not sure why, but they're not going off when the lower limits are in force either.

JumboBeef

3,772 posts

176 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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VerySideways said:
JumboBeef said:
I know this thread says the cameras are always live but I went along the M4 past Bristol when the signs were off at a fair chat above 70 yesterday and not a single camera went off....
They don't have to "go off", but you might want to keep an eye on your letterbox...
Exempt, so not worried.

Edited by JumboBeef on Friday 27th March 09:48

rs1952

5,247 posts

258 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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JumboBeef said:
I know this thread says the cameras are always live but I went along the M4 past Bristol when the signs were off at a fair chat above 70 yesterday and not a single camera went off....
Will the person who nicked the fuse kindly give it back...

getmecoat

DevonPaul

1,170 posts

136 months

Thursday 26th March 2015
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JumboBeef said:
Excempt, so not worried.
I always thought it was only police who were exempt from posted limits on blue light runs? Treating red lights as "Give Ways and wrong siding Keep Lefts I thought as OK, but not speeding.

You live and learn.

z4RRSchris

11,221 posts

178 months

Friday 27th March 2015
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have the joys of my speed awareness course this weekend.

JumboBeef

3,772 posts

176 months

Friday 27th March 2015
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DevonPaul said:
JumboBeef said:
Exempt, so not worried.
I always thought it was only police who were exempt from posted limits on blue light runs? Treating red lights as "Give Ways and wrong siding Keep Lefts I thought as OK, but not speeding.

You live and learn.
Ambulance drivers can claim the following exemptions:

Using audible and visible warning devices.
Exceeding statutory speed restrictions.
Treating a red traffic signal as a ‘give way’.
Passing either side of a ‘keep left/right’ sign.
Entering a pedestrian area.
Stopping on a clearway.
Parking on double yellow lines.
Parking on zig zag lines.
Parking on footway/central reservation.
Parking on offside of road after dark.
Showing a white floodlight to the rear of a stationary vehicle.
Driving and parking on the hard shoulder of a motorway.
Using restricted motorway access roads.
Leaving the engine of an unattended vehicle running.

An ambulance driver cannot claim exemptions to the following laws/rules:

Dangerous/careless driving/parking.
Failing to stop after an accident.
Overtaking on zig zags.
Failing to obey a red light on traffic signals controlling a level crossing/airfield/fire stations.
Failing to obey a one way sign/no right or no left turn/one way traffic sign.
Crossing or straddling a solid white line (except as stated in the highway code for all road users).

Z0m81e

249 posts

141 months

Friday 27th March 2015
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dazren said:
Quite remarkable to see a 50 mph limit being enforced going northbound on the M5 near Cribbs Causeway at 6am this morning. You guessed it, clear conditions, no traffic whatsoever. Brings the whole system into disrepute. Give us your money!!!!!!!
I was driving up the M40 earlier and they have those square signs and it had the ! with 50 limit on and so I was paying attention and driving sensibly in the middle lane like a good boy and there before me in the middle of the motorway is full blown step ladder. I mean, how do you not write that rather important piece of information on the sign "holy st people there's a step ladder in the middle lane". Fortunately I got it between the wheels and it fitted under the car but the 6 people on the hard shoulder with punctures had apparently been less fortunate. Its just random half the time they are on for no reason and then when some total clown has deposited a massive chunk of metalwork in the middle lanes its just ! 50, as though somehow driving over a step ladder at 50 is ok. It also goes without saying that the highways agency were nowhere to be seen, presumably sipping coffee in the local services or coning off 4 miles of motorway to change a tyre.