Average speed cameras - Orwell bridge (Ipswich)

[Morningside]

Are they active yet as I notice some say "Camera not working" ?

[Simpo Two]

It takes a special kind of logic to spend tens of thousands of pounds on a speed camera and then hang a 'Not Working' sign on it.

Better than 'Working' though.

Such cameras are gradually sneaking along the whole A12 - and no-one seems to notice or care or wonder why.

[odub]

I don't think they are active yet but there are often police waiting to catch you over 60 mph in the lay-bys either side. I'm not sure what they are trying to achieve as most traffic is doing about 50 mph over the bridge

[baptistsan]

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/road-projects/a14...

93 reported collisions and how many down to excessive speed? Would like to see some more details on these 93 collisions.

[RedAndy]

Logic for them on the bridge is that in heavy traffic, in dark/poor light (twilight) the traffic doing 70 in lane 2 can be caught out by sudden truck movements at 45-55 when another trucker pulls out of the layby on either side of the bridge, or out of the PFS. So if there is a speed limit, the lieklihood and severity of the accidents is greatly reduced.

Installing lights on the bride woudl be my answer, and shutting the laybys, but that's too expensive, and doesnt generate ticket revenue. and apparently the lights would be a distraction and end up in the mass deaths of the wild birds in the estuary, who are not in the least bit bothered by the harbour lights, but would object to bridge lights.

i highlighted t the guy at the drop in session that in rush hour you cant get UP TO 60, let alone limit it there... and in quiet periods the road was designed for 70 so there is no need to limit speed. of course, the Agency knows best

[texaxile]

Totally agree.

That Shell garage on the Westbound side couldn't be put in a more ridiculous place if they tried. It's mostly used by Hauliers who have a tough time pulling out into the traffic, which can get very heavy during rush hour with the people comnig off Nacton and heading out.

Also, the half brained fkwitts at the traffic planning dept in Ipswich have very helpfully managed to gridlock the town centre pretty much most of the day, which when the A14 gets closed due to an Orwell bridge incident manages to exacerbate it even more.

Closing the laybays is arguably the best idea I've heard, they don't really get used much but to be honest they probably serve as a conveneint place for the Roadwork crews to park their gear.

All comes down to £££ I think.

[12att]

If what I've heard is right, the intention was for them to be switched on this morning. I'm not 100% sure if they have been though..

Really can't understand the thought behind it at all.. Would some sort of "lorries in lane 1 only" rule like they have in sections of the autobahn not make more sense? That idea still has its flaws, and wouldn't generate any revenue mind...

[Mrs Muttleysnoop]

OH said he heard on the radio a day or so ago that the cameras are now live. I noticed since the 60 limit the traffic bunches up. The other problem in ASC sections is that people see a camera, jam their brakes on and then accelerate.