M4, Newport

[timbo48]

I've been using this road for years now, including the horrendously long period of widening, etc. When that "finished" I really thought that would be it, hold ups etc a thing of the past. But no, both times I've used it on Friday nights recently, and in low traffic conditions, there's been a 50 mph limit on it from the hotel right through to the end of the tunnel with no apparent reason. And the traffic slows down at every gantry which to me seems to be creating dangerous situations of its own.

Anybody got any ideas as to why the limits are there or don't the authorities think we're capable of travelling at more than 50 around the bendy bits.

[DHE]

I've seen reports on the M25 that the variable speed limits actually sped up the flow of traffic during busy times, 50MPH allows more cars per mile of motorway, or something like that.

[covmutley]

I commute to bristol and think Im right in saying the tunnel stretch has been 50 at alltimes ever since the fire. But , weirdly, it wasnt 50 this evening. Perhaps someone read your post op?!!

Also, does anyone know if the cameras work? Cars still seem to go through above the limit. Not me of course.

[Dick Dastardly]

covmutley said:

I commute to bristol and think Im right in saying the tunnel stretch has been 50 at alltimes ever since the fire. But , weirdly, it wasnt 50 this evening. Perhaps someone read your post op?!!

Also, does anyone know if the cameras work? Cars still seem to go through above the limit. Not me of course.

The ones on the Bristol side work, as I found out the hard way last week.

[timbo48]

I'm pretty sure that the ones on the M25 past Heathrow are signed as Varible Speed Limit and on the occassions that I've been through them whilst they're working, yes they do work. What's different about the Newport ones is that there is no Variable Limit signage and therefore everybody seems to speed up and then slow down at every gantry, which defeats the object slightly.......unless of course it's an under-the-counter version of pay as you go roads.

[Firefoot]

What I found on my journeys along there is that people seemed to have gotten so used to the 50 limit during roadworks, that they slow down to 50 when they see a speed camera sign on the gantry now. This is when the sign is blank so you should be doing 70 (as traffic allows obviously).

Around the tunnel is hit and miss, some days it is 50 for no apparent reason, some days it is blank, so 70.

[43034]

Dick Dastardly said:

The ones on the Bristol side work, as I found out the hard way last week.

Is that east or westbound?

There was some talk about the pub last week that they were going to be 'switched on' so to speak, so maybe there's some weight behind that talk.

[Dick Dastardly]

Westbound. I got zapped by the road works at the M4/M5 junction.

[jmorgan]

timbo48 said:

I've been using this road for years now, including the horrendously long period of widening, etc. When that "finished" I really thought that would be it, hold ups etc a thing of the past. But no, both times I've used it on Friday nights recently, and in low traffic conditions, there's been a 50 mph limit on it from the hotel right through to the end of the tunnel with no apparent reason. And the traffic slows down at every gantry which to me seems to be creating dangerous situations of its own.

Anybody got any ideas as to why the limits are there or don't the authorities think we're capable of travelling at more than 50 around the bendy bits.

I wonder if the gas and air shop down Cardiff Bay are micro managing the traffic. I suppose you cannot blame them as every time there is a closure on the M4 for an accident, there is chaos. Junction just after the tunnel west bound does not help and no help from the locals using it as a short cut bumbling along at 50 when 70 or even 60 is available.

On a related note. I can drive from deep in enemy territory down many motorways in slightly inclement weather and the whole of the M4 in Wales has the 50 up and signs warning you it is raining, slow down or we are all going to die.

[Azbo]

It's very simple guys. The reason they don't keep the limits changing at regular times is because people have got used to them and obey the speed limits so the speed cameras create less revenue. However, if for instance it isn't changed back one night there will be a number of drivers with their guards down will have to end up giving them money. I have lived there all my life and have NEVER known it to be an accident black spot and I haver NEVER known the traffic jams as long and as bad as they are now. I'm looking for a car charger for my crystal ball so I know what the speed limits are. Also why the hell does the speed limit have to change 5 time in 6 miles???? I think they should be prosecuted for creating dangerous conditions. They've taken a perfectly good road with no issues and turned it into a disaster area. I think what happens is that they have a hat with different numbers on and they two 5 years olds pick the numbers and dictate the speed limit. The reason the speed limit stayed the same the other night was that it was past the 5 year olds bed time and they couldn't wake them up to pick new numbers as they had school in the morning.

[ratbane]

Azbo said:

It's very simple guys. The reason they don't keep the limits changing at regular times is because people have got used to them and obey the speed limits so the speed cameras create less revenue. However, if for instance it isn't changed back one night there will be a number of drivers with their guards down will have to end up giving them money. I have lived there all my life and have NEVER known it to be an accident black spot and I haver NEVER known the traffic jams as long and as bad as they are now. I'm looking for a car charger for my crystal ball so I know what the speed limits are. Also why the hell does the speed limit have to change 5 time in 6 miles???? I think they should be prosecuted for creating dangerous conditions. They've taken a perfectly good road with no issues and turned it into a disaster area. I think what happens is that they have a hat with different numbers on and they two 5 years olds pick the numbers and dictate the speed limit. The reason the speed limit stayed the same the other night was that it was past the 5 year olds bed time and they couldn't wake them up to pick new numbers as they had school in the morning.

Apparently these type of cameras are so efficient at slowing trafiic down, that the lack of money from fines makes it difficult to maintain them. I think Oxford CC stopped using them at some locations because of that issue.

[pits]

And the cameras aren't on so they generate no revenue, consultation next year about turning them on IIRC

[Azbo]

Excuse me ignorance but what is IIRC? I believe most cameras are there for money. My reason for this is that you never see speed traps by schools or in built up pedestrian areas. I live by a school but I never see any speed traps there for safety?? Unfortunately most things these days are designed to relieve the already hard pressed tax payer of more money. There never was any problem with the M4 near Newport so why waste our tax money on changing something which runs perfectly well?? Unless it makes money, which it does. I have seen more accidents and traffic jams on there now than I have in all the years I've lived there. I am particularly concerned in winter weather because now that we are limited to such low speed limits that it is the norm that HGV's now drive close behind you and you can't pull away from them. My wife uses the M4 a lot and I worry about if she had to brake suddenly because the lorry behind won't be able to stop. I have called the police about this because I set my cruise control to stop me creeping up in speed and when it was pouring down with rain I had a lorry so close behind me that I couldn't see the bottom of his truck in my rear view. Low and behold a week later there was a big accident where in the rain a lorry piled into a car. It is f**king disgraceful that so called professionals have made a stretch of motorway so dangerous. They should be prosecuted

[jmorgan]

Newport always has been a bottle neck as long as I have been driving to and from enemy territory, 1988 or so. Sooner they get a relief road in the better.

But lorry drivers are not the only culprits.

[covmutley]

heads up!

Driving to work in Bristol this morning, the camera on the west bound carriageway just after the tunnels was working. It was flashing cars like a strobe light as I passed it.

[jmorgan]

Seen it going off before. Numerous occasions.

[Dick Dastardly]

I can't picture a camera at that location. Is it quite new?

So this is just after the Newport tunnels, heading towards Cardiff?

[SwissJonese]

Dick Dastardly said:

I can't picture a camera at that location. Is it quite new?

So this is just after the Newport tunnels, heading towards Cardiff?

It would be this camera:-
M4 Speed Camera after Newport Tunnel

[covmutley]

No sorry, next one along I think, on the straight after the 'on' slip road.

I drive along the M4 every day and don;t see any of them flashing usually. it must have flashed at least 7 cars this morning as I approached it.

[Steff]

There are only two cameras west bound and two east bound

West bound -

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5977299,-3.01261...

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6014234,-2.91687...

East bound -

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.5959625,-3.01824...

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.6048124,-2.98440...