Speed cameras on M20 (Maids), do they work?
Discussion
Just started commuting along tat stretch of road, and most evenings the limits are set to 60mph. I thought the cameras worked the same as the M25 system, whereby if the speed limits are reduced (the overhead signs are on) then the cameras are operational. Given the amount of people that ignore the signs when they are on, I'm wondering whether the speed cameras actually work, or whether hundreds of people a day are getting fines through?
Was willing to give these a shot, if they were going to help traffic, but the last two days have confirmed that they are simply being used as a cash cow.
Last night, 6pm, got on the M20 at the Kings Hill junction, mandatory 60mph which was fair enough because the traffic was quite heavy. One junction later and the speed limit dropped to 50mph, but the traffic was a little lighter. At the A229 turn off, where half the traffic disappears the limit was then dropped to 40mph. Just as the traffic got a lot more free flowing and everyone started thinking of speeding up slightly, everyone had to slam on their brakes!
Then, the past two mornings, London bound, at roughly 8.30am, the limit has been set to a mandatory 60mph, even though the traffic level could be set at moderate at best!
Last night, 6pm, got on the M20 at the Kings Hill junction, mandatory 60mph which was fair enough because the traffic was quite heavy. One junction later and the speed limit dropped to 50mph, but the traffic was a little lighter. At the A229 turn off, where half the traffic disappears the limit was then dropped to 40mph. Just as the traffic got a lot more free flowing and everyone started thinking of speeding up slightly, everyone had to slam on their brakes!
Then, the past two mornings, London bound, at roughly 8.30am, the limit has been set to a mandatory 60mph, even though the traffic level could be set at moderate at best!
I was going to find this thread today and post the very same thing! For the last two weeks junction 7-6 has been 50mph where it is generally clear (always has been at 8.30-8.50ish when I've gone through), and then goes up to 60mph for j6-5. The irony is that the variable limits section ends at junction 5, and it is junction 4 where I always come up against traffic.
Southbound in the evening is just as bad. I leave work at 17.45-18.00, getting on at junction 3. Other than traffic around junction 3, up to 4 (where there are no variable limits), I generally get a nice clear run through, though I can guarantee that the limits will be on 50/60mph through junctions 4-7 despite the motorway being clear.
I've come to the conclusion now that they put them on everyday during "rush hour" whether the traffic is bad or not, because to only put them on when traffic is bad (which would amount to once or twice every fortnight) would be tantamount to admitting that they were a big waste of money in the first place!
Southbound in the evening is just as bad. I leave work at 17.45-18.00, getting on at junction 3. Other than traffic around junction 3, up to 4 (where there are no variable limits), I generally get a nice clear run through, though I can guarantee that the limits will be on 50/60mph through junctions 4-7 despite the motorway being clear.
I've come to the conclusion now that they put them on everyday during "rush hour" whether the traffic is bad or not, because to only put them on when traffic is bad (which would amount to once or twice every fortnight) would be tantamount to admitting that they were a big waste of money in the first place!
Quite, for the last 2 weeks, between junction 7 and 6 the limits have been set to 50mph, for when I've gone through at 8.30/8.45am. Again, absolutely no reason, traffic really isn't that heavy at that time - apart from when there is really heavy rain and everyone slows down because of the awful spray we get along the M20.
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