Police Speed Check Area

[andykent]

I guess this has been asked before, but search didn't pick anything up.... What is the purpose of having a section of road displaying the temporary blue signs "police speed check area" ?

Can other offences be made if you are caught speeding in this type of area ? Also what is the legislation for police activly working in this area? once a day ? More/less often ?

Just curious as there is currently a "police speed check area" in Stoke Mandeville which I pass through each day.

>>> Edited by andykent on Tuesday 13th July 16:20

[Streetcop]

There are a few reasons...

Firstly, there will be a safety issue; either it'll be a speed complaint site, or temporary dangers ie: roadworks. If the sign slows people down, the safety job will have been successful.

Secondly, if somebody is prosecuted for speeding in that particular area on that particular stretch of road, they wont be able to bleat about not knowing the speed limit etc etc

Street

[streaky]

So long as there isn't a pensioner standing beside them ...

[Streetcop]

You mean those with the hair driers pointing at cars?

Street

[r32]

Streetcop said:

There are a few reasons... Firstly, there will be a safety issue; either it'll be a speed complaint site, or temporary dangers ie: roadworks. If the sign slows people down, the safety job will have been successful.

Nah - the police/scamera partnerships use them to fulfil the "warning signs must be placed within x of a speed trap" part of the scamera guidelines. Only problem is the signs are there permanently, not just when there is a speed trap. Hence around my area these signs are on just about every road!

Streetcop said:

Secondly, if somebody is prosecuted for speeding in that particular area on that particular stretch of road, they wont be able to bleat about not knowing the speed limit etc etc

Oh and these signs rarely have the speed limit on them (which would be useful and might help prevent accidents), instead they have a nice camera picture.


If the road was an accident blackspot i still dont understand why we cant have sign that says 'accident blackspot here please take extra care'.. although i guess there's no revenue in that is there..

>> Edited by r32 on Tuesday 13th July 18:45

[Streetcop]

r32 said:

Oh and these signs rarely have the speed limit on them (which would be useful and might help prevent accidents), If the road was an accident blackspot i still dont understand why we cant have sign that says 'accident blackspot here please take extra care'..

What more signs with the speed limit on... There is a large sign displaying the maximum speed limit as you enter the zone. Then if it's a 40/50/60 mph zone there will be repeater signs on lamposts, trees etc. If it's a 30mph zone there will be street lights every 200yds or less. There are enough signs telling people the speed limit without the need for more...

As for 'blackspots'...there aren't around anymore..The Race Equality people have termed the phrase racist, along with 'Black mark next to his name' 'Black sheep of the family' etc etc...

Street

[r32]

Streetcop said:

What more signs with the speed limit on... There is a large sign displaying the maximum speed limit as you enter the zone. Then if it's a 40/50/60 mph zone there will be repeater signs on lamposts, trees etc. If it's a 30mph zone there will be street lights every 200yds or less. There are enough signs telling people the speed limit without the need for more... Street

I thought you'd have realised from the various postings on here that it isnt always as clear cut as this. The example of single/double lane dual carriageway confusion recently posted is one such where a sign displaying the limit might be useful. Especially as long dual carriageways seem to be the favoured haunt of the scamera van.

I have a question regarding exactly what i'm talking about:

I exit the motorway down the slip road to see a blue 'Dual Carriageway' sign at the end of the slip road but no speed signs or 'end of motorway' sign. The dual carriageway has no repeaters but does have streetlights at the outer edges (not in the middle).

I therefore assume that the speed limit is the default of 30? If someone were to assume that it was 70 and be caught by a scamera, that is a very wide margin to be wrong by!



>> Edited by r32 on Tuesday 13th July 19:52

[Streetcop]

It's always 'Clear cut'...There has to be a sign warning of change in speed limit..If it's not there and you get done for speeding, contest it...

As for leaving motorways and there not being a 'End of Motorway' restriction sign..? Where is that...? Report it to the Highway Dept..There has to be such a sign as you leave the motorway.

I'm not harping on about we shouldn't speed and 'I love Scamera Partnerships', I'm just saying that I don't think I've ever been caught out by not knowing what the speed limit was on the road I was travelling on. Should I find myself in such a situation, and the signs had been there and I'd missed them, then it's my own fault and I've nobody else to blame...

Street

ps: I'm not perfect etc etc, but saying you've not seen the signs, isn't a defence to speeding.

[TripleS]

Streetcop said:

It's always 'Clear cut'...There has to be a sign warning of change in speed limit..If it's not there and you get done for speeding, contest it... As for leaving motorways and there not being a 'End of Motorway' restriction sign..? Where is that...? Report it to the Highway Dept..There has to be such a sign as you leave the motorway. I'm not harping on about we shouldn't speed and 'I love Scamera Partnerships', I'm just saying that I don't think I've ever been caught out by not knowing what the speed limit was on the road I was travelling on. Should I find myself in such a situation, and the signs had been there and I'd missed them, then it's my own fault and I've nobody else to blame... Street ps: I'm not perfect etc etc, but saying you've not seen the signs, isn't a defence to speeding.

All that is fair enough, but in all honesty I have seen areas where it can be quite difficult to remember just what speed limit applies to the section of road you are on.

I was travelling in Sussex a couple of years ago and we went through a series of villages, with short stretches of open road between them.

As far as I can recall the speed limit changed quite frequently between 30, 40 and 50 mph which made it difficult to remember just what limit applied at any given moment, as there were so many changes over relatively short distances.

I agree we should always be aware what limit applies, but it does not surprise me that people sometimes have difficulty knowing what to comply with.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[Streetcop]

I agree with some parts of your reasoned arguement, but my point is;

If people find it difficult to concentrate on the changes in speed limit and to spot the signs when travelling at 30/40/50 mph, why do we all think we
are safe to travel in excess of the speed limit?

Afterall, the faster we travel, the less time we have to notice such things like road signs....

Street

[pmanson]

andykent said:

Just curious as there is currently a "police speed check area" in Stoke Mandeville which I pass through each day.

They've been there for months! My mate was caught somewhere around there as well.

Drive that way quite often on the way to the Gutmann gym.

[Boosted Ls1]

Streetcop,

Is it really true we can't say accident blackspot or blacksheep etc? If so thats ridiculous, what is the world coming to. Cheers.