M4-Very scary now!
Discussion
I've just got back from picking up my folks from Heathrow and running thru the Viper pit of Wiltshire M4.Time approx 3.30pm.
Well scary...I generally travel at 80/85 mph on motorways mainly to avoid the 'white van man'transits and 3.5 tonners steaming along at 75mph.But we were all bunched up and mixing it with the commercials who,as you know,cant use the third lane resulting in me being sandwiched between 2 lorrys at 70 in middle lane and boxed in by traffic passing at 75ish in the third.The lorry behind was maybe 5 feet off my bumper at times.I dropped back and the gap was filled by another van from the first lane.
This policy will kill people IMO,I just pray I or any anyone else don't become one of the statistics to prove my opinion.
Well scary...I generally travel at 80/85 mph on motorways mainly to avoid the 'white van man'transits and 3.5 tonners steaming along at 75mph.But we were all bunched up and mixing it with the commercials who,as you know,cant use the third lane resulting in me being sandwiched between 2 lorrys at 70 in middle lane and boxed in by traffic passing at 75ish in the third.The lorry behind was maybe 5 feet off my bumper at times.I dropped back and the gap was filled by another van from the first lane.
This policy will kill people IMO,I just pray I or any anyone else don't become one of the statistics to prove my opinion.
VERY INTERESTING!
I hope / think there will be two press releases going out today (Friday) on M4 Protest.
I could REALLY use a few words from regular users of the M4 talking about any changes in the driving experience since the camera vans. Think about the following:
How many camera vans have you seens and how often?
Is traffic behaviour different?
Have you seen panic braking or any strange behaviour near a camera van?
Anything else you want to say?
I can use about 150 words (total) from 4 different folk - so try and crystalise any experiences into a couple of sentences each.
I hope / think there will be two press releases going out today (Friday) on M4 Protest.
I could REALLY use a few words from regular users of the M4 talking about any changes in the driving experience since the camera vans. Think about the following:
How many camera vans have you seens and how often?
Is traffic behaviour different?
Have you seen panic braking or any strange behaviour near a camera van?
Anything else you want to say?
I can use about 150 words (total) from 4 different folk - so try and crystalise any experiences into a couple of sentences each.
damo pumpy said:
mixing it with the commercials who,as you know,cant use the third lane resulting in me being sandwiched between 2 lorrys at 70 in middle lane and boxed in by traffic passing at 75ish in the third.The lorry behind was maybe 5 feet off my bumper at times.
Just as a pointer. The trucks in lane 2 would not be HGVs as they cannot exceed 56mph (unless they are really stupid). From the speed quoted, they woul probably be 7.5 tonners - in which case they can use lane 3.
Sorry to be pedantic, but this is one (of many) pet hate of mine. To the general public, anything bgger than a Tranny van is classed as a truck. 7.5 tonners can be driven on a car licence (if you are old enough) - they are the real danger.
towman said:No comment! - Streaky
mixing it with the commercials who,as you know,cant use the third lane resulting in me being sandwiched between 2 lorrys at 70 in middle lane and boxed in by traffic passing at 75ish in the third.The lorry behind was maybe 5 feet off my bumper at times.
towman said:
mixing it with the commercials who,as you know,cant use the third lane resulting in me being sandwiched between 2 lorrys at 70 in middle lane and boxed in by traffic passing at 75ish in the third.The lorry behind was maybe 5 feet off my bumper at times.
Just as a pointer. The trucks in lane 2 would not be HGVs as they cannot exceed 56mph (unless they are really stupid). From the speed quoted, they woul probably be 7.5 tonners - in which case they can use lane 3.
Sorry to be pedantic, but this is one (of many) pet hate of mine. To the general public, anything bgger than a Tranny van is classed as a truck. 7.5 tonners can be driven on a car licence (if you are old enough) - they are the real danger.
Yes, they often weave in and out of the faster traffic, swaying alarmingly with their high C of Gs. And then they hold up traffic in lane 3 while racing their mates in lane 2.
BTW, the worst for swaying that I've seen are the trucks modified to carry 2 cars, one on the flat bed and one on a lift above it. I sometimes wonder why that would be permissible, but I guess there's no test that controls C of G height?
safespeed said:
VERY INTERESTING!
I hope / think there will be two press releases going out today (Friday) on M4 Protest.
I could REALLY use a few words from regular users of the M4 talking about any changes in the driving experience since the camera vans. Think about the following:
How many camera vans have you seens and how often?
Use that stretch regularily (live off J17!). Before it has been fine. Used it four times in the last week and so far no vans.
safespeed said:
VERY INTERESTING!
Is traffic behaviour different?
Yes, its madness. You get two sorts of people that I have seen. The paranoid who drive at 60 and needlessly dice with lorries. The other being the ones who think that the distances between cars can be much closer than at 80 say. As a result you are constantly braking because some moron has pulled out on you, even though you are doing 75MPH!!!
safespeed said:
VERY INTERESTING!
Have you seen panic braking or any strange behaviour near a camera van?
Not seen a van yet!
safespeed said:
VERY INTERESTING!
Anything else you want to say?
Yes, lots!!
Its a nightmare. So much more bunching than normal. People really bunch together now rather than pacing themselves at a speed they feel comfortable. The biggest one for me though is:
Lorries no own the two inside lanes (1 and 2). They realise that the cars closing on them are going slower (rather than 80+) they can pull out anyway. There was MUCH more of the two truck racing each other situation and you ended up with all the cars in the outside (lane 3) and going nowhere quickly.
Overall progress was slower, more intense driving and certainly NOT relaxing. Constant checking of speed by everyone and the odd monkey who just didnt think, ending up doing 100+ past everyone.... the differential in speed is the dangerous thing here I think!
The accident stats in the last week speak for themselves. In 9 days from operation we have had 4 major smashes. Three times closed and 1 death. In fact, I believe that all of the accidents involved lorries!!!! The death involved a truck hitting the back of a motorway maintenance lorry while it was working (i.e. with lights on I am sure).....
And the Wilts SCP had the gaul to publish a press statement about how much safer the road is when in the morning a poor unfortunate motorway maintenance bloke lost his life!!!! How about that for utter disregard for people!
Traffic flow is NOT improving.
Driving standards ARE dropping
Trucks are more dangerous than before
This scheme WILL kill people!!!!
towman said:
mixing it with the commercials who,as you know,cant use the third lane resulting in me being sandwiched between 2 lorrys at 70 in middle lane and boxed in by traffic passing at 75ish in the third.The lorry behind was maybe 5 feet off my bumper at times.
Just as a pointer. The trucks in lane 2 would not be HGVs as they cannot exceed 56mph (unless they are really stupid). From the speed quoted, they woul probably be 7.5 tonners - in which case they can use lane 3.
Sorry to be pedantic, but this is one (of many) pet hate of mine. To the general public, anything bgger than a Tranny van is classed as a truck. 7.5 tonners can be driven on a car licence (if you are old enough) - they are the real danger.
I thought a test was required for a 7.5 ton wagon now.
off_again said:I'm sorry, you must be using a different M4. Nick Blencowe, Sergeant for the Safety Camera Unit is widely reported to have said: "We have also noticed a much more even flow of traffic, with motorists leaving enough space between vehicles." So, there you have it. He's right and you're wrong. There's no arguing with it.
You get two sorts of people that I have seen. The paranoid who drive at 60 and needlessly dice with lorries. The other being the ones who think that the distances between cars can be much closer than at 80 say. ... Its a nightmare. So much more bunching than normal. People really bunch together now rather than pacing themselves at a speed they feel comfortable.
Streaky
streaky said:
You get two sorts of people that I have seen. The paranoid who drive at 60 and needlessly dice with lorries. The other being the ones who think that the distances between cars can be much closer than at 80 say. ... Its a nightmare. So much more bunching than normal. People really bunch together now rather than pacing themselves at a speed they feel comfortable.
I'm sorry, you must be using a different M4. Nick Blencowe, Sergeant for the Safety Camera Unit is widely reported to have said: "We have also noticed a much more even flow of traffic, with motorists leaving enough space between vehicles." So, there you have it. He's right and you're wrong. There's no arguing with it.
Streaky
oh I stand corrected
Peter Ward said:Buses are tested to determine their C of G when fully loaded. It seems that supermarket lorries need testiung too. A couple of years ago there was a rash of them turning on their sides especially when navigating roundabouts ... IIRC, the loading was highly suspect, with heavy items stacked on top of lighter ones . Well, there has to be some explanation for the powder in crisp packets and cereal boxes
damo pumpy said:
mixing it with the commercials who,as you know,cant use the third lane resulting in me being sandwiched between 2 lorrys at 70 in middle lane and boxed in by traffic passing at 75ish in the third.The lorry behind was maybe 5 feet off my bumper at times.
Just as a pointer. The trucks in lane 2 would not be HGVs as they cannot exceed 56mph (unless they are really stupid). From the speed quoted, they woul probably be 7.5 tonners - in which case they can use lane 3.
Sorry to be pedantic, but this is one (of many) pet hate of mine. To the general public, anything bgger than a Tranny van is classed as a truck. 7.5 tonners can be driven on a car licence (if you are old enough) - they are the real danger.
Yes, they often weave in and out of the faster traffic, swaying alarmingly with their high C of Gs. And then they hold up traffic in lane 3 while racing their mates in lane 2.
BTW, the worst for swaying that I've seen are the trucks modified to carry 2 cars, one on the flat bed and one on a lift above it. I sometimes wonder why that would be permissible, but I guess there's no test that controls C of G height?
- StreakyMy experiences have been slightly different travelling J17 to J16 in the mornings - take a more interesting route home so can't comment on the evening traffic.
None.
Yes - out of choice I have always cruised at or around 70mph on my daily commute - generally this restricted me to the inside & middle lanes, with occasional visits to lane 3. Now traffic is much slower, I am more frequently in lane 3, so far my experience has been that the tailgating is less severe (this may be temporary and there was one car trying to go through the contents of my boot this morning) - the closing speed of cars from behind is noticeably lower. Previously using lane 3 below 75mph more often resulted in agressive tailgating traffic. I've also noticed more traffic in lane 1 - making exiting the motorway more difficult as this is one point where the gaps seem to rapidly shrink.
Not yet - and drivers who know they are at or below the limit won't need to.
Having not yet seen a van (or the bike - could this access the farm crossing bridges?) on a bridge during the morning rush-hour I have a feeling that speeds will start to creep up - two weeks is too short to determine the behavioural changes.
>> Edited by timc on Friday 22 April 23:08
safespeed said:
VERY INTERESTING!
I hope / think there will be two press releases going out today (Friday) on M4 Protest.
I could REALLY use a few words from regular users of the M4 talking about any changes in the driving experience since the camera vans. Think about the following:
How many camera vans have you seens and how often?
None.
safespeed said:
Is traffic behaviour different?
Yes - out of choice I have always cruised at or around 70mph on my daily commute - generally this restricted me to the inside & middle lanes, with occasional visits to lane 3. Now traffic is much slower, I am more frequently in lane 3, so far my experience has been that the tailgating is less severe (this may be temporary and there was one car trying to go through the contents of my boot this morning) - the closing speed of cars from behind is noticeably lower. Previously using lane 3 below 75mph more often resulted in agressive tailgating traffic. I've also noticed more traffic in lane 1 - making exiting the motorway more difficult as this is one point where the gaps seem to rapidly shrink.
safespeed said:
Have you seen panic braking or any strange behaviour near a camera van?
Not yet - and drivers who know they are at or below the limit won't need to.
safespeed said:
Anything else you want to say?
Having not yet seen a van (or the bike - could this access the farm crossing bridges?) on a bridge during the morning rush-hour I have a feeling that speeds will start to creep up - two weeks is too short to determine the behavioural changes.
>> Edited by timc on Friday 22 April 23:08
BliarOut said:
Just as a pointer. The trucks in lane 2 would not be HGVs as they cannot exceed 56mph (unless they are really stupid).
You are so putting words in my mouth towman
I'm saying nothing, you've already said it all for me
Are you implying I`m stupid, you inbred flatlander?
towman said:
towman said:
Just as a pointer. The trucks in lane 2 would not be HGVs as they cannot exceed 56mph (unless they are really stupid).
I'm saying nothing, you've already said it all for me
Are you implying I`m stupid, you inbred flatlander?
Read into it what you will
I'm very pissed and off to bed!
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff