M48 Severn Bridge to M4 junction - 50mph limit

[this is my username]

Yesterday drove along the M48 westbound from the Severn bridge to where it joins the M4 near Magor. The whole distance was a temporary 50mph limit - temporary in the sense that the signs were up on trestles rather than being permanent. I made the mistake of driving down it at 50mph and have never been so far from the pace of other traffic as a result of driving at the speed limit - cars, vans and trucks were flying past and it seems that I was the only vehicle paying any attention at all to the limit.

One van driver was so engrossed in his phone that he nearly hit us from behind and went past sounding his horn and giving me the finger.

Anyone know what is going on along there - there were no signs of any works or hazards, it was very much just a normal stretch of 2-lane motorway, so why the 50 limit?

Edit - just found that it is due to the "road restraint system" being in poor shape. I think the self-restraint of he drivers on there was probably more of an issue ....

Edited by this is my username on Saturday 28th February 09:52

[brillomaster]

Generally... 50mph speed limits on motorways generally get ignored, unless a) they're on an overhead gantry with cameras, or b) accompanied by yellow average speed cameras, in which case, I dont actually slow to 50 until I reach the first camera.

So far so good for me, havent been caught speeding in a 50 section on a motorway in 18 years of driving.

[GSA_fattie]

ooh don't say that, the Hollier than thou will be slithering out of the toilet to tell you what a poor example you are and its people like you……

you can guess the rest

I thought at one time limits were going to be 60 at road works to allow faster traffic not to be bunched with lorries?

Clearly not – a common-sense idea so the road safety blob would have knocked it on the head

then again i thought we were never going to get cameras on motorways like we do....
such is life.......

[pits]

this is my username said:

Yesterday drove along the M48 westbound from the Severn bridge to where it joins the M4 near Magor. The whole distance was a temporary 50mph limit - temporary in the sense that the signs were up on trestles rather than being permanent. I made the mistake of driving down it at 50mph and have never been so far from the pace of other traffic as a result of driving at the speed limit - cars, vans and trucks were flying past and it seems that I was the only vehicle paying any attention at all to the limit.

One van driver was so engrossed in his phone that he nearly hit us from behind and went past sounding his horn and giving me the finger.

Anyone know what is going on along there - there were no signs of any works or hazards, it was very much just a normal stretch of 2-lane motorway, so why the 50 limit?

Edit - just found that it is due to the "road restraint system" being in poor shape. I think the self-restraint of he drivers on there was probably more of an issue ....

Edited by this is my username on Saturday 28th February 09:52

The barrier is knackered and needs replacing, it's been like that for years and years and no sign of it being replaced and people are just pissed off not to care about the speed limit on there anymore.

[Plus4Four#]

The stretch past Swansea near the DVLA has been similar for years. 50 signs on the verges held down by sandbags with no signs of any problems. Apparently the TFL has had several repeats. There is one small wet patch in the eastbound carriageway with a " flood" sign. Looks like a spring/ poor drainage that is defying remedial work.
Also the A40 Abergavenny to where it joins the A449 dual carriageway is 50 with signs stating unsafe central barriers.

[Simpo Two]

pits said:

The barrier is knackered and needs replacing, it's been like that for years and years and no sign of it being replaced and people are just pissed off not to care about the speed limit on there anymore.

After a while the locals realise there's nothing to see so carry on as usual. I don't blame them; it's the limit that shouldn't be there. Put the limit in when work starts and take it away afterwards.

There are far too many 'roadworks' situations that make no sense yet we simply grimace and put up with them, the powers-that-be seemingly blind to the nonsense they devised. But never mind, the country is far too rich and too productive so I guess we all need to spend more time sitting in cars doing nothing...

[x type]

The stretch near DVLA is 50mph because at the time about 12 years ago when it was set up there were many accidents , it was supposed to be temporary .

Apparently it was agreed for 5 years but wasn't renewed until about 10 years after , haven't seen a speed camera near it for many years , used to be a camera van on the bridge over motorway