Illegal limit changes?

[xiphias]

This may have been posted before, but a search on the road proved fruitless.

In my local IAM newsletter, there is a reference to a letter in the daily mail, 17th Jan. Apparantly, drivers caught on the A11, after a limit change from 70-30 cannot have their fines enforced. This is because it is illegal to have a speed change greater than 30mph, any greater change must be done in two or more steps. The author also goes on to state how this happened to him on the M6, J40 near Penrith, whereby he pointed this out to a police officer and his fine was dropped.

Is this true? If so, what is the minimum distance between limit changes, and is this another case of refunds due due to a scamera's ineptitude which are seemingly more frequent? Lastly, if you came across this on the road, would you expected to comply with the limit change still, or would you only drop the maximum 30mph?

[_dobbo_]

For it to be 70mph it would have to be Dual Carriageway - so what you are saying is that they changed a DC from NSL to a 30 limit? Seems barmy to me!

Can't comment on the legality but I'd stick to the signed limit myself rather than expecting to dodge a ticket on a technicality.

[polus]

The A11 is a DC. There are major road works near burry St.Edmunds (spelling?) which involve navigating some coned off chicanes - IMO that’s a justifiable 30mph zone.

Which area of the road was this in?

>> Edited by polus on Monday 20th February 22:31

[xiphias]

No idea, it was in a letter and it doesn't say. The author was from Aspatria, Cumbria if that helps.

[Flat in Fifth]

I've not heard of this step change thing unless its hidden in some traffic advisory leaflet.

For ages leaving the M6 southbound at jn 6 to go northbound up the Tyburn road there have been roadworks. The limit goes from 70 to 20 in one shot.

[Dwight VanDriver]

Join you on that FiF.

Nought on their site under Press releases.

May well be a cock up on what parts of Section 84 RTRA 84 used to get the Order for the change. Wrong part used and limit ineffective. Would have thought that at that change of speed a buffer zone 40 before hand.

dvd

>> Edited by Dwight VanDriver on Tuesday 21st February 09:29

[eccles]

polus said:

The A11 is a DC. There are major road works near burry St.Edmunds (spelling?) which involve navigating some coned off chicanes - IMO that’s a justifiable 30mph zone. Which area of the road was this in? >> Edited by polus on Monday 20th February 22:31

the A11 doesnt go within 15 miles of bury-st-edmunds!

the A14 has a 40 limit just past bury on the way to ipswich for road improvements.

[cymtriks]

_dobbo_ said:

For it to be 70mph it would have to be Dual Carriageway - so what you are saying is that they changed a DC from NSL to a 30 limit? Seems barmy to me! Can't comment on the legality but I'd stick to the signed limit myself rather than expecting to dodge a ticket on a technicality.

Exactly the same thing on the Quedgeley bypass just South of Gloucester. Goes from 70 to 30 in one step. Dangerous if you ask me as anyone behind you seems to assume that you'll ignore it untill you actually get closer to the traffic lights a bit further down the road. It used to be a much more resonable 40 but then it was made "safer".

[njwc]

This might be referring to the A11 roadworks thread of a few weeks ago (here), where the limit went from 70 to 30 as a result of roadworks.

The local pratnership decided the best way of ensuring the safety of the workers was to hide a yellow van amongst the other yellow vehicles and issue tickets days after the event, rather than use flashing signs and/or concrete blocks which would have provided a more immediate effect.

[streaky]

njwc said:

... rather than use flashing signs and/or concrete blocks which would have provided a more immediate effect.

Yup. Concrete blocks in the roadway would have provided not only immediate but also highly effective means of speed control - Streaky

[polus]

eccles said:

polus said: The A11 is a DC. There are major road works near burry St.Edmunds (spelling?) which involve navigating some coned off chicanes - IMO that’s a justifiable 30mph zone. Which area of the road was this in? >> Edited by polus on Monday 20th February 22:31 the A11 doesnt go within 15 miles of bury-st-edmunds! the A14 has a 40 limit just past bury on the way to ipswich for road improvements.

oh yeah, forgot about them merging