A45 Coventry /Warwick bypass - Scamra van causing congestion

[julian427]

I managed to get caught up in congestion this morning, from the A45 / M40 roundabout heading north.

Traffic slowed to crawl , with many lanes on the roundabout stationary, no problem, accident ahead I thought.

So I crawled along for 5 mins, and there, on the bridge was the cause of the congestion - a camera van.

I have 2 points to rant about.

1, Plod must have realised that he was the cause of the congestion, and was not going to catch anyone, why not go somewhere else for richer pickings? Or was he doing a good job, by slowing the traffic flow down to a crawl?

2, Why does everyone feel the need to brake heavily, to 30mph below the limit, and then speed up to 30mph over the limit 2 minutes later?

[mac96]

Not a rant without !

[EU_Foreigner]

2) Rather be well under the limit in case of their devices being wrong perhaps? If they can use their devices to get a speed reading from a brick wall, I would rather not rely on that your 50 is not being recorded as 65 or so.

[TooMany2cvs]

julian427 said:

2, Why does everyone feel the need to brake heavily, to 30mph below the limit, and then speed up to 30mph over the limit 2 minutes later?

Sounds to me like the cause of the congestion was these drivers, not the van.

BTW, the A45 doesn't meet the M40. Do you mean the A46/M40, A45/M45 or A45/M42 junction?

Edited by TooMany2cvs on Tuesday 9th May 14:08

[julian427]

My mistake - M40 / A46 roundabout heading North.

I guess that Plod knew he was causing a massive hold up, but was happy to sit there until after rush hour. This made sure that no one was caught speeding (good) but everyone was a few minutes late (bad), rather than let the traffic flow at its normal NSL.

[Targarama]

If you were on the M40 Northbound then that is a slow spot anyway, in busy times traffic is a little slower there due to bends/services. So add a light lift from all those heading past the junction/van and it will have a knock-on effect. I agree, the van should just move somewhere else, especially if he's getting no 'hits'

[Ozone]

Julian, was this by the first bridge that you come to after joining the A46? It is common for an ANPR van to sit there on the verge just after the bridge.

It is a very busy all around J15 Longbridge island during rush hour.

Also it is very common for a speed camera van to be sitting on the bridge for the Stoneleigh junction where the A46 is 3 lanes as the bridge is on a long curve so you don't see the van until it's too late.

[wsn03]

Ozone said:

Also it is very common for a speed camera van to be sitting on the bridge for the Stoneleigh junction where the A46 is 3 lanes as the bridge is on a long curve so you don't see the van until it's too late.

Although as it does sit there every day, and has done since the late 90s, you'd have to be a bit of turkey to actually get caught by it

[LudaMusser]

The A46 (Stoneleigh exit) has long been a favourite for a camera van, easily fifteen years.

It sits on the flyover and points towards traffic heading away from Coventry towards the M40, Leamington etc. There's a slight curve in the road so it can catch ppl from distance before they can react

Not sure if this is the same location you saw

[WJNB]

Are camera vans manned by Plods then, don't think so.

[eldar]

WJNB said:

Are camera vans manned by Plods then, don't think so.

This says 'Warwickshire Police operates fixed and mobile speed cameras and red light cameras in partnership with Warwickshire County Council as part of our road safety activities."

Do they ever sit in vans or operate speed equipment? No idea.

https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/safetycameras

[anonymous-user]

LudaMusser said:

The A46 (Stoneleigh exit) has long been a favourite for a camera van, easily fifteen years.

It sits on the flyover and points towards traffic heading away from Coventry towards the M40, Leamington etc. There's a slight curve in the road so it can catch ppl from distance before they can react

Not sure if this is the same location you saw

Agreed. In fact probably nearer 20 years!! But the van I believe in question, assuming it was the same one I saw, was on the first bridge you travel under heading north on the A46 away from the M40. Ive not seen it there before and I head down that way most days.

[Sheets Tabuer]

I don't think Warwickshire plod give a stuff, The whole county is littered with speed cameras, 50 limits and old bids with camera guns in the villages.