M42- "active traffic management".
Discussion
It has been my unfortunate experience to drive this particular setion today.
I say unfortunate because it is an absolute shambles.
There are so many cameras along the stretch by birmingham airport that its unreal.
And they call it "management".
Cameras on almost every gantry (4 gatsos) per carriageway, thats 8 of the bastards on almost every gantry you drive through.
Cameras on posts every 200 yards.
Signs all over the place, yet the roadsigns make feck all sense...
Looking for the M5 NORTH are we sir? Well a big
you! M5 yes, but no idicator of DIRECTION. Idiots!
Cameras watching the cameras......maybe someone from the highways dept would like to comment on thising messup?
It is THE most stressful section of motorway i have ever had the sorry ass pleasure of driving along, maybe the 25 is worse but who knows, this IS a disgrace all the same.
Whoever instigated this method of "control" needs collectivelyor singularly a gunshot to the temple, either that or an award for "The biggest Dickhead EVER".
Uning real. Morons, just ing MORONS.
I say unfortunate because it is an absolute shambles.
There are so many cameras along the stretch by birmingham airport that its unreal.
And they call it "management".
Cameras on almost every gantry (4 gatsos) per carriageway, thats 8 of the bastards on almost every gantry you drive through.
Cameras on posts every 200 yards.
Signs all over the place, yet the roadsigns make feck all sense...
Looking for the M5 NORTH are we sir? Well a big
you! M5 yes, but no idicator of DIRECTION. Idiots! Cameras watching the cameras......maybe someone from the highways dept would like to comment on this
ing messup? It is THE most stressful section of motorway i have ever had the sorry ass pleasure of driving along, maybe the 25 is worse but who knows, this IS a disgrace all the same.
Whoever instigated this method of "control" needs collectivelyor singularly a gunshot to the temple, either that or an award for "The biggest Dickhead EVER".
Un
ing real. Morons, just ing MORONS.DeltaF, ever since this scheme started I've been saying from day 1 that someone should be sacked for it.
However that did not stop a Labour politician saying it was a huge success before the scheme had even started operation. A scheme which is actually an experiment, and is still an ongoing experiment
I don't know the conditions today but try it on a time when "Randomised speed limits" is selected on the Highways agency computer.
You all think that I'm actually joking when I refer to the randomised speed limit option don't you........
Actually you can easily spot which gantries have cameras and which do not.
Re the lack of signs to M5, where were you going from and to? No signs to M5 and South West? I'll take note next week.
FiF
However that did not stop a Labour politician saying it was a huge success before the scheme had even started operation. A scheme which is actually an experiment, and is still an ongoing experiment
I don't know the conditions today but try it on a time when "Randomised speed limits" is selected on the Highways agency computer.
You all think that I'm actually joking when I refer to the randomised speed limit option don't you........
Actually you can easily spot which gantries have cameras and which do not.
Re the lack of signs to M5, where were you going from and to? No signs to M5 and South West? I'll take note next week.
FiF
Edited by Flat in Fifth on Sunday 3rd September 13:51
Now, now, chill DF.
Before you go out again sit down, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/ge6l2
read and understand.
Methinks Fif will be along shortly to apply the medication.
dvd
Before you go out again sit down, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/ge6l2
read and understand.
Methinks Fif will be along shortly to apply the medication.
dvd
Dwight VanDriver said:
Now, now, chill DF.
Before you go out again sit down, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/ge6l2
read and understand.
Methinks Fif will be along shortly to apply the medication.
dvd
Before you go out again sit down, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/ge6l2
read and understand.
Methinks Fif will be along shortly to apply the medication.
dvd
It's already applied mate...
Petrol , flames, ....
Tis a mess though, and soon all motorways will be like this.
FiF
To use the current PH phrase what really boils my.....
they say
"Monitoring and data collection ...will continue for the duration of the pilot until 2008. Assessments will be made once a sufficient amount of data from the after monitoring period has been collected.
Using this information a business case can be developed to inform decisions on whether Active Traffic Management should be used elsewhere on the English strategic road network."
Yet elsewhere they say,
www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=14934
they say
"Monitoring and data collection ...will continue for the duration of the pilot until 2008. Assessments will be made once a sufficient amount of data from the after monitoring period has been collected.
Using this information a business case can be developed to inform decisions on whether Active Traffic Management should be used elsewhere on the English strategic road network."
Yet elsewhere they say,
www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=14934
Apologies for drifitng sort-of off topic with a general rant, but transport (mis)management has been fubar'd in this country for some time now, it's only when the dying days of an administration seem to give it a shot of morphine that we get the really loony stuff near the end.
There will be hard shoulder death(s) before too long, with or without the cutesie cut-outs.
There will be hard shoulder death(s) before too long, with or without the cutesie cut-outs.
Dwight VanDriver said:
Now, now, chill DF.
Before you go out again sit down, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/ge6l2
read and understand.
Methinks Fif will be along shortly to apply the medication.
dvd
Before you go out again sit down, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/ge6l2
read and understand.
Methinks Fif will be along shortly to apply the medication.
dvd
Scuse me????
I have read it, i understand it, but its still completely wank!
I stand by my original comments, shoot these bastards.
I have to use the 42 sometimes to get to Solihull, so fortunately I am only in the "Active Management" section for a few junctions, but can confirm it is a joke. Was on it a few weeks ago when it was absolutely throwing it down with rain at about 1:30pm. The speed limit, national, and when I say throwing down I mean the rain was bouncing 6 foot back into the air and down again! When I came out of meeting at about 4:30 it was bright and sunny and the road was bone dry. The speed limit, 50! You couldn't make it up.
Would like to add that even though the limit was 70 in the rain, we were doing no where near that as it wasn't safe. Amazing how modern man can adapt to his surroundings without pointless signs.
Would like to add that even though the limit was 70 in the rain, we were doing no where near that as it wasn't safe. Amazing how modern man can adapt to his surroundings without pointless signs.
Also just noticed this on highways website.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras
Used By: Highways Agency Monitoring Consultants
Features: Enables the tracking of where vehicles join and leave the motorway and their journey times
And I thought it was only to catch crims and terrorists.
G Men said:
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras
Used By: Highways Agency Monitoring Consultants
Features: Enables the tracking of where vehicles join and leave the motorway and their journey times
And I thought it was only to catch crims and terrorists.
xanderjones said:
I have to use the 42 sometimes to get to Solihull, so fortunately I am only in the "Active Management" section for a few junctions, but can confirm it is a joke. Was on it a few weeks ago when it was absolutely throwing it down with rain at about 1:30pm. The speed limit, national, and when I say throwing down I mean the rain was bouncing 6 foot back into the air and down again! When I came out of meeting at about 4:30 it was bright and sunny and the road was bone dry. The speed limit, 50! You couldn't make it up.
Would like to add that even though the limit was 70 in the rain, we were doing no where near that as it wasn't safe. Amazing how modern man can adapt to his surroundings without pointless signs.
Would like to add that even though the limit was 70 in the rain, we were doing no where near that as it wasn't safe. Amazing how modern man can adapt to his surroundings without pointless signs.
I'll confirm that situation with heavy rain happens regularly. Last occcasion with me thesigns were blank, 60 was way too quick, 50 pushing it and everyone was down 35-40 which was more than quick enough. All other motorways had warnings about spray and advisory limits up, M42 ATM section nada.
Later same day 50 cos the 'puter says so. Actually it went 60, 50, 50, 60, 40, NSL, 50, NSL. all in sequential matrix gantry displays.
It is easy to tell when the limits are set by the computer and when set by human intervention.
As DF says it's J Arthur Rank.
Where was I coming from to be on it ....?
Oh yeah - coming back from Gloustershire on the Friday before the Bank Holiday Weekend.
Randomised speed limits is right. 50 signs. We were all stationary. Traffic picks up, we all trundle forward as the traffic thins. Speed signs show 60 with the traffic happy at that speed and well spaced. Next gantry changes to 40 as I pass it. 40 on the next three. Then a 60. Then a 50. 60 again. Then changes to 40.
It was like watching those twinkly christmas tree lights.
I take it the cameras automatically change too?
Oh yeah - coming back from Gloustershire on the Friday before the Bank Holiday Weekend.
Randomised speed limits is right. 50 signs. We were all stationary. Traffic picks up, we all trundle forward as the traffic thins. Speed signs show 60 with the traffic happy at that speed and well spaced. Next gantry changes to 40 as I pass it. 40 on the next three. Then a 60. Then a 50. 60 again. Then changes to 40.
It was like watching those twinkly christmas tree lights.
I take it the cameras automatically change too?
Try using this road in the middle of the night - it`s even worse. It is not unknown for the limit to be set at 40 for five miles prior to any roadworks. So theres me and a couple of other wagons trundling along at 40 on a deserted motorwaysimply because we are not sure if the scameras will be triggered. Absolute bollox.
And i`d love to get hold of the clown who regularly sets a limit of 20mph (yes thats right 20mph!!) on the run up to any roadworks on the M25 at 3am. Utter, utter madness.
And i`d love to get hold of the clown who regularly sets a limit of 20mph (yes thats right 20mph!!) on the run up to any roadworks on the M25 at 3am. Utter, utter madness.
Isn't it funny how vonhosen and other "slower is safer" / "the law is the law" types are conspicuous by their absence from threads such as these.
von, do you think that these people are talking rubbish and that every single speed limit ever selected on the M42/M25 has been entirely reasonable? Or should they just slow down for the hell of it, no matter what the safety implications are? It's got to be one or the other, surely. Let's be having you.
Oh yes, and how about answering the actual question this time? Pretty please.
von, do you think that these people are talking rubbish and that every single speed limit ever selected on the M42/M25 has been entirely reasonable? Or should they just slow down for the hell of it, no matter what the safety implications are? It's got to be one or the other, surely. Let's be having you.
Oh yes, and how about answering the actual question this time? Pretty please.
Brother DF, it is precisely this kind of communist insurgency which has compelled me to fit a cruise control and electric Lazee Boyz in my beloved beetle.
I've been up the said stretch quite a bit recently, during night time testing and the setting of 40-50 mph limits during such wee, small hours is flummex twiddling idiocy of a mixture not imposed upon Christendom since Cromwell proscribed bear baiting.
That the signs didn't read 140-150 for such conditions - bone dry, zero traffic and 0100hrs - spoke volumes about the 'variability' of such scheming and indeed the nature of such instruments' employment when they are finally commissioned.
State level peasantry in action, the dogs.
I've been up the said stretch quite a bit recently, during night time testing and the setting of 40-50 mph limits during such wee, small hours is flummex twiddling idiocy of a mixture not imposed upon Christendom since Cromwell proscribed bear baiting.
That the signs didn't read 140-150 for such conditions - bone dry, zero traffic and 0100hrs - spoke volumes about the 'variability' of such scheming and indeed the nature of such instruments' employment when they are finally commissioned.
State level peasantry in action, the dogs.
Time for me to resurrect an old thread...
Drove up this section last week for the first time. I didn't feel particularly safe because I felt like I was on edge constantly watching for speed limit changes or lanes appearing and dissappearing. About the only good thing I can say, is that when the hard shoulder is in use as a lane, all the MLMs seem to move a lane to the left. The downside is that the scameras prevent you making the most of that!
I have no idea on crash statistics, but I know between driving the active part of the M42 and the M6 Toll, that I know which experimental bit of motorway I feel safer on and am willing to pay for.
Drove up this section last week for the first time. I didn't feel particularly safe because I felt like I was on edge constantly watching for speed limit changes or lanes appearing and dissappearing. About the only good thing I can say, is that when the hard shoulder is in use as a lane, all the MLMs seem to move a lane to the left. The downside is that the scameras prevent you making the most of that!
I have no idea on crash statistics, but I know between driving the active part of the M42 and the M6 Toll, that I know which experimental bit of motorway I feel safer on and am willing to pay for.
xanderjones said:
Also just noticed this on highways website.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras
Used By: Highways Agency Monitoring Consultants
Features: Enables the tracking of where vehicles join and leave the motorway and their journey times
And I thought it was only to catch crims and terrorists.
G Men said:
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras
Used By: Highways Agency Monitoring Consultants
Features: Enables the tracking of where vehicles join and leave the motorway and their journey times
And I thought it was only to catch crims and terrorists.
Seriously, this country is turning into 60's East Germany.
Blair's Stazi will be knocking on our doors soon...
cj_eds said:
Drove up this section last week for the first time. I didn't feel particularly safe because I felt like I was on edge constantly watching for speed limit changes or lanes appearing and disappearing.
...this is the crux of it for me too. It is the worst piece of motorway I've ever been on, far outweighing the occasional nonsense of the M25. When drivers have 30-50% of their mind worrying about the speed limit/ lane changes that's 30-50% not worrying about the traffic.
Are there definitely speed cameras on that stretch now?
Damn. Used to enjoy using the A42/M42 to get to Redditch.
One thing about that stretch that really fuels my ps kettle is that people do not seem to care about what lane they use, only what speed they do, and invariably it was always limit minus 5, with no end of tailgating.
Damn. Used to enjoy using the A42/M42 to get to Redditch.
One thing about that stretch that really fuels my p
s kettle is that people do not seem to care about what lane they use, only what speed they do, and invariably it was always limit minus 5, with no end of tailgating.tigger never seen one flash in the active traffic management section.... yet. It may be part of a phased sequence in the trials. Certainly seen some vehicles travelling at speeds which would have been pinged by the roadworks Gatsos when this section was being built.
The lousy lane discipline, even worse than normal, is due to lots of vehicles all doing within 1-2 mph of each other.
The lousy lane discipline, even worse than normal, is due to lots of vehicles all doing within 1-2 mph of each other.
cj_eds said:
Time for me to resurrect an old thread...
Drove up this section last week for the first time. I didn't feel particularly safe because I felt like I was on edge constantly watching for speed limit changes or lanes appearing and dissappearing. About the only good thing I can say, is that when the hard shoulder is in use as a lane, all the MLMs seem to move a lane to the left. The downside is that the scameras prevent you making the most of that!
I have no idea on crash statistics, but I know between driving the active part of the M42 and the M6 Toll, that I know which experimental bit of motorway I feel safer on and am willing to pay for.
Drove up this section last week for the first time. I didn't feel particularly safe because I felt like I was on edge constantly watching for speed limit changes or lanes appearing and dissappearing. About the only good thing I can say, is that when the hard shoulder is in use as a lane, all the MLMs seem to move a lane to the left. The downside is that the scameras prevent you making the most of that!
I have no idea on crash statistics, but I know between driving the active part of the M42 and the M6 Toll, that I know which experimental bit of motorway I feel safer on and am willing to pay for.
I was on it for a couple of junctions each way last Friday. One way, the hard shoulder was open and 50 limit imposed. Very light traffic and wasn't in a rush so no great problem (though why 50 limit with light traffic I don't know!). On the way back, all matrix signs were off. I eventually realised that this meant that the hard shoulder wasn't in use as a lane, but there were no signs saying so. Surely they could put the red X signs on over the h/s to remind people? I could imagine an accident as a result of not doing this.
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