M42: 60. 60, 50, 60, 50, 50, 60, 50, 60, 60, 50, 50, 60 WTF?
Discussion
Got really wound up on the M42 last week, I thought I understood how a 'variable speed limit' was supposed to work: different times of day lead to different traffic conditions so to manage jams they can drop the limit from 70, to 60 or even 50 or 40mph.
What I was not expecting was the seemingly random increases and decreases on a drive along a single 5 mile stretch of road. I had to be bloody careful because despite setting my cruise to the prevailing limit per GPS I felt like I was going to get caught out with the constant increases and decreases and make the appropriate adjustments.
Anyone know if that's how it's supposed to work?
Cheers,
What I was not expecting was the seemingly random increases and decreases on a drive along a single 5 mile stretch of road. I had to be bloody careful because despite setting my cruise to the prevailing limit per GPS I felt like I was going to get caught out with the constant increases and decreases and make the appropriate adjustments.
Anyone know if that's how it's supposed to work?
Cheers,
I don't know if there are any guidelines about the number of limit changes in a given distance, but perhaps there should be.
I drove to Minehead a while back down a A road which suffered a similar problem 30,40,60,40,50,60,40,30 etc etc - like a yo-yo. It doees require concentration that would be better spent watching the road.
I drove to Minehead a while back down a A road which suffered a similar problem 30,40,60,40,50,60,40,30 etc etc - like a yo-yo. It doees require concentration that would be better spent watching the road.
.
I think I may have got done by these on the M6 the other week.
The normal 40, 60, 40, 50, 60, 40. Was pootling along at 55mph in lane 1 with little traffic for at least 300 yards when I went through a 40. Now I didnt see no flash but it was a bright day, do you think I would have seen it?
I realised my speed just as I went under so I was looking for it. Unfortunately for my conscious I didnt notice if there was actually a camera on the gantry. If there was, then Mr Mk2 FRS that was passing me will also be picking up 3 points.
The normal 40, 60, 40, 50, 60, 40. Was pootling along at 55mph in lane 1 with little traffic for at least 300 yards when I went through a 40. Now I didnt see no flash but it was a bright day, do you think I would have seen it?
I realised my speed just as I went under so I was looking for it. Unfortunately for my conscious I didnt notice if there was actually a camera on the gantry. If there was, then Mr Mk2 FRS that was passing me will also be picking up 3 points.
About as useful as the "Spray Possible" signs... Can't wait for the "No meteorite strikes recorded on this stretch of motorway - yet" sign along with the instant smash hit "You never know, you might cop off with your really sexy neighbour"
Could the road signs be any less helpful these days? Some of them are verging on surreal and trying to wade through some of the forests of signage takes 99% of your concentration...
Previous poster is right though, those variable speed cameras are quite generous. How much are Polish licence plates anyway?
Could the road signs be any less helpful these days? Some of them are verging on surreal and trying to wade through some of the forests of signage takes 99% of your concentration...
Previous poster is right though, those variable speed cameras are quite generous. How much are Polish licence plates anyway?
CrookedSheep said:
I think I may have got done by these on the M6 the other week.
The normal 40, 60, 40, 50, 60, 40. Was pootling along at 55mph in lane 1 with little traffic for at least 300 yards when I went through a 40. Now I didnt see no flash but it was a bright day, do you think I would have seen it?
I realised my speed just as I went under so I was looking for it. Unfortunately for my conscious I didnt notice if there was actually a camera on the gantry. If there was, then Mr Mk2 FRS that was passing me will also be picking up 3 points.
I wouldn't worry too much tbh. I've seen the ones on the M42 flash a couple of times (on the opposite carriageway ) but I think you've really got to be going a fair bit over the posted limit to provoke them. My colleagues and myself are always up and down that section of the M6 and I've never heard anyone have a bad experience yet (and we like to get where we're going). The normal 40, 60, 40, 50, 60, 40. Was pootling along at 55mph in lane 1 with little traffic for at least 300 yards when I went through a 40. Now I didnt see no flash but it was a bright day, do you think I would have seen it?
I realised my speed just as I went under so I was looking for it. Unfortunately for my conscious I didnt notice if there was actually a camera on the gantry. If there was, then Mr Mk2 FRS that was passing me will also be picking up 3 points.
Baz Tench said:
CrookedSheep said:
I think I may have got done by these on the M6 the other week.
The normal 40, 60, 40, 50, 60, 40. Was pootling along at 55mph in lane 1 with little traffic for at least 300 yards when I went through a 40. Now I didnt see no flash but it was a bright day, do you think I would have seen it?
I realised my speed just as I went under so I was looking for it. Unfortunately for my conscious I didnt notice if there was actually a camera on the gantry. If there was, then Mr Mk2 FRS that was passing me will also be picking up 3 points.
I wouldn't worry too much tbh. I've seen the ones on the M42 flash a couple of times (on the opposite carriageway ) but I think you've really got to be going a fair bit over the posted limit to provoke them. My colleagues and myself are always up and down that section of the M6 and I've never heard anyone have a bad experience yet (and we like to get where we're going). The normal 40, 60, 40, 50, 60, 40. Was pootling along at 55mph in lane 1 with little traffic for at least 300 yards when I went through a 40. Now I didnt see no flash but it was a bright day, do you think I would have seen it?
I realised my speed just as I went under so I was looking for it. Unfortunately for my conscious I didnt notice if there was actually a camera on the gantry. If there was, then Mr Mk2 FRS that was passing me will also be picking up 3 points.
CrookedSheep said:
Thats comforting, thanks. Though I'd say 15mph over is quite a bit. The thing is its fair game if it was 55mph in 40 by Gatso, but slowing to 40mph on what is a very clear motorway on a lovely spring afternoon just felt so alien, dangerously slow like.
The same thing has happened to me many times. Touch wood, nothing bad has come of it. 
I travel these (M42 and M6) on a regular basis and hate them.
As a purveyor of 6 points myself, I dont take any risks and travel with them even if they are against the flow of traffic. I tend to stick in the inside lane to achieve it even though lorries are up my chuff asking me to speed up while going through a 40, then up to 50, then down to 40.
The ones heading on to teh M6 Toll are the worst as all lanes are subject to the speed limit change but only the 2 inside lanes get snarled up (heading off onto the M42) yet the lanes dedicated for the toll road are clear, yet still require you to go at 40.
BTW only 1 in 3 or so of the gantrys actually have cameras on them, so to the chap who went through a bit over, you should be ok.
Very dangerous IMO
As a purveyor of 6 points myself, I dont take any risks and travel with them even if they are against the flow of traffic. I tend to stick in the inside lane to achieve it even though lorries are up my chuff asking me to speed up while going through a 40, then up to 50, then down to 40.
The ones heading on to teh M6 Toll are the worst as all lanes are subject to the speed limit change but only the 2 inside lanes get snarled up (heading off onto the M42) yet the lanes dedicated for the toll road are clear, yet still require you to go at 40.
BTW only 1 in 3 or so of the gantrys actually have cameras on them, so to the chap who went through a bit over, you should be ok.
Very dangerous IMO
I've said it before, I hate the m42 for these cameras and their constantly changing limits. The only ticket I have had driving in the last 11 years in the uk was 57 when the camera was showing a 50 limit... And the motorway was almost empty 
What happens here...
The last limit you passed in your lane read 60. What speed limit will it now be based on this?
Eta:
What happens here...
The last limit you passed in your lane read 60. What speed limit will it now be based on this?
Eta:
Edited by kiwifraser on Wednesday 23 March 05:35
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