M25 Variable Limit

[Midnight Blue]

Does anyone here know who is responsible for adjusting the variable speed limit on the western section of the M25? While driving clockwise past junction 14 on Tuesday night at 10:30pm there was a posted limit of 40mph. This annoyed me slightly as the traffic was light, visibility was good and the road was nearly dry. It really started to wind me up when a car 300-400 yards behind me got flashed as at passed under a gantry. This motorist was not doing anything dangerous, but legally I bet he doesn't have a leg to stand on. The final insult was just after midday on Wednesday, on the same piece of road. It was pouring with rain, packed with traffic and covered with a huge cloud of spray. Traffic was nose to tail at 50mph and there was no reduced limit! I'm assuming (possibly wrongly) that there is someone responsible for moitoring the traffic and setting the limit at an appropriate level. Someone needs to complain about this situation, and I'm happy give it a go. I had almost accepted that speed cameras had a part to play in road safety. Now I find it hard to accept that they can be trusted as judge and jury on our roads.

[Roy C]

This has been a problem since the variable limit began. It actually seems to work better than a fixed 70 limit and traffic usually keeps flowing, rather than stopping. However, I have been driving on the variable limit section late at night with almost no traffic, but the limit set at 40 or 50.

[tuscanboy]

I think the variable speed on clear sections of motorway in fine weather is based on the following calculation 70MPH minus Percentage of shortfall in fixed penalty revenue target

[adrianr]

I call them jam generators. On more than one occasion I've been driving in heavy but smooth flowing traffic until I approach the variable section whereupon everyone slows to whatever arbitrary limit and we're into stop-start again, especially when the limits go up & down every section so people start slowing down in advance before they can read what the posted speed is. They do have one advantage - they are teaching us that it is possible to safely overtake on the left on motorways, which has got to help maximise use of available tarmac. Cheers, AdrianR Edited by adrianr on Friday 4th May 14:10