Scameras exacerbate congestion
Discussion
Has anyone else noticed how lane discipline and congestion is much worse on dual carriageways and motorways that have scameras?
Some drivers seem to be so focused on their speedo on the approach to a camera that they completely lose sight of whether the lane to their left is clear. In fact many drivers seem incapable of changing lanes when there is a camera nearby.
Some drivers seem to be so focused on their speedo on the approach to a camera that they completely lose sight of whether the lane to their left is clear. In fact many drivers seem incapable of changing lanes when there is a camera nearby.
And the traffic doesn't flow.
Cars simply don't go at 70mph on the motorways ; they go a little higher than this (assuming non-jam conditions).
The reason is that at 70mph the traffic just becomes a solid mass with almost everyone proceeding at the same speed.
Some vehicles cannot (e.g. lorries) but cars cannot overtake because the other vehicles overtaking are sticking to the limit and only going 5-6mph maybe faster than the truck ; so the obstruction never clears, there is always a queue of traffic waiting for the vehicles to overtake.
You see this every time trafpol are on a 70mph limit, the traffic slows down and snags up more or less instantly. Even if the road is empty, blocks appear because of non-overtaking. Everyone is thinking (IMO) do I speed up and get past ... or stick to the limit. Most choose the latter, understandably.
Without the limit, most drivers would up to 75-80 mph immediately and clear the obstruction.
Cars simply don't go at 70mph on the motorways ; they go a little higher than this (assuming non-jam conditions).
The reason is that at 70mph the traffic just becomes a solid mass with almost everyone proceeding at the same speed.
Some vehicles cannot (e.g. lorries) but cars cannot overtake because the other vehicles overtaking are sticking to the limit and only going 5-6mph maybe faster than the truck ; so the obstruction never clears, there is always a queue of traffic waiting for the vehicles to overtake.
You see this every time trafpol are on a 70mph limit, the traffic slows down and snags up more or less instantly. Even if the road is empty, blocks appear because of non-overtaking. Everyone is thinking (IMO) do I speed up and get past ... or stick to the limit. Most choose the latter, understandably.
Without the limit, most drivers would up to 75-80 mph immediately and clear the obstruction.
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