Variable speed limits
Discussion
Hi all,
I have a question.
I got a NIP in the post. I might have been doing 70 in a 50. The variable speed limit was 50 with congestion warnings.
It was 3am. I could only just about see the car in front of me. Even in the picture you can ony just see the next car. There was no congestion!!!
My question is, What are the rules or guidelines on when these limits and warnings should be removed?
I feel unfairly ticketed as there was no congestion.
Daniel
I have a question.
I got a NIP in the post. I might have been doing 70 in a 50. The variable speed limit was 50 with congestion warnings.
It was 3am. I could only just about see the car in front of me. Even in the picture you can ony just see the next car. There was no congestion!!!
My question is, What are the rules or guidelines on when these limits and warnings should be removed?
I feel unfairly ticketed as there was no congestion.
Daniel
Kwacker said:
Hi all,
My question is, What are the rules or guidelines on when these limits and warnings should be removed?
I feel unfairly ticketed as there was no congestion.
Daniel
None that would do you any good. The only rule is that the prevailing limit was 50, and you broke it.My question is, What are the rules or guidelines on when these limits and warnings should be removed?
I feel unfairly ticketed as there was no congestion.
Daniel
I know it seems unreasonable, but then at 3.00am, with no traffic, I guess getting done at 85 in a 70 would seem unreasonable too, but that's just how it is.
Kwacker said:
It was 3am. I could only just about see the car in front of me. Even in the picture you can ony just see the next car. There was no congestion!!!
My question is, What are the rules or guidelines on when these limits and warnings should be removed?
I feel unfairly ticketed as there was no congestion.
You wouldn’t drive 70 mph in the city centre, past a speed camera and expect to be let off because it’s 3 am and quiet. My question is, What are the rules or guidelines on when these limits and warnings should be removed?
I feel unfairly ticketed as there was no congestion.
Speed showing in a red perimeter sign is mandatory.
Just checked the road signs section on gov.uk for Motorway signs, specifically the roadside lit ones with flashing ambers.
Gov.uk site says advisory.( No red edging).
I was on the M4 west of Cardiff on Sunday and limit of 50 showing (due to adverse weather/road conditions). It had been persistently raining so road was WET. I slowed to 60 and lower in a couple of sections as I felt it a good move. A lot of vehicles sped past easily 70+.
Just checked the road signs section on gov.uk for Motorway signs, specifically the roadside lit ones with flashing ambers.
Gov.uk site says advisory.( No red edging).
I was on the M4 west of Cardiff on Sunday and limit of 50 showing (due to adverse weather/road conditions). It had been persistently raining so road was WET. I slowed to 60 and lower in a couple of sections as I felt it a good move. A lot of vehicles sped past easily 70+.
Kwacker said:
My question is, What are the rules or guidelines on when these limits and warnings should be removed?
On the OP's specific question... Are these set/removed by a person monitoring cameras, or some sensor / AI / Bot?You clearly do get the odd rogue one that's either bust or been left on due to an error
AFAIK the signs can't show every reason for a speed limit for example I've seen a wheel barrow in lane two, a ladder in lanes one and two and a load of pigs' heads across all lanes with the van that had been carrying them on its side.
I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
Riley Blue said:
AFAIK the signs can't show every reason for a speed limit for example I've seen a wheel barrow in lane two, a ladder in lanes one and two and a load of pigs' heads across all lanes with the van that had been carrying them on its side.
I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
Bizarre post.I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
The sign just says “Report of debris” or some such alongside a variable limit.
oyster said:
Riley Blue said:
AFAIK the signs can't show every reason for a speed limit for example I've seen a wheel barrow in lane two, a ladder in lanes one and two and a load of pigs' heads across all lanes with the van that had been carrying them on its side.
I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
Bizarre post.I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
The sign just says “Report of debris” or some such alongside a variable limit.
Kwacker said:
Hi all,
I have a question.
I got a NIP in the post. I might have been doing 70 in a 50. The variable speed limit was 50 with congestion warnings.
It was 3am. I could only just about see the car in front of me. Even in the picture you can ony just see the next car. There was no congestion!!!
My question is, What are the rules or guidelines on when these limits and warnings should be removed?
I feel unfairly ticketed as there was no congestion.
Daniel
You missed (deliberately or otherwise) the speed limit signs.I have a question.
I got a NIP in the post. I might have been doing 70 in a 50. The variable speed limit was 50 with congestion warnings.
It was 3am. I could only just about see the car in front of me. Even in the picture you can ony just see the next car. There was no congestion!!!
My question is, What are the rules or guidelines on when these limits and warnings should be removed?
I feel unfairly ticketed as there was no congestion.
Daniel
You also missed the bright yellow boxes by the side of the road whilst doing so.
(And the gantry-facing ones just ahead of this).
As has been posted many times before, these speed warnings for congestion are set by something known as MIDAS, that is Motorway Incident Detection And Signalling. This is fully automated, set by loops in the carriageway that detect slow moving traffic. It is intended to slow vehicles down so they do not run into the back of a queue either caused by an incident or at an exit slip road, for example.
The most likely reason that speeds were set at that time of the morning is that a roadworks closure had just been removed, otherwise these are tripped by large vehicles travelling slowly, mobile cranes often cause the loops to detect congestion.
It is not a perfect system but does a better job than most people would expect in preventing secondary incidents.
The most likely reason that speeds were set at that time of the morning is that a roadworks closure had just been removed, otherwise these are tripped by large vehicles travelling slowly, mobile cranes often cause the loops to detect congestion.
It is not a perfect system but does a better job than most people would expect in preventing secondary incidents.
When I worked in Cardiff I had a westbound commute home. Just before leaving I’d check the traffic cameras at the likely problem areas. Saved a few delays as alternative routes were taken.
The area just west of Bridgend has some bridges with bends approaching them. Often used by camera vans overlooking the M4. Always worth a glance at the speedo. Lots of braking by cars overtaking!
The area just west of Bridgend has some bridges with bends approaching them. Often used by camera vans overlooking the M4. Always worth a glance at the speedo. Lots of braking by cars overtaking!
Riley Blue said:
AFAIK the signs can't show every reason for a speed limit for example I've seen a wheel barrow in lane two, a ladder in lanes one and two and a load of pigs' heads across all lanes with the van that had been carrying them on its side.
I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
Or ‘BULLINGDON CLUB REUNION PARTY’I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
oyster said:
Riley Blue said:
AFAIK the signs can't show every reason for a speed limit for example I've seen a wheel barrow in lane two, a ladder in lanes one and two and a load of pigs' heads across all lanes with the van that had been carrying them on its side.
I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
Bizarre post.I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
The sign just says “Report of debris” or some such alongside a variable limit.
oyster said:
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
oyster said:
Riley Blue said:
AFAIK the signs can't show every reason for a speed limit for example I've seen a wheel barrow in lane two, a ladder in lanes one and two and a load of pigs' heads across all lanes with the van that had been carrying them on its side.
I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
Bizarre post.I wonder how many drivers would slow if they'd read 'PIGS HEADS' on an overhead gantry.
The sign just says “Report of debris” or some such alongside a variable limit.
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