Official - speed cameras cause congestion
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/sout
Camera scrapped to cut tailbacks
A controversial motorway speed camera is being removed in a bid to ease congestion on a section of the M4.
Motorists, braking as they see it, have been blamed for causing tailbacks of up to five miles in the westbound lanes near junction 41 at Port Tablot.
The Welsh Assembly Government said it would be replaced with electronic signs that display the speed of each vehicle but would not record their details.
Tory AM Alun Cairns said the camera's position had always been "nonsensical".
An assembly spokesman said the camera would be removed early in the new year.
He said there were problems with congestion on the westbound lanes of the motorway at Port Talbot.
"We are working with the South Wales Safety Camera Partnership on the M4 junction 41 and will be supplying two electronic vehicle actuated speed display signs," he added.
"These will be located on the westbound side but further east on this 50mph section of motorway."
Mr Cairns, who is South Wales West AM, said he had raised the effectiveness of the camera on several occasions at the assembly.
"This has been an issue for some time because the siting of the speed camera has always been nonsensical," he said.
"Being so close to a junction it causes a lot of congestion where there is not a history of accidents.
"Westbound congestion of a Friday evening regularly tails back in excess of five miles because people break through instinct on observing the camera even when they are travelling within the speed limit."
WAG said there were no plans to remove the nearby speed camera that covered the eastbound lanes.
Camera scrapped to cut tailbacks
A controversial motorway speed camera is being removed in a bid to ease congestion on a section of the M4.
Motorists, braking as they see it, have been blamed for causing tailbacks of up to five miles in the westbound lanes near junction 41 at Port Tablot.
The Welsh Assembly Government said it would be replaced with electronic signs that display the speed of each vehicle but would not record their details.
Tory AM Alun Cairns said the camera's position had always been "nonsensical".
An assembly spokesman said the camera would be removed early in the new year.
He said there were problems with congestion on the westbound lanes of the motorway at Port Talbot.
"We are working with the South Wales Safety Camera Partnership on the M4 junction 41 and will be supplying two electronic vehicle actuated speed display signs," he added.
"These will be located on the westbound side but further east on this 50mph section of motorway."
Mr Cairns, who is South Wales West AM, said he had raised the effectiveness of the camera on several occasions at the assembly.
"This has been an issue for some time because the siting of the speed camera has always been nonsensical," he said.
"Being so close to a junction it causes a lot of congestion where there is not a history of accidents.
"Westbound congestion of a Friday evening regularly tails back in excess of five miles because people break through instinct on observing the camera even when they are travelling within the speed limit."
WAG said there were no plans to remove the nearby speed camera that covered the eastbound lanes.
streaky said:
It's obviously not earning its keep - Streaky
It is actually, there are quite a few people caught here mainly tourists, what the article does not state is that stats show the number of collisions at these camera sites has grown to embarrasing levels during the last few years (way above what was there before) and quite a number of people have started to complaign and question. The SCP involved have been dragging their heels in getting them removed IMO, they should have been questioned the year after they were put there.
About flipping time. That stretch is awful at rush hour and much last minute breaking and lane changing at the best of times. Only problem now will be to look out for the mobile one that will bound to be set up to make a mint. It used to be on the hill side looking east behind a concrete fence type thing.
Its the consortina (spelling?) effect isn't it, panic braking, person behind too close, they brake and so on............ It comes to a stage, two miles before the camara that people end up stationary. Common sense is it not, keep traffic flowing, remove any potential causes of braking. Job done 
- StreakyPigeon said:
jasandjules said:
Won't Somebody pleeeeeaaassee think of the children who will all die on this death trap road now.......
I am. I'm thinking "WTF are they doing running around on the M4? Darwin in action."
LOL..
Don't you know? Poor families, struggling to get enough cash to buy that next can of tenants, or worse, having to forgo the booze as fags are so expensive, can't pay for their children to have expensive games. So they let them play in the traffic............
jmorgan said:
Only problem now will be to look out for the mobile one that will bound to be set up to make a mint. It used to be on the hill side looking east behind a concrete fence type thing.
Yup, this is what will undoubtedly happen - revenue will be increased and so, its effectiveness justified! Bar Stewards!!
This is GREAT NEWS 
All we have to do is drive past cameras very very slowly thus bring Britain to a stand still. If we can get even a minority of drivers to take the p155 then the roads will tail back at every scamer site.
Then those nice chaps from the ministry of safety will have to come along and take them all out!
All we have to do is drive past cameras very very slowly thus bring Britain to a stand still. If we can get even a minority of drivers to take the p155 then the roads will tail back at every scamer site.
Then those nice chaps from the ministry of safety will have to come along and take them all out!
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