bhouse Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Motorway roadworks often have average speed cameras monitoring the traffic, and the posted limit is typically 50mph. I tend to go through them using the GPS to make sure sure that my average doesn't exceed 50, while others glide past me at what seems to be a constant 55/56/58/60mph with impunity. I'm sure you all do the same as me, but I bet many of us have friends who regularly exceed the 50 without suffering a fixed penalty notice. I'm sure there's some leeway in the allowed speed but the question is "how much?" Hence the poll. What speed does your friend or acquaintance drive through the 50 areas without a summons? And if anyone has been done for exceeding the limit, what speed were you doing? n.b this poll is extremely unscientific but potentially interesting/amusing. Anyone choosing to exceed a posted speed limit does so at their own risk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Colonial Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Only experience I have is a friend who was done for doing 48 through a 40 section, but bear in mind that his speedo was probably reading 50-51 at the time. He was upset but also knew he was in the wrong so more upset with himself. I know what you mean about drivers blasting through seemingly untouched. Time was that as long as you changed lanes between cameras you could get away with it, but technology moves on and that isn't the case any more. However, and I know this may cause some controversy, I am in favour of them in roadwork areas at whatever time of day or night, regardless of whether or not someone is working. A traffic cone is not going to protect someone in a yellow jacket from a speeding car, but it's also not going to protect the speeding car that loses control when no one is there which then ploughs into a lump of concrete or heavy machinery parked at the side of the carriageway. On a section without roadworks, well, that's a very different argument with too many variables to answer conclusively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajpearson Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Got to admit i normally ignore the average speed cameras on the Motorway, but maybe not anymore. No speeding tickets for 13 years, and then two in four weeks !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreigM Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 In a 50 limit I set 55 on the GPS (so long as I assume there is no extra danger in doing so) and have never been ticketed. I believe they generally set the minimum threshold at limit + 10% + 2mph. So in a 50 limit, you'd have to be doing 57+ on GPS to get ticketed, and even then I believe the limits are set a fair bit higher (no guarantees on that though). Given my 55mph will see 60 on the speedo, I suppose I will look to be going quick to other cars who are in reality sitting about 45mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Banks Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Using GPS to monitor "acurate" speed will always see you going faster than those doing 50ish by their speedo, clearly. I've not pushed much beyond 52/53 on GPS and yet cars and vans still sail past me. I don't know anyone who has been ticketed for exceeding the limit through roadworks. It's not a problem for me really, just winds me up when the numpties speed past at 60 and then jam on their brakes when they see a camera, completly pointless and wasteful - often when out of the 50 zone I catch them up and they are stuck inthe middle lane at 65! And another thing... why do some drivers poodle at 40ish on 50/60 limit B roads and still keep the same speed when they enter a 30 zone! nunneys the lot of em... [/todays rant over] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cast iron Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I know of 3 people done on the A1 stretch down from the A19 junction this year, all around 58 59 MPH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XTR2Turbo Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I know of someone receiving an NIP for 60 on M25 50 section near the building of the new services. I have to say that I hate average speed cameras in dense traffic conditions. I understand the road worker argument but it seems to me that the traffic just groups right up and especially lorries pressure cars in front which is altogether more dangerous. No accident at 70 must be safer than an accident at 50. In my view too much empthasis is placed on the consequences of an accident at lower speed rather than the increased likelihood of one occuring. There seem more accidents on the M1 restricted section near me than anywhere else I know of. I think in road works lorries should be restricted to Lane 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleggy the Spyder Man Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 there's lot of "I have a m8 who" going on in here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
langy Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Why do you think they have average speed camera's in roadworks ? I can assure you it's nothing to do with making money, p******** motorists off ? The fundamental reason why there is a speed limit is to keep the people working behind the cones or Variogaurd (that’s the continuous metal barrier) safe and don't get wiped out by some muppet driving past who is updating there farcebook to moan about being restricted to 50 mph and no one is working. Trust me a few cones and rope provide absolutely no protection whatsoever. The metal barrier (if hit at 50 mph) is designed to move by up to 600mm and trust me it does. I’ve been working (well managing from the office) on the stretch of the M1 between junction 10 and 13 for the last 2.5 years, so I know exactly what it’s like working in roadworks and it’s not a great environment. Behind the Variogaurd you do feel a bit more segregated (read safer) from the travelling public than the cones, but either way, not massively enjoyable. The average speed camera’s in our section of works do work and a considerable number of motorists get prosecuted. The local safety camera partnership deal with issuing FPN’s and the like, so we don’t know exactly how many get caught. If there one bit of advice I ever give and people take on board it is: Please stick to the speed limit through roadwork’s, if you have an accident and enter the works area, I might be the other side of the cones and may not be quick enough to jump out of the way. Thanks for listening and please take it on board. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howard Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I usually set my cruise control at 50mph on the GPS when entering motorway roadworks marked as such, and yes there's always folks sailing past much faster. I say usually; late on Christmas eve 2010 I was on the M25. It was practically deserted. After a couple of miles into the conta-flow (no works being carried out) I realised I'd not done my usual routine and my speed had crept up slightly. I set my cruise control and hoped for the best. Two weeks later and I received a NIP for doing 61. No excuse of course but that doesn't make it any less annoying. To make matters worse, last month I got nabbed for 38 in a 30. Been out for lunch to celebrate Emma's birthday. Dual carriageway 40mph, narrows to single carriageway 40mph, then drops to 30mph. Static police van filming about 100 yards inside the 30mph area. Again, hands up, I was exceeding the limit, but, you know..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamnreeves Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I wouldn't be surprised if it were peak and average so be careful. Me, after the first camera speed up really quickly and then pull over before the second one and get my flask out. Seriously, isn't it just easier to stick to 50mph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zvezdochka Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Work colleague got a fine and points doing 44.1 mph in a 40 average speed zone on M6 Thelwall roadworks a few years ago. I am not sure the +10% +2 mph rule applies universally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Eastwood (Gadgetman) - Club Chairman Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 A previous neighbour was done in the average speed cameras in one of the big rounds of M6 roadworks a few years ago. I can't remember the figures though. I'm afraid I'm one of those that just bung the car in cruise now in those camera controlled sections. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CL290005 Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 I think in general that the speed cameras are there for a very good reason, have you never had to get out on a motorway and wait well in my opinion not a nice experience, something I do not want to repeat and these guys do it all day long. I know people who set these up and I would not want to be quoted if you get done, but I was informed that he will set them up at 10mph above the limit, may be others do it different. The ground working companies have these in their packages so its a cost to their bottom line, again do not quote me but because they cost considerable sums to install all cameras do not record, there is a way to see which ones are but I cannot remember. Even if I did, I think we should where there are workers slow down, it generally does not make a hugh difference to journey time unless tehre is an incident. So may be thats why you see some people flying past and not caring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedditchJay Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 i always pin the cruise at 50mph as they are there for a reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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