Crackdown On Motorway Speeding
Drivers who go above 70mph on one of the country’s busiest motorways are facing a police crackdown using speed cameras.Ususally motorists can go above the official speed limit on the motorway network unless it is significantly above the limit.But the soft approach to enforcing the law has come to an end on the M4 where between juntion 14 and 18 drivers exceeding the speed limit will face a £60 fine and three penalty points on their licence for speeding by as little as nine mph.
Normal police patrols tend to only book people who drive at 85mph.
Cameras in marked vans will enforce the new policy in Wiltshire near Bath.
The Wiltshire and Swindon Safety Camera Partnership, which includes the police and county council, is behind the new measures.
Signs willl tell people they are entering a speed trap area.
A spokeswoman for the partnership said: "People aren’t supposed to slow down just because they have seen a camers.
“They are supposed to slow down because it is the law.”
Despite the increased speed on motorways they are actually safer than other roads.
There were nine crashes per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled in 2003, compared to 76 on urban A roads.
A spokeswoman for the partnership said: "People aren’t supposed to slow down just because they have seen a camers.
“They are supposed to slow down because it is the law.”
But we all know that people do tend to brake when they see a camera. I see it and experience it every day on the M42.
Not impressed with this plan. What does anybody else think?
Calv
I don’t know how you cope with the M42 round the east side of Brum with those cameras. I will go miles out of my way to avoid that stretch because of the idiot drivers who feel it is necessary to block all 3 lanes all doing 45mph and then slowing to 35mph to go past the cameras in a 50mph limit. It really me off. The same applies to the M62 at Ferrybridge as well for that matter.
[zb].
Much as I agree with the sentiment, it had to go! L.
A spokeswoman for the partnership said: "People aren’t supposed to slow down just because they have seen a camers.
“They are supposed to slow down because it is the law.”
But we all know that people do tend to brake when they see a camera. I see it and experience it every day on the M42.
Not impressed with this plan. What does anybody else think?
Calv
I don’t know how you cope with the M42 round the east side of Brum with those cameras. I will go miles out of my way to avoid that stretch because of the idiot drivers who feel it is necessary to block all 3 lanes all doing 45mph and then slowing to 35mph to go past the cameras in a 50mph limit. It really me off. The same applies to the M62 at Ferrybridge as well for that matter.
[zb].
i know i agree if in the road works and the limit is 50 do bloody 50 or even 48 but those who go through at 35 ish want shoving off the bloody rd.
im one of those whose attitude is if in a car on the motorway when the limit is 70 if you cant do 60/65 well dont go on the bloody rd then.
A spokeswoman for the partnership said: "People aren’t supposed to slow down just because they have seen a camers.
“They are supposed to slow down because it is the law.”
But we all know that people do tend to brake when they see a camera. I see it and experience it every day on the M42.
Not impressed with this plan. What does anybody else think?
Calv
I don’t know how you cope with the M42 round the east side of Brum with those cameras. I will go miles out of my way to avoid that stretch because of the idiot drivers who feel it is necessary to block all 3 lanes all doing 45mph and then slowing to 35mph to go past the cameras in a 50mph limit. It really me off. The same applies to the M62 at Ferrybridge as well for that matter.
[zb].
Those signs on the gantries above are advisory speed limits as they don’t have the red border.
The active cameras are 50mph, and despite my earlier misgivings about not trusting them I went through it this morning at 50 and neither triggered. Then again, I had a TM truck so close up me back end they would have flashed him instead Are there cameras planned for the gantries??
There are 4 Gatso’s left now I think. Around junction 6 (NEC). One was flashing away tonight on the opposite carriageway. AFAIK no cameras are fitted on the gantries yet but the markings are there on the road ready. I think they will work in the same way as the M25 ones.
Must be a good contract for the builders, they’ve been on it almost 2 years and still not finished - Summer I think when it all goes live and we can start using the hard shoulder when it gets busy…
Calv:
Must be a good contract for the builders, they’ve been on it almost 2 years and still not finished - Summer I think when it all goes live and we can start using the hard shoulder when it gets busy…
Calv
Yeah, I was chatting to them last night actually. Seems they’ve overrun on the project by about 18 months or so They had lots of problems when putting the gantries in as the ground was too soft at the side of the road
But as long as they don’t have red rings around them they are not compulsory. Even so when I finished on the M42 (A34) junction last night I went down to the A46/M40 junction to return to Coventry. Being anywhere near speed cameras are stressful
According to a secret report published in a motorcycle magazine. there isnt any film in over 2 / 3 of the cameras in the uk, except in the mad mullahs territory in North Wales.
Im not going to test them though, any volunteers?
Going through roadworks 20 miles under the limit peas me off too Rob, but was it anyone on here driving the Turners of Soham powder tank on the A38 at Barton Turn yesterday.
40mph limit. no overtaking for trucks, 2 metre limit in outside lane and this ■■■■ decides he was coming through.
I will go miles out of my way to avoid that stretch because of the idiot drivers who feel it is necessary to block all 3 lanes all doing 45mph and then slowing to 35mph to go past the cameras in a 50mph limit. It really 
me off. The same applies to the M62 at Ferrybridge as well for that matter.
They had lots of problems when putting the gantries in as the ground was too soft at the side of the road 
published in a motorcycle magazine. there isnt any film in over 2 / 3 of the cameras in the uk, except in the mad mullahs territory in North Wales.