M6 - Revenue Cameras and Roadworks
Discussion
Just coming thru the M6 roadworks at J12 this morning and I saw I sign after the revenue cameras - 206 offences recorded....
Now the M6 is a damn busy road at pretty much any time of day, gotta be thousands of vehicles passing thru this area and the cameras have been in operation for about 2 1/2 months now, so that means that their capture rate is about 0.003% (assuming 10,000 vehicles per day and 75 days). Mind you, I did see them flash behind me
They'll have made about £12k from this - is it worth it? I'd like to see the stats on how many accidents before and after the cameras went live... and the average speed before and after.
Now the M6 is a damn busy road at pretty much any time of day, gotta be thousands of vehicles passing thru this area and the cameras have been in operation for about 2 1/2 months now, so that means that their capture rate is about 0.003% (assuming 10,000 vehicles per day and 75 days). Mind you, I did see them flash behind me
They'll have made about £12k from this - is it worth it? I'd like to see the stats on how many accidents before and after the cameras went live... and the average speed before and after.
Mondeoman
There were similar signs on the M20 during road-works there a few years ago. l was amused to see the number of "offenders" registered on the sign growing untill the sign was not big enough to contain the the FIVE digits and an extra bit was tacked on the end in a Heath Robinson fashion. Looks like you have some way to go on the M6, or perhaps you are all law abiding motorists up there.
As an aside, there are new road-works cameras again on the M20 between J10 and J11, just before the Channel Tunnel. These are the average speed type. l reckon they are hoping to fund the resurfacing through speeding fines.
There were similar signs on the M20 during road-works there a few years ago. l was amused to see the number of "offenders" registered on the sign growing untill the sign was not big enough to contain the the FIVE digits and an extra bit was tacked on the end in a Heath Robinson fashion. Looks like you have some way to go on the M6, or perhaps you are all law abiding motorists up there.
As an aside, there are new road-works cameras again on the M20 between J10 and J11, just before the Channel Tunnel. These are the average speed type. l reckon they are hoping to fund the resurfacing through speeding fines.
mmm....
It costs the country approx £1m every time there's a fatal accident on the roads, never mind the loss of a parent/child...etc, etc
Through road works, the speed cameras are there to protect the workforce.
On any road where the speed limit is 50mph or more the Health and Safety Executive require as stated in traffic signs manual chapter 8 a minimum safe working distance from live traffic to be 1.2m. In reality this means a whole lane, of nothing, no work going on. If the speed limit is reduced to 40 mph or less then this minimum working distance can be reduced to 0.5m and so operatives can work nearer to traffic. this can mean that there is an additional lane for taraffic to use. This minimum distance also includes any signs etc. Advice may also be taken from the Police as to a suitable speed limit throught the works.
These speed cameras only carry a certain amount of film, approx 1000 shots I believe, which last a couple of days if that....
If the stretch of road you refer to is 50mph, then there are other reasons why this is so..though I wouldn't know why without being party to discussions on site for this reason....but I'm guessing its a 40mph limit?? On motorways through some roadworks sites operatives have walked off site due to fears of speeds of passing traffic. There have been fatal accidents in the past where operative have stepped out into live lanes. (not that they would still live at a 40mph impact though). My point is the speed limit is there for reduce and prevent, and not to accrue funds......believe you me you'd much rather work 1.2m next to live traffic thats doing 40-50 than 70-90mph..
>> Edited by DimmaDan on Thursday 1st August 19:10
It costs the country approx £1m every time there's a fatal accident on the roads, never mind the loss of a parent/child...etc, etc
Through road works, the speed cameras are there to protect the workforce.
On any road where the speed limit is 50mph or more the Health and Safety Executive require as stated in traffic signs manual chapter 8 a minimum safe working distance from live traffic to be 1.2m. In reality this means a whole lane, of nothing, no work going on. If the speed limit is reduced to 40 mph or less then this minimum working distance can be reduced to 0.5m and so operatives can work nearer to traffic. this can mean that there is an additional lane for taraffic to use. This minimum distance also includes any signs etc. Advice may also be taken from the Police as to a suitable speed limit throught the works.
These speed cameras only carry a certain amount of film, approx 1000 shots I believe, which last a couple of days if that....
If the stretch of road you refer to is 50mph, then there are other reasons why this is so..though I wouldn't know why without being party to discussions on site for this reason....but I'm guessing its a 40mph limit?? On motorways through some roadworks sites operatives have walked off site due to fears of speeds of passing traffic. There have been fatal accidents in the past where operative have stepped out into live lanes. (not that they would still live at a 40mph impact though). My point is the speed limit is there for reduce and prevent, and not to accrue funds......believe you me you'd much rather work 1.2m next to live traffic thats doing 40-50 than 70-90mph..
>> Edited by DimmaDan on Thursday 1st August 19:10
Got to agree with you DimmaDan - I'm one of those really annoying people who slow down to 30/40/50 in roadworks (whatever the stated speed limit reduction) and couldn't give a damn about the number of cars that back up behind me.
I wouldn't fancy working on a motorway whilst traffic goes past at 60+. Reminds me of a tv documentary about roadworks a few years ago where they filmed workers getting abuse from passing drivers - amazingly shortsighted.
Criticise the funding and organisation of road repair contracts by all means - but don't criticise the guys working on the ground.
IMHO roadworks ought to be better timed, crewed with double the number of people and better scheduled - but then what do I know about road engineering...... square root of &£#& all!!
I wouldn't fancy working on a motorway whilst traffic goes past at 60+. Reminds me of a tv documentary about roadworks a few years ago where they filmed workers getting abuse from passing drivers - amazingly shortsighted.
Criticise the funding and organisation of road repair contracts by all means - but don't criticise the guys working on the ground.
IMHO roadworks ought to be better timed, crewed with double the number of people and better scheduled - but then what do I know about road engineering...... square root of &£#& all!!
quote:I've seen this figure bandied about a bit, but where does it come from? I mean it's a personal tragedy, but how does it cost the country £1m? A severe injury on the other hand, I can see as being pretty expensive, but a fatality? It might cost an insurance company some money, but I wouldn't think it would cost the country much....
mmm....
It costs the country approx £1m every time there's a fatal accident on the roads, never mind the loss of a parent/child...etc, etc
morbidly,
Craig
I'd have to say that when there are workers around then I don't have a problem with 50 mph limits (as this one is) but after 6 when they've all gone home, why not revert back to 70? Wouldn't take much to change the signs over, or even install electronic ones to do it automatically and turn the cameras off at the same time....
I'd also like to know where that figure of £1m comes from, and if it includes any costs for fire, police or ambulance then IMHO its B@l@cks, cos we pay for them whether we use them or not.
I'd also like to know where that figure of £1m comes from, and if it includes any costs for fire, police or ambulance then IMHO its B@l@cks, cos we pay for them whether we use them or not.
The point about huge numbers of fines at the M20 roadworks was confirmed by a member of the Kent traffic police. He said they only have to put up a camera at such roadworks and the fines just pour in. With that in mind I kept to a steady 40-45 through the A21 roadworks (recently finished), but it didn't stop an impatient d**khead in a Peugeot trying to clean the dust off my back bumper, flash headlights etc when I was coming home in the car. So I slowed to a dead legal 40, just to raise his blood pressure even further. He went ballistic!!!
As someone who gained 5 points for 64mph in a 40 limit early in the morning when no-one was around, I have to agree with that.
The arguments about workers in close proximity to traffic don't hold too much water when the work is being done BELOW the carriageway (as with the M6 roadworks in question).
The arguments about workers in close proximity to traffic don't hold too much water when the work is being done BELOW the carriageway (as with the M6 roadworks in question).
quote:
quote:
So I slowed to a dead legal 40, just to raise his blood pressure even further. He went ballistic!!!
How considerate of you.
I take it he didn't have room to get past you either.
If folks want to go fast, why not pull over and let them go ?
Much more considerate.
Where would you pull off to in coned off roadworks ??
and anyway the prat in the peugot should have seen there was a 40 limit and people working on the road and slowed down accordingly ,
Its not fun working at the side of the road wondering when a brain dead numptie is going to plough you down and say "oh i didnt see him"
"The arguments about workers in close proximity to traffic don't hold too much water when the work is being done BELOW the carriageway "
This is EXACTLY what is happening on the Tay road bridge. The south bound side is down to 1 lane (from 2)with 30 limit (down from 50).
Obviously safety is paramount BUT there is no work at all over the weekends with of course the restrictions left in place. WHY?
This is EXACTLY what is happening on the Tay road bridge. The south bound side is down to 1 lane (from 2)with 30 limit (down from 50).
Obviously safety is paramount BUT there is no work at all over the weekends with of course the restrictions left in place. WHY?
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