M4 50 limit through Newport
Discussion
Last night I noticed that there were an abundance of '50' signs dotted all over the M4. I only used the motorway between Tredegar House and Malpas (going to dominoes for a pizza 
) but a workmate tells me that there's a sign saying the 50 limit comes into effect from today between J24(Coldra) to J30 (Cardiff Gate)
I also noticed a camera in the grassed area at J27 heading west, it's not the usual GATSO type camera, more like a CCTV camera - but again not the usual type thite traffic cameras. A workmate who used to work for the Highways Agency says it sounds like it could be an average speed camera but couldn't confirm.
There's also a new speed camera just after J28 heading west.
Just a heads up
) but a workmate tells me that there's a sign saying the 50 limit comes into effect from today between J24(Coldra) to J30 (Cardiff Gate)I also noticed a camera in the grassed area at J27 heading west, it's not the usual GATSO type camera, more like a CCTV camera - but again not the usual type thite traffic cameras. A workmate who used to work for the Highways Agency says it sounds like it could be an average speed camera but couldn't confirm.
There's also a new speed camera just after J28 heading west.
Just a heads up
The matrix signs have been warning of this for two weeks.
Apparently there's a new variable-limit system coming in next year, which will save hundreds of lives
In the meantime, we're all restricted to 50 mph from J24 (Coldra) to J30 (Cardiff East); 10 miles of the M4 including two three-lane, arrow-straight miles between J26 and J27
It's an expansion of the pointless restriction approaching J24 from the West that's been annoying people for the last few months - about 10% of drivers abide by it; another 20% fudge and drive at about 60 and the rest of us ignore it completely and drive to the conditions.
I wonder if, when the first person gets crushed by an artic (won't be the fault of any but those who forced them together), the authorities will rescind this madness or insist that it happened because someone was speeding
Apparently there's a new variable-limit system coming in next year, which will save hundreds of lives
In the meantime, we're all restricted to 50 mph from J24 (Coldra) to J30 (Cardiff East); 10 miles of the M4 including two three-lane, arrow-straight miles between J26 and J27
It's an expansion of the pointless restriction approaching J24 from the West that's been annoying people for the last few months - about 10% of drivers abide by it; another 20% fudge and drive at about 60 and the rest of us ignore it completely and drive to the conditions.
I wonder if, when the first person gets crushed by an artic (won't be the fault of any but those who forced them together), the authorities will rescind this madness or insist that it happened because someone was speeding
It's crazy isn't it.
My journey to work is between Tredegar and Malpas. Last Saturday, driving a new car I blipped up to 1.1 leptons around the last corner before coming off at Tredegar. I wouldn't normally be traveling that quick even on the motorway but it was just so quiet and easy - even SWMBO didn't tell me off too much. It wasn't until I drove back on Sunday that I realised the limit had changed, gave me a bit of a shock.
I have seen the odd police car sat on the bridges between 27 and 28. It must be prime for some revenue generation.
My journey to work is between Tredegar and Malpas. Last Saturday, driving a new car I blipped up to 1.1 leptons around the last corner before coming off at Tredegar. I wouldn't normally be traveling that quick even on the motorway but it was just so quiet and easy - even SWMBO didn't tell me off too much. It wasn't until I drove back on Sunday that I realised the limit had changed, gave me a bit of a shock.
I have seen the odd police car sat on the bridges between 27 and 28. It must be prime for some revenue generation.
Reducing to 50, that should cause a bit of conjestion, intesting when traffic flows and travel times are falling. You would swear WAG looking for having a reason to build the (600million but more like 950 million in current market) M4 southern relife road round from Magor to to A48.....interesting i understand WAG have reorganised, and team looking at moved to other departments...Conspiricies who would have umm.
I commute from Chepstow to J28 each day and this 50 limit has got me wondering.
The road is perfectly safe at 70 when conditions allow.
The two recentish fatal accidents which come to mind were not caused by 'excessive speed' (as far as I know).
Congestion can be an issue at peak traffic times on this section of the M4.
None of these -to me- justify imposing a permanent 50 mph limit. The consequences of reducing traffic speed to 50 mph regardless of conditions will be to increase the volume of the traffic on the motorway and hence increase congestion. This will in turn potentially reduce vehicle speeds further and increase the likelihood of collision (due to there being more vehicles on the road and inevitable buching / concertina braking etc).
So why on earth impose the 50 limit?
I have several theories:
1) Well-meaning, misguided traffic management. "Slower cars have less (serious) accidents".
2) A permanent 50 limit will be unnecessary most of the time and therefore invite speed enforcement (and revenue generation).
3) Increased congestion will enhance the call for congestion charging.
Either way it's a 'lowest common denominator' approach and IMHO will cripple the M4 as well as rendering previously perfectly safe and efficient usage of the motorway at 70 when conditions allow, to be illegal. But you can bet that if the 50 limit increases accident rates (and hence lane closures) and congestion it won't be removed. Instead it'll be tolls or commuter lanes I expect.
Hmph.
The road is perfectly safe at 70 when conditions allow.
The two recentish fatal accidents which come to mind were not caused by 'excessive speed' (as far as I know).
Congestion can be an issue at peak traffic times on this section of the M4.
None of these -to me- justify imposing a permanent 50 mph limit. The consequences of reducing traffic speed to 50 mph regardless of conditions will be to increase the volume of the traffic on the motorway and hence increase congestion. This will in turn potentially reduce vehicle speeds further and increase the likelihood of collision (due to there being more vehicles on the road and inevitable buching / concertina braking etc).
So why on earth impose the 50 limit?
I have several theories:
1) Well-meaning, misguided traffic management. "Slower cars have less (serious) accidents".
2) A permanent 50 limit will be unnecessary most of the time and therefore invite speed enforcement (and revenue generation).
3) Increased congestion will enhance the call for congestion charging.
Either way it's a 'lowest common denominator' approach and IMHO will cripple the M4 as well as rendering previously perfectly safe and efficient usage of the motorway at 70 when conditions allow, to be illegal. But you can bet that if the 50 limit increases accident rates (and hence lane closures) and congestion it won't be removed. Instead it'll be tolls or commuter lanes I expect.
Hmph.
so what do we do? Write letters to our local MP's?
edit to add; the official bumph http://www.traffic-wales.com/12487
"The length of road affected by the new speed limit will be reduced when the widening works are due to be completed in December 2009"
edit to add; the official bumph http://www.traffic-wales.com/12487
"The length of road affected by the new speed limit will be reduced when the widening works are due to be completed in December 2009"
Edited by sorrento205 on Tuesday 14th April 13:54
Allblackdup said:
Is the limit only going east from J24?
I know there's a limit from J30 where the road works start going east, but does it carry on all the way on that side as well or does it go back to a 70 limit pnce passed the road works?
It's now a 50 from at least J29 (or 30 if you say, I don't go past 29 so wouldn't know) down to the Coldra at J24. East of that it's back to NSL.I know there's a limit from J30 where the road works start going east, but does it carry on all the way on that side as well or does it go back to a 70 limit pnce passed the road works?
Far as I know, there's only one GATSO so far, facing Westbound somewhere around J28 (there's also an eastbound one, but it only affects you if you're joining from J29)
Its 50 from above the Coldra junction til about 1m west of Cardiff Gate.
Westbound there are 2 cameras, one between Tredegar Park(?) and the A48M to Cardiff, then another under a mile further along on the main M4 in the roadworks. On the eastbound there is 1 camera about 2miles before Cardiff Gate, just as it goes into the 50mph section. I dont remember any others on the Eastbound side.
Westbound there are 2 cameras, one between Tredegar Park(?) and the A48M to Cardiff, then another under a mile further along on the main M4 in the roadworks. On the eastbound there is 1 camera about 2miles before Cardiff Gate, just as it goes into the 50mph section. I dont remember any others on the Eastbound side.
sorrento205 said:
so what do we do? Write letters to our local MP's?
I fear there's little point. AFAIK (but I don't know much about it) motorways are 'owned' by Highways Agency, not local government so presumably the limit setting procedure is different, and centralised (although surely with local input).There's even a sign at the beginning of the zone Westbound stating 'for safety purposes'.
Well I'd like to know how putting the fear of licence-loss into people so that you get middle lane bunching at 50mph by people unwilling to take the 'risk' of an 'illegal' overtake due to someone doing -shock-horror- 50 in the inside lane (49 up hill) is safe. Of course in this situation there's no point using the outside lane as that too is limited to 50... So you get tailgating, lane-changing, undertaking. It's ridiculous.
As far as I can see, reducing the envelope of control from 70 max to 50 max - reducing the opportunity to pass and progress safely - can only be abackwards step. If the max safe speed is 50 (through traffic volume, average speed, conditions or whatever) then 50 is fine. But if 70 is safe, why blanket limit to 50?.
If this really is a precursor to a variable limit that might be justified, but I struggle to see the logic for the 50 limit:
"We need a variable speed limit to enhance traffic flow and saftey."
"Right, let's impose a non-variable 24 hour 50 limit in the meantime".
Enough soapbox!
kerrrrist. Suffered this last Wednesday and today, most of my work has been in Wales of late so not travelled this as often as I normally do. What a god awful cockup. If they are going to put gantries with variable limits then fine. Do the 50 as part of the road works. But at the moment there appears to be no works in place for the gantries.
This stinks of that gas and air shop down the bay. If it isn't them then it is worthy of them.
This stinks of that gas and air shop down the bay. If it isn't them then it is worthy of them.
Symbolica said:
Allblackdup said:
Is the limit only going east from J24?
I know there's a limit from J30 where the road works start going east, but does it carry on all the way on that side as well or does it go back to a 70 limit pnce passed the road works?
It's now a 50 from at least J29 (or 30 if you say, I don't go past 29 so wouldn't know) down to the Coldra at J24. East of that it's back to NSL.I know there's a limit from J30 where the road works start going east, but does it carry on all the way on that side as well or does it go back to a 70 limit pnce passed the road works?
Far as I know, there's only one GATSO so far, facing Westbound somewhere around J28 (there's also an eastbound one, but it only affects you if you're joining from J29)
I could well have lost my license without knowing anything about it over the last 5 days.....
Tyrant said:
The Gatsos are amongst the roadworks. Three that I can think of have been moved around quite frequently.
The new speed limit is a joke. The congestion and bunching aside it makes a mockery of the lower speed limit that was justifiably in place at the roadworks.
Nothing between High Cross and Chepstow, then? - 'cos I use that route most days.The new speed limit is a joke. The congestion and bunching aside it makes a mockery of the lower speed limit that was justifiably in place at the roadworks.
Alfa_75_Steve said:
GATSO?
I could well have lost my license without knowing anything about it over the last 5 days.....
I could well have lost my license without knowing anything about it over the last 5 days.....
Definitely a GATSO. Last time I checked (about 10 days ago) it was westbound somewhere around J28, though I can't be any more specific, was going the other way. There's more in the ongoing roadworks somewhere between J29 and J32, but I don't really go that way much.ETA: Reading your last post, I don't think there were any between High Cross and Chepstow when I last went that way. Certainly didn't notice any eastbound and the westbound one is somewhere after the off-slip for J28, so you should be alright.
Edited by Symbolica on Monday 20th April 00:07
Symbolica said:
Alfa_75_Steve said:
GATSO?
I could well have lost my license without knowing anything about it over the last 5 days.....
I could well have lost my license without knowing anything about it over the last 5 days.....
Definitely a GATSO. Last time I checked (about 10 days ago) it was westbound somewhere around J28, though I can't be any more specific, was going the other way. There's more in the ongoing roadworks somewhere between J29 and J32, but I don't really go that way much.Gassing Station | South Wales | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff