Plod on West Malling Bypass

[GJB]

Anyone that uses the W/M bypass dual carriageway knows that it's 50mph. Only numptees, blind people and Nissan Micra owners stick to this. Well OK maybe the odd horse and cart as well.

Spotted Plod with hairdryer standing in middle of dual carriageway hiding behind a lamp post! Come on guys lets have fair play and no hiding behind lamp posts. Obviosuly they know that the speed limit is daft so when they need to get their figures up they know exactly where to aim. Managed to spot them and I was stuck in rush hour traffic anyway (can you get done for driving too slowly?).

Anyone who uses this route be aware and pay attention.

[Mr_annie_vxr]

GJB said:

Anyone that uses the W/M bypass dual carriageway knows that it's 50mph. Only numptees, blind people and Nissan Micra owners stick to this. Well OK maybe the odd horse and cart as well.

Spotted Plod with hairdryer standing in middle of dual carriageway hiding behind a lamp post! Come on guys lets have fair play and no hiding behind lamp posts. Obviosuly they know that the speed limit is daft so when they need to get their figures up they know exactly where to aim. Managed to spot them and I was stuck in rush hour traffic anyway (can you get done for driving too slowly?).

Anyone who uses this route be aware and pay attention.

We had left it alone but due to a few locals complaining about the speeds on there officers have been told to enforce the limit.

The fines were issued with some discretion but it was entirely due to local complaints that officers were sent.

There will be a period of regular enforcement there from now on.

[Westy Pre-Lit]

Locals complaining , they wouldn't be the same locals that voted not to be able to park outside there own house where i used to live were they?

Nothing to do with raising revenue either, seeing as it's a massivooooooly built up area with lots of kids playing football in the road.

I'm sure there are many schools in the area that would appreciate the services, just an observation like.

Lights touch paper and runs

Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Sunday 21st June 08:22

[Mr_annie_vxr]

Westy Pre-Lit said:

Locals complaining , they wouldn't be the same locals that voted not to be able to park outside there own house where i used to live were they?

Nothing to do with raising revenue either, seeing as it's a massivooooooly built up area with lots of kids playing football in the road.

I'm sure there are many schools in the area that would appreciate the services, just an observation like.

Lights touch paper and runs

Edited by Westy Pre-Lit on Sunday 21st June 08:22

it has bugger all to do with revenue. Speed enforcement generates little revenue in the scheme of things.

The enforcement was entirely due to a number of emails and letters of complaint by locals after one local challenged the chief about failing to enforce the limit on air. The chief was then forced to take action. Most speed enfiorcement you see by traffic officers is down to local complaints. Up until last week there gad only been one or two extreme speeders dealt with on there.

Even this enforcement most were 70 or more.

The road gas the limit due to the traffic lights. It's very hard to come from 70-80 to a halt should you cone up behind a queue at the lights for the station.

[DIW35]

I've never understood with that bit of road how they managed to replace a single carriageway with a 60mph limit, with a nice new sparkly dual carriageway, but with a reduced limit of 50mph. No wonder the locals tend to ignore the current limit - it's a joke.

[Mr_annie_vxr]

DIW35 said:

I've never understood with that bit of road how they managed to replace a single carriageway with a 60mph limit, with a nice new sparkly dual carriageway, but with a reduced limit of 50mph. No wonder the locals tend to ignore the current limit - it's a joke.

As I explained it is entirely to do with the traffic light controlled junctions.

70 - 0 is about 96m needed
50-0 is about 53 metres

That is the reason for the limit. The road is a curve and has reduced visibility of the lights.

[zippy144]

Hi

Lets face it, West Malling Residents assosiation did not want the Bypass so i suspect it is them complaining as usual....

I live in Leybourne and cannot thank the goverment enough for building a private race track so close to my house....

The 50 limit is daft, but as explained it their because of the amount of traffic lights there are on the bypass. My sisters boyfriend had a ticket last year from a plod van parked under the bridge....

But as far as i am concerned their is a time and place for everything, and Rushhour is not the time or the place.


Regards

Tom aka Zippy

[tr7v8]

Mr_annie_vxr said:

DIW35 said:

I've never understood with that bit of road how they managed to replace a single carriageway with a 60mph limit, with a nice new sparkly dual carriageway, but with a reduced limit of 50mph. No wonder the locals tend to ignore the current limit - it's a joke.

As I explained it is entirely to do with the traffic light controlled junctions.

70 - 0 is about 96m needed
50-0 is about 53 metres

That is the reason for the limit. The road is a curve and has reduced visibility of the lights.

So it actually rubbish road design rather than anything else. Putting the strange junction in the middle of the dual carriageway wasn't very clever. This is a busy piece of road with all the refrigeration lorries running backwards & forwards to the depot so needs something better.

And just to make it crystal clear I'm not criticising the enforcement more the need to enforce.

[greenback]

i agree 50 mph on that road is a joke

[dcb]

Mr_annie_vxr said:

70 - 0 is about 96m needed
50-0 is about 53 metres

Only in a 1960s Ford Anglia and UK Gov figures, surely ?

In reality in a 21st century average car, far far less.

Did I read last week that some top end Porsche does 100kmh to
zero in 36 meters ?

[Mr_annie_vxr]

Quite possibly.

I'm just explaining why the enforcement is there.

The limit is well known and we have known it's ignored but haven't really enforced it until these complaints. Local accountability means we have to now take action.

[GJB]

Mr_annie_vxr said:

Quite possibly.

I'm just explaining why the enforcement is there.

The limit is well known and we have known it's ignored but haven't really enforced it until these complaints. Local accountability means we have to now take action.

We're not having a go at you or other officers who are only doing their job. The idiots who designed the bypass with two distinct accident black spots should be given a kick up the backside. I have seen quite a few accidents at the main set of traffic lights where the A20 runs over the top of the bypass. Always look messy and we also know of one death occurring at the station junction. Bad design.

The main section of the bypass from the station access to the first Kings Hill roundabout is flat out with very little risk unless the driver is an idiot. Did come close to a `Magic Roundabout` moment there one night after some numptee had dumped diesel on the roundabout. Thank heavens for Porsche electronic gizmo for lending me a helping hand. Worse still it was the wifes car! No damage done and D.I.V.O.R.C.E avoided.

[Raify]

I notice that they added a hard standing parking place for scamera vans on that new road. It's on the inside of a bend to avoid being spotted.

They even let the scamera vans use the not-yet-built-road to collect cash from, while they were contructing the by-pass (improvement).

[GJB]

Raify said:

I notice that they added a hard standing parking place for scamera vans on that new road. It's on the inside of a bend to avoid being spotted.

They even let the scamera vans use the not-yet-built-road to collect cash from, while they were contructing the by-pass (improvement).

I thought scamera vans (in Kent anyway) were only used when signs had been installed to warn drivers about possible capture. Maybe numbers are down and they need to get sneaky to catch us now.

[Roo]

That road is a particularly poor design.

It used to be great fun when it was single carriageway. On a warm Saturday afternoon with warm tyres we used to have a competition to see who could get the highest speed whilst turning left at the roundabout in to Kings Hill. No more than fifty until the road straightens then go for it.

Ahhh, those were the days.

[Mr_annie_vxr]

GJB said:

Raify said:

I notice that they added a hard standing parking place for scamera vans on that new road. It's on the inside of a bend to avoid being spotted.

They even let the scamera vans use the not-yet-built-road to collect cash from, while they were contructing the by-pass (improvement).

I thought scamera vans (in Kent anyway) were only used when signs had been installed to warn drivers about possible capture. Maybe numbers are down and they need to get sneaky to catch us now.

They need to have or rather policy is to display the signs.

If you look on the local partnerships website it will tell you where the vans are each day.

[Westy Pre-Lit]

Wednesday 24
Dartford, Gravesham, Medway, Maidstone, Swale, Canterbury, Thanet, Dover, Shepway, Ashford,

Everywhere where i'm going then.

[GJB]

Mr_annie_vxr said:

GJB said:

Raify said:

I notice that they added a hard standing parking place for scamera vans on that new road. It's on the inside of a bend to avoid being spotted.

They even let the scamera vans use the not-yet-built-road to collect cash from, while they were contructing the by-pass (improvement).

I thought scamera vans (in Kent anyway) were only used when signs had been installed to warn drivers about possible capture. Maybe numbers are down and they need to get sneaky to catch us now.

They need to have or rather policy is to display the signs.

If you look on the local partnerships website it will tell you where the vans are each day.

Pretty useless because they say that Scameras will be just about everywhere. Pays to make a mental note of where they park and then approach at below speed limit and as soon as viz allows get back to driving. Appropriate speed is phrase often used and there are times when the appropriate speed is actually lower than posted. On a clear motorway however in good weather 70mph is lower tha may be appropriate.

Having driven from Stuttgart to Spa-Francorchamps at speeds up to 160+mph there are times when we've slowed just to enjoy the scenery. Nice to have the choice though. In Germany the standard of driving generally is much, much better.

[Mr_annie_vxr]

GJB said:

Mr_annie_vxr said:

GJB said:

Raify said:

I notice that they added a hard standing parking place for scamera vans on that new road. It's on the inside of a bend to avoid being spotted.

They even let the scamera vans use the not-yet-built-road to collect cash from, while they were contructing the by-pass (improvement).

I thought scamera vans (in Kent anyway) were only used when signs had been installed to warn drivers about possible capture. Maybe numbers are down and they need to get sneaky to catch us now.

They need to have or rather policy is to display the signs.

If you look on the local partnerships website it will tell you where the vans are each day.

Pretty useless because they say that Scameras will be just about everywhere. Pays to make a mental note of where they park and then approach at below speed limit and as soon as viz allows get back to driving. Appropriate speed is phrase often used and there are times when the appropriate speed is actually lower than posted. On a clear motorway however in good weather 70mph is lower tha may be appropriate.

Having driven from Stuttgart to Spa-Francorchamps at speeds up to 160+mph there are times when we've slowed just to enjoy the scenery. Nice to have the choice though. In Germany the standard of driving generally is much, much better.

You can find out the exact locations they use in those areas as there is a lot processes they go through.

There is only a limited level of enforcement and in this case purely down to some very local complaints and local accountability that people want more of!

[dcb]

GJB said:

Having driven from Stuttgart to Spa-Francorchamps at speeds up to 160+mph there are times when we've slowed just to enjoy the scenery. Nice to have the choice though. In Germany the standard of driving generally is much, much better.

+1.

It feels very comfortable to be trusted by the German government
to be a responsible adult, in complete contrast to the UK
policy where Big Brother knows best and treats us all
like unreliable children.