Speed Limit For System Test

[bad company]

Greetings from a very slow moving M25 (I’m not driving). The slow progress isn’t being helped by the temporary 50 mph limit. Limit imposed for ‘system test’.

What’s that all about?

[mmm-five]

Are you actually doing 50mph...if so that sounds like a much better speed than you get most of the time.

But, I'm guessing they're testing the system to see where they can put extra cameras, and how low they can set them before there's a revolution.

[HughG]

It was the same yesterday J5-J9, they've got rid of the roadwork 50mph limits and put this up instead.

This morning at 6oclock I see they've got rid of the 50mph limits for the new emergency areas from M11 to A1, replaced by 40 & 50mph temporary limits that went further than the old roadworks limits. Frustrating doesn't quite cover it after a year of 50mph roadwork limits.

[krisdelta]

I've seen this in the last month too - essentially whilst cars have got safer over the last 60 years, speed limits are decreasing by the day. It's just another way of keeping everyone at 50mph.... also had 18 miles of "object reported in carriageway" and 50mph 10 days ago - there was no object. Handful of clowns causing chaos across the m'way network.

[E63eeeeee...]

Pretty sure it's just what it says, they did the same thing on the M6 smart motorway section when it was first complete, presumably they have to test all the cameras and speed monitoring systems before it can be accredited to go back to normal 70mph running in the new setup.

[HughG]

E63eeeeee... said:

Pretty sure it's just what it says, they did the same thing on the M6 smart motorway section when it was first complete, presumably they have to test all the cameras and speed monitoring systems before it can be accredited to go back to normal 70mph running in the new setup.

I thought they just built some new emergency areas/laybys!

[mcflurry]

HughG said:

E63eeeeee... said:

Pretty sure it's just what it says, they did the same thing on the M6 smart motorway section when it was first complete, presumably they have to test all the cameras and speed monitoring systems before it can be accredited to go back to normal 70mph running in the new setup.

I thought they just built some new emergency areas/laybys!

Now they have to join up the emergency areas - maybe create a new lane for breakdowns and call it the hard shoulder

(it's like the story of paying one person to dig a hole and then paying the next person to fill said hole)

[2020vision]

I don’t know why Highways put up information about why the speed limit is reduced for testing. It is of no relevance, makes no difference to whether the speed limit is mandatory because it is mandatory, and this message just causes confusion.
Same goes for the signs that say “camera not in use”. No purpose for them at all…other to inform drivers who would like to exceed the speed limit to do so.

[BertBert]

2020vision said:

I don’t know why Highways put up information about why the speed limit is reduced for testing. It is of no relevance, makes no difference to whether the speed limit is mandatory because it is mandatory, and this message just causes confusion.
Same goes for the signs that say “camera not in use”. No purpose for them at all…other to inform drivers who would like to exceed the speed limit to do so.

We've disagreed about this before. Telling people what's going on and why is a good thing. Giving instructions in absence of explanation is a bad thing.

[2020vision]

BertBert said:

2020vision said:

I don’t know why Highways put up information about why the speed limit is reduced for testing. It is of no relevance, makes no difference to whether the speed limit is mandatory because it is mandatory, and this message just causes confusion.
Same goes for the signs that say “camera not in use”. No purpose for them at all…other to inform drivers who would like to exceed the speed limit to do so.

We've disagreed about this before. Telling people what's going on and why is a good thing.

It can be. However, if it tends to confuse it isn't helpful.
It has become obvious that some drivers believe speed limits and red x signs are conditional, they are not.

BertBert said:

Giving instructions in absence of explanation is a bad thing.

giving explanations when they are:
1. superfluous
2. unhelpful
3. unnecessary
4. tending to confuse the ignorant
5. assisting the commission of a criminal offence
6. not enhancing the instruction or its intent

...are all bad things













;

[Simpo Two]

2020vision said:

I don’t know why Highways put up information about why the speed limit is reduced for testing. It is of no relevance, makes no difference to whether the speed limit is mandatory because it is mandatory, and this message just causes confusion.

Well, we often we find a stretch of motorway at 50mph for no visible reason and wonder why the heck that should be. So a reason is nice. Perhaps the most honest sign would be 'Speed Limit 50mph BECAUSE WE CAN'....

Maybe Rachel in her quest for growth will realise that the more slowly people travel the less productive they are, so she'll put everything back to 70.

[moto_traxport]

Second day in a row for me now on M25 wigh this pointless blanket 50mph system test limit both there & back from St.Albans to deepest Essex - basically a quarter of the whole M25.

Unbelieveably dangerous situation with frustrated truckies tailgating & lane swapping as they're desparate to stay on their 57mph limiter and at least three cars that had lost the plot and weaved through us all at 80mph like it was a Hollywood car chase.

"If only everyone obeyed the law" holier than everyone else types are welcome to do a speech at my funeral when someone has snapped at these pointless limits and taken me out on a misjudged manoeveur.

if this 'system test' is a precursor to full time 50mph limits on 'Smart' motorways then I fkin despair / get a job in B&Q.

[Simpo Two]

moto_traxport said:

"If only everyone obeyed the law" holier than everyone else types are welcome to do a speech at my funeral when someone has snapped at these pointless limits and taken me out on a misjudged manoeveur.

if this 'system test' is a precursor to full time 50mph limits on 'Smart' motorways then I fkin despair / get a job in B&Q.

You can be sure they're collecting data for some bent 'consultation'...

Talking of 'holier than everyone else types' I encountered one of those on Monday proceeding at 25mph. So I overtook him... and the little twerp hooted me as I went past.