Random observance of speed limits?
Discussion
Several times over the last few days I have driven north along the M11, to the point where it becomes the A14. Towards the end of the M11 there is a stretch where the speed limit reduces to 50 and then to 40. I’ve no idea what the purpose of this temporary change is, but it is well signposted, so on approach I make sure I am in the inside lane and then set cruise to around 55 and then 45 - giving a GPS speed just over the limits.
I am then passed by what seems like about 75% of other traffic, including LGVs. Much of this traffic is not even close to the reduced limits - in fact doesn’t seem to have bothered changing speed at all.
On reaching the NSL sign (on the A14) I try to accelerate sharply away and up to a cruising speed of an indicated 77 - again giving me plenty of leeway from the point at which I might risk prosecution. However I now find that the ‘devil may care’ speed freaks, quite happy to add 50% or more to the limit a couple of miles back, have now restricted themselves to a real speed of about 68mph and are occupying seemingly random lanes. I spend the next few miles reeling them all in, often having to force myself not to undertake and to do it properly and methodically using all the lanes.
What the hell is going on?
I am then passed by what seems like about 75% of other traffic, including LGVs. Much of this traffic is not even close to the reduced limits - in fact doesn’t seem to have bothered changing speed at all.
On reaching the NSL sign (on the A14) I try to accelerate sharply away and up to a cruising speed of an indicated 77 - again giving me plenty of leeway from the point at which I might risk prosecution. However I now find that the ‘devil may care’ speed freaks, quite happy to add 50% or more to the limit a couple of miles back, have now restricted themselves to a real speed of about 68mph and are occupying seemingly random lanes. I spend the next few miles reeling them all in, often having to force myself not to undertake and to do it properly and methodically using all the lanes.
What the hell is going on?
Foss62 said:
Several times over the last few days I have driven north along the M11, to the point where it becomes the A14. Towards the end of the M11 there is a stretch where the speed limit reduces to 50 and then to 40. I ve no idea what the purpose of this temporary change is, but it is well signposted, so on approach I make sure I am in the inside lane and then set cruise to around 55 and then 45 - giving a GPS speed just over the limits.
I am then passed by what seems like about 75% of other traffic, including LGVs. Much of this traffic is not even close to the reduced limits - in fact doesn t seem to have bothered changing speed at all.
On reaching the NSL sign (on the A14) I try to accelerate sharply away and up to a cruising speed of an indicated 77 - again giving me plenty of leeway from the point at which I might risk prosecution. However I now find that the devil may care speed freaks, quite happy to add 50% or more to the limit a couple of miles back, have now restricted themselves to a real speed of about 68mph and are occupying seemingly random lanes. I spend the next few miles reeling them all in, often having to force myself not to undertake and to do it properly and methodically using all the lanes.
What the hell is going on?
It's Essex. When returning to his Suffolk home from continental Europe, John Peel would drive clockwise around the M25 just to avoid driving in Essex.I am then passed by what seems like about 75% of other traffic, including LGVs. Much of this traffic is not even close to the reduced limits - in fact doesn t seem to have bothered changing speed at all.
On reaching the NSL sign (on the A14) I try to accelerate sharply away and up to a cruising speed of an indicated 77 - again giving me plenty of leeway from the point at which I might risk prosecution. However I now find that the devil may care speed freaks, quite happy to add 50% or more to the limit a couple of miles back, have now restricted themselves to a real speed of about 68mph and are occupying seemingly random lanes. I spend the next few miles reeling them all in, often having to force myself not to undertake and to do it properly and methodically using all the lanes.
What the hell is going on?
CanAm said:
Foss62 said:
Several times over the last few days I have driven north along the M11, to the point where it becomes the A14. Towards the end of the M11 there is a stretch where the speed limit reduces to 50 and then to 40. I ve no idea what the purpose of this temporary change is, but it is well signposted, so on approach I make sure I am in the inside lane and then set cruise to around 55 and then 45 - giving a GPS speed just over the limits.
I am then passed by what seems like about 75% of other traffic, including LGVs. Much of this traffic is not even close to the reduced limits - in fact doesn t seem to have bothered changing speed at all.
On reaching the NSL sign (on the A14) I try to accelerate sharply away and up to a cruising speed of an indicated 77 - again giving me plenty of leeway from the point at which I might risk prosecution. However I now find that the devil may care speed freaks, quite happy to add 50% or more to the limit a couple of miles back, have now restricted themselves to a real speed of about 68mph and are occupying seemingly random lanes. I spend the next few miles reeling them all in, often having to force myself not to undertake and to do it properly and methodically using all the lanes.
What the hell is going on?
It's Essex. When returning to his Suffolk home from continental Europe, John Peel would drive clockwise around the M25 just to avoid driving in Essex.I am then passed by what seems like about 75% of other traffic, including LGVs. Much of this traffic is not even close to the reduced limits - in fact doesn t seem to have bothered changing speed at all.
On reaching the NSL sign (on the A14) I try to accelerate sharply away and up to a cruising speed of an indicated 77 - again giving me plenty of leeway from the point at which I might risk prosecution. However I now find that the devil may care speed freaks, quite happy to add 50% or more to the limit a couple of miles back, have now restricted themselves to a real speed of about 68mph and are occupying seemingly random lanes. I spend the next few miles reeling them all in, often having to force myself not to undertake and to do it properly and methodically using all the lanes.
What the hell is going on?
It's very dependent on the road, or even the part of the same road.
I used to commute using the M40 and M42. I'd spend most of the journey on cruise. On the M40 I was definitely in the slower half of the traffic, then once I hit the M42 I'd re-pass all of the traffic that had previously overtaken me on the M40, all while not having changed my speed at all.
The same happens now I use the M1 for commuting. For some reason, people seem to drive much more slowly on the northbound side for the 2 miles before and after Watford Gap services than elsewhere on the stretch, and at 70mph on cruise I'm comfortably in the top 10% of drivers speed-wise. Baffling.
I used to commute using the M40 and M42. I'd spend most of the journey on cruise. On the M40 I was definitely in the slower half of the traffic, then once I hit the M42 I'd re-pass all of the traffic that had previously overtaken me on the M40, all while not having changed my speed at all.
The same happens now I use the M1 for commuting. For some reason, people seem to drive much more slowly on the northbound side for the 2 miles before and after Watford Gap services than elsewhere on the stretch, and at 70mph on cruise I'm comfortably in the top 10% of drivers speed-wise. Baffling.
M40 isn’t a smart motorway and M42 is a smart motorway.
I assume people are happy to take a chance with their “cruising speed” being higher where there’s less chance of enforcement compared to the M42 where there’s cameras everywhere.
In Wales, on the M4 away from the average speed zones of Newport and Port Talbot, I feel that people drive quicker than they do on English motorways. Again probably due to lack of fixed enforcement sites
I assume people are happy to take a chance with their “cruising speed” being higher where there’s less chance of enforcement compared to the M42 where there’s cameras everywhere.
In Wales, on the M4 away from the average speed zones of Newport and Port Talbot, I feel that people drive quicker than they do on English motorways. Again probably due to lack of fixed enforcement sites
I drive this route very regularly. The 50 bit has no cameras, the 40 bit only has cameras on the east bound side. I ignore the 50 and only slow for the 40. I totally ignore the temporary 50 at the M11/A14 interchange at Brant Hill.
I don't mind slowing for genuine reasons, but a significant chunk of the temporary reduction on the A14 is because they've forgotten to remove old signage from complete works. If there's no workforce to protect, and there's no camera, I'm not honouring the sign.
I don't mind slowing for genuine reasons, but a significant chunk of the temporary reduction on the A14 is because they've forgotten to remove old signage from complete works. If there's no workforce to protect, and there's no camera, I'm not honouring the sign.
Such behaviour can often be because they're locals wo know the road and where the cameras are. Also, a short meaningless stretch of a lower limit without cameras is likely to be ignored, simply because it doesn't make sense.
Furthermore cruise control keeps your car at a fixed speed, but the speed of cars not using it varies with the gradient. Hence they overtake you downhill, but you re-take them going uphill. Maybe that's a factor in what you observed.
Furthermore cruise control keeps your car at a fixed speed, but the speed of cars not using it varies with the gradient. Hence they overtake you downhill, but you re-take them going uphill. Maybe that's a factor in what you observed.
[quote=Simpo
Furthermore cruise control keeps your car at a fixed speed, but the speed of cars not using it varies with the gradient. Hence they overtake you downhill, but you re-take them going uphill. Maybe that's a factor in what you observed.
[/quote]
This is very much my experience. Whether I'm in the Jag or the van, I have cruise set at 63, and the shear number of people who just hold their foot in one place instead of modulating the vehicle speed by applying my throttle uphill is mind blowing. I especially can't understand it when people have 74 plate cars which I know full well have cruise control and yet they still don't use it and then sit in lane 2 gesturing at me as I pass them in lane 1 for the 3rd time at the 3rd Hill.
Furthermore cruise control keeps your car at a fixed speed, but the speed of cars not using it varies with the gradient. Hence they overtake you downhill, but you re-take them going uphill. Maybe that's a factor in what you observed.
[/quote]
This is very much my experience. Whether I'm in the Jag or the van, I have cruise set at 63, and the shear number of people who just hold their foot in one place instead of modulating the vehicle speed by applying my throttle uphill is mind blowing. I especially can't understand it when people have 74 plate cars which I know full well have cruise control and yet they still don't use it and then sit in lane 2 gesturing at me as I pass them in lane 1 for the 3rd time at the 3rd Hill.
OP, be very, very careful. As you get to the A14 you're entering a liminal zone between civilization and the fens. The further you go, the more of the native culture you'll witness, and if they spot you and are alarmed by your presence they'll hand you over to their sister Brenda (who is also their mother and cousin). Be inconspicuous.
ATG said:
OP, be very, very careful. As you get to the A14 you're entering a liminal zone between civilization and the fens. The further you go, the more of the native culture you'll witness, and if they spot you and are alarmed by your presence they'll hand you over to their sister Brenda (who is also their mother and cousin). Be inconspicuous.
Yes, we'll add you to our collective OPI don't have a sister though 🤔
I get this in the South of England too, 40mph sections (due to bridge or barrier repairs/etc if you look them up online) and I'm the only one observing the lower limit.
Seems to me that a lot of drivers don't even look at the signs, just assume the road is always what they think is 60 (it's actually 70) and carry on at their set 60-65 speed.
Cars I've passed come flying past me in the lower speed sections, and then I pass them again later.
Seems to me that a lot of drivers don't even look at the signs, just assume the road is always what they think is 60 (it's actually 70) and carry on at their set 60-65 speed.
Cars I've passed come flying past me in the lower speed sections, and then I pass them again later.
mwstewart said:
A lot of that temporary stretch doesn't have any cameras, but the A14 has fixed gantry cameras. Didn't you notice 
Many people haven't learned the fixed vs average parts and/or assume the variables are average, hence the adherence starting at the new A14 section.
My view of the gantry cameras, based on PH folklore and much official communication is that you are 'safe' up to posted speed limit (or 70mph) + 10% +1. I tend to set my cruise control at +10% and use the 1 + the slight speedo over-read to give a bit of leeway.Many people haven't learned the fixed vs average parts and/or assume the variables are average, hence the adherence starting at the new A14 section.
With the temporary speed limits outside of the 'smart' or average speed areas I tend to think in terms of 'Risk vs Hazard' - lower risk of being caught, but the 'Hazard' can be massive. An unmarked police car and 60mph in a 40 limit is not going to be much fun (I suppose the same penalty as going past one of the gantries at 105).
But the real shock to me is the size of the proportion of people seemingly completely ignoring the signs. The argument that you can't see the point of them, just doesn't really cut it - as it must surely then apply to many speed limits? I do wonder how many people who are happy to ignore these speed limits, make a big fuss about much lesser offences (like cyclists ignoring red lights)?
ATG said:
OP, be very, very careful. As you get to the A14 you're entering a liminal zone between civilization and the fens. The further you go, the more of the native culture you'll witness, and if they spot you and are alarmed by your presence they'll hand you over to their sister Brenda (who is also their mother and cousin). Be inconspicuous.
You are actually fairly safe if you stay on the A14, but if you turn off at any point before the new A1 junction and find yourself re-crossing the A14 then you are very likely to encounter the horrors you describe.I was a police officer for 30 years and feel obliged to keep to the limits (within reason!) given those I reported for speeding.
I stick to the 30mph, putting 32 on my cruise control. I've noticed that if coming from a 50, those doing 40mph in front of me would not reduce their speed for the new limit. Off they'd go and, once into a higher limit, I'd catch up as they'd still be doing 40. Bizarre behaviour. Further, if I overtake in the over 30 limits, they'd sit on my boot in the 30 getting all frustrated. I've been hooted at, despite going at the limit. I've got out a couple of times, when stopped by lights/traffic, and opened my hatch back and shown the driver what's in there. That seems to keep them back a bit. It might be because I'm big and ugly. Once back into the higher limit, I leave them and everyone's happy. Everyone important to me that is.
I don't understand people.
I stick to the 30mph, putting 32 on my cruise control. I've noticed that if coming from a 50, those doing 40mph in front of me would not reduce their speed for the new limit. Off they'd go and, once into a higher limit, I'd catch up as they'd still be doing 40. Bizarre behaviour. Further, if I overtake in the over 30 limits, they'd sit on my boot in the 30 getting all frustrated. I've been hooted at, despite going at the limit. I've got out a couple of times, when stopped by lights/traffic, and opened my hatch back and shown the driver what's in there. That seems to keep them back a bit. It might be because I'm big and ugly. Once back into the higher limit, I leave them and everyone's happy. Everyone important to me that is.
I don't understand people.
Just been from Hull to Crewe and back last Sunday.
Driving was:
60% between 60 and 65mph (of which 20% in the middle lane regardless)
20% above 80mph
15% going from 55mph to 80mph and back to 55mph continuously
5% there or thereabouts 70mph
It feels to me that motorways are getting slower and less ordered than ever.
Driving was:
60% between 60 and 65mph (of which 20% in the middle lane regardless)
20% above 80mph
15% going from 55mph to 80mph and back to 55mph continuously
5% there or thereabouts 70mph
It feels to me that motorways are getting slower and less ordered than ever.
Derek Smith said:
I was a police officer for 30 years and feel obliged to keep to the limits (within reason!) given those I reported for speeding.
That seems to keep them back a bit. It might be because I'm big and ugly. Once back into the higher limit, I leave them and everyone's happy. Everyone important to me that is.
I don't understand people.
What is in there Derek? A flamethrower?That seems to keep them back a bit. It might be because I'm big and ugly. Once back into the higher limit, I leave them and everyone's happy. Everyone important to me that is.
I don't understand people.
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