Argh, I proof read the text but not the title.....should read M4 not M$. If the moderators could please oblige!
Ian
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Argh, I proof read the text but not the title.....should read M4 not M$. If the moderators could please oblige! Ian
No - it should be M£ surely, not M$ or M4....
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Indeed, set to nick you at 78mph and above. Deployed on bridges and will be snapping you at 200 metres plus before you get to them.
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What are the penalties in France? Do they give you points too or just fines?
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Adam
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Hopefully it'll make a difference to people who go hurtling along at over 90. My own feelings are that the speed limit should be raised to 80MPH and then rigorously enforced, snapping at anything over 90MPH. The revenue can pay for road repairs or more cameras.
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In fairness, this means (given speedo inaccuracy) you can toodle along at an indicated 80mph speedo (which I suppose is my average MW cruise) quite safely.
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Agreed RF, a steady 70-80 is not a problem, but hopefully it will slow down some of the fastest 3rd lane drives on this stretch of road who pass me as though I am standing stationary.
StarGazer
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Agreed RF, a steady 70-80 is not a problem, but hopefully it will slow down some of the fastest 3rd lane drives on this stretch of road who pass me as though I am standing stationary. StarGazer
On the long downhill stretch Westbound to J15?
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No, I usually get on at junction 15 then go west as far as the M5.
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Been here before haven't we?
Why is you doing 80 OK but someone else doing 90 not OK?
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I said an indicated 80, so thats probably about 73-75
1/ The cameras are set at 78 true
2/ I wont get knicked at an indicated 80
3/ you will get knicked at an indicated 90
So I am all right jack.
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Comment was badly aimed at Jesse, sorry RF. And what you say is quite right.
Although I also read that they will vary the threshold on a daily basis. I also read that this is one of the fastest stretches of motorway - don't they use the M40? :-)
In fact I'm surprised about the publicity this has got as I'm sure mobile cameras are in use everywhere. So there's nothing new about this news. Just heightens public awareness I guess.
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"I also read that this is one of the fastest stretches of motorway - don't they use the M40? :-)"
Yes thats quick ....But....
M6 TOLL - fastest in the UK.
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M4 in wales... slowest motorway in the UK, mainly 'cos there's some ****(couldn't decide what word to use) sat in a white van on every bridge pointing one of those cash making devices at the helpless eager drivers below.
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the helpless eager drivers below.
helpless?
listen sweetie, see that pedal under your right foot. Just don't push it so hard.
That way the needle (yes, there is a needle, look here) ... anyway if you don't push the pedal so hard the needle won't go over 70.
Then the big bad men in the vans won't come and frighten you.
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Wasn't refering to myself, so you needent worry any more darlin', although nice to know that you care.
I just hope your halo doesn't impede your driving.
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"I also read that this is one of the fastest stretches of motorway - don't they use the M40? :-)" Yes thats quick ....But.... M6 TOLL - fastest in the UK.
Tried the M69 recently?
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Tried the M45 recently, one bridge and one junction and usually no cars either
P.S. Bad subsidence about 1/2 mile westbound from M1, it's been patched since the Ferrari took off and disintegrated but it's not perfect.
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I also read that this is one of the fastest stretches of motorway - don't they use the M40? :-)
Shhhhh....
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2/ I wont get knicked ....
Knicked?
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Isn't the tolerance on speedometers -0%/ 10% to stop people inadvertently breaking the speed limit?
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Why set at 78? Thats above 10%, and ACPO is 10%+2?
I might be wrong.
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The thin end of the wedge. This is ridiculous!
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Its instilled panic the minds of us M4 commuters :). I do J17 to the M5 interchange daily so it'll liven things up a bit. I'm just waiting for the 1st fast lane shunt as drivers of good quality german marques stand on the anchors upon site of a white van on one of the bridges. I'm also wondering just how the safety camera partnership is going to deal with all the paperwork - epescially if they set the cameras at 79MPH.
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This is ideal, isn't it? A heavily used length of road which has seen numerous accidents over the years and obviously needs care and attention. So lets ensure that the users spend more time with their eyes looking down at the speedo instead of on the road and other traffic.
I know that if you drive at the limit you won't get "done", but please don't try to tell me that the urge to check the speedo upon sighting a camera isn't irresistable.
It looks like Gordon has noticed his financial black hole and is trying to fill it.
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It'll be too late to check the speedo once you've seen the camera :) I wonder if, once people start to get the idea, slow down and the revenue drops off, cars will appear in the outside lane doing 90 again....
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I think you'll find that all the revenue from scameras times a hundred wouldn't go very far in filling Gordon's financial black hole. And that's assuming he got it all - the partnerships retain some in most cases.
I suppose every little helps.
It also isn't a revenue stream he could depend on, as the day will come when people will realise how simple it is to avoid paying anything.
Oh, and with a little practice and determination, I've found it is fairly easy to plonk a car with which you are familiar on almost any speed you wish, and keep it there, reasonably steadily, without reference to the speedo. I could certainly do that at 30 and 40 with my eyes shut (metaphorically speaking of course). But if you find yourself incapable of doing so, or of flicking your eyes at your speedo, there are now GPS devices which will warn you when you are exceeding the speed limit. Word is that nanny is also stepping in to help, in that your car will also be braked for you, if you can't manage it yourself.
The issue of drivers braking suddenly on seeing the camera reflects poor awareness as much as anything. If the camera had been a kid, it may have been killed. It's clear that many drivers do not actually have a clue what limit they are driving in on A or B roads. Some dawdle at 40 in a 50 and slow even more if a camera comes into view. This can be as dangerous as speeding.
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news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/england/...m
"But Mr Gray said if the Tories were voted into power, they would raise the speed limit on motorways to 80mph."
'ello 'ello 'ello. Someone has big ears and it ain't Tony.
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'I'm just waiting for the 1st fast lane shunt as drivers of good quality German marques stand on the anchors upon site of a white van on one of the bridges.'
If they've missed the many large warning signs that have been unveiled today (before bridges and hard shoulder humps) westbound, it's probably because they're too busy picking up the mobile - which means they'll be braking hard anyway to do a 3 lane chop whilst answering it... situation normal!
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Does anyone recollect seeing speed camera warning signs between 17 and 18? Thats discounting the temporary ones for the roadworks :)
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It's been on the telly again this morning, about these M4 cameras.
What a marvellously designed publicity stunt they've pulled - even if only the occassinal camera is seen, drivers will now be more conscious of their speed. Maybe, anyway!
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It's been on the telly again this morning, about these M4 cameras.
Showing lots of pictures of tailgating! I have no problem with people who speed being nicked, as long as other motoring offences also receive attention, and tailgating is top of the list on motorways.
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Sir Hiss: I go through J14-17 each day; many large warning signs have been erected recently and were uncovered yesterday.
This morning, between J17 and J15, it was 3 lanes of near solid tailgating, at 65 - 70 mph. This is NOT a safety improvement!
And who is spinning the line to the BBC that this is the first time that cameras have been used on a motorway? White van cameras have been used on the M4 on non-roadwork sections in Wiltshire and Wales for a couple of years?
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That'll be the signs they've had covered up the past 6 months. Just driven back from the M4/M5 interchange to J17 - not a single white van camera/laser tripod/ fixed camera etc apart from the one just before the J18 roadworks. In fact, I think the powers that be are pulling a bit of a fast one here (no pun intended !) Since its the Wiltshire Safety Camera Partnership running this, they'll only be operating in Wiltshire. Wiltshire starts about 4 miles west of J18 (I'll measure it tommorow) and there are not many bridges either in the remaining 3 miles to J18. So I very much doubt they'll be operating West of 17 - so the J14 to J18 is a bit of an exageration.
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"Wiltshire starts about 4 miles west of J18 (I'll measure it tomorrow)"
Sir Hiss - When "manana" comes you will measure from J18 eastwards, won't you!?
Jack
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well spotted! Its more like two miles not 4. Anyway, the list of 7 sites on the Wilts Safety Cam Partnership website are all east of J17.
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I used to commute through this section every day.
Speed isn't the main cause of accidents on this road.
1) It's tailgating, usually caused by lack of lane discipline (mid laners).
2) Lorry's/Coaches and blowouts.
3) People not looking in mirrors when they change lane, or looking in mirror and pushing in.
4) Holiday traffic, usually inexperienced drivers, towing over laden caravans, or poorly secured bike carriers.
It's one of the straightest, safest bits of motorway I can think of. 70, is a ridiculously slow speed limit for most modern cars
Why don't the police start fining for mid-lanners, tailgaters, and those who signal, maneuver, and mirror; if they really want to make the roads safer!
WipeOut
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I used to commute through this section every day. Speed isn't the main cause of accidents on this road. 1) It's tailgating, usually caused by lack of lane discipline (mid laners). 2) Lorry's/Coaches and blowouts. 3) People not looking in mirrors when they change lane, or looking in mirror and pushing in. 4) Holiday traffic, usually inexperienced drivers, towing over laden caravans, or poorly secured bike carriers.
Basically everyone else bar you then is causing the problems!!
Can't quite see how point 2 causes a problem, are you saying all trucks and PSV's cause accidents?
That stretch of road maybe fairly straight, but that often makes them more dangerous as people loose concerntration, having the odd bend and hill makes people think a bit more. Also as it runs East/West then you have the added problems of the sun in the morning and afternoon blinding you, particulary bad in the early morning and late evening.
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Generally speaking (not motorways specifically), two thirds of accidents happen at junctions -- now there's a surprise, not. Why aren't two thirds of the cameras at junctions? Draw your own conclusions.
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Truckersunite
You wrongly assume, I speed. I rarely speed. I disagree with the police's disproportionate interest in speed, and lack of interest in other road safety issues.
As to point two, having nearly hit lorry tire carcasses on the motorway a number of times, I feel quite strongly about it. You try swerving and avoid lorry carcasses in rush hour traffic. I wouldn?t want to hit one at motorway speeds. I've also driven past lorries as the tyres have blown out, which is terrifying.
I?ve got nothing against truckers, and I never said truckers were responsible for all accidents. I?ve also talked with truckers, when traffic has been stationary on the M4, and they?ve told me that lorry/coach blowouts cause accidents, not all, but some.
WipeOut
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Truckersunite As to point two, having nearly hit lorry tire carcasses on the motorway a number of times, I feel quite strongly about it. You try swerving and avoid lorry carcasses in rush hour traffic.
If you don't have time to see them then you are travelling too close to the vehicle in front, simple fact.
>>I wouldn?t want to hit one at motorway speeds. I'vealso driven past lorries as the tyres have blown out, which is terrifying.
Not as terrifying as driving one when a steer axle tyre blows I can assure you!!!!!
And I never assumed you speed, not all accidents are a result of speed, more are a result of lack of concerntration which are then put down to speed.
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1) It's tailgating, usually caused by lack of lane discipline (mid laners).
This is likely to be more common, if anything, once the 3rd lane is full of people at 69mph on an open stretch.
I know this bit of motorway fairly well - I used to spend the week in Bristol and the weekend in Cambridge. The main risk is boredom - utter boredom.
Reducing speed is not going to help that. Quite the opposite. What is needed is to ban any non-cabriolet and require all roofs to be down. Especially in bad weather.
That'll keep everyone awake. ;-)
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Jesse - no government will ever raise the speed limit to 80 because they don't want the blame when someone gets killed doing 75. Even if modern cars are infinitely more capable at 80 than 1960's cars were at 70 when the limit was set.
Truckersunite - be realistic, hardly anywhere on any motorway can you keep the highway-code stipulated 10 miles between you and the vehicle in front. If you're in traffic and a lorry has a blow-out in front of you, where are you going to go anyway?
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Mattster
Boycott shoddy build and reliability.
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If you're in traffic and a lorry has a blow-out in front of you, where are you going to go anyway?
Go to stand on your brakes?
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That's your choice Matt. Either keep at a distance within which you can stop or pile into the back of the vehicle in front...
I know which I'd prefer...
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All you can do Matt is keep dropping back, I manage to keep a good distance from the vehicle infront, in both cars and trucks. It is a matter of what you regard as a higher priority, your safety or getting somewhere 5 minutes earlier, Your chioce,I make mine and it's safety.
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With the permanent placing of speed cameras(cash registers!)on the M4 yesterday,how long before you see them placed on most motorways.
Surely these are going to cause more accidents as drivers whose speed may have crept up are suddenly going to brake hard when observing these camera vans(like the golf which had to swerve to avoid hitting me up the back did on the M40 last week).
My most recent speeding ticket was 84mph on an empty motorway.First thing i knew about it was when the letter dropped through the letterbox two weeks later.Beware of any plain white vans on motorway bridges,they may be speed camera vans.
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I use this stretch of the M4 at least once a week, and I wouldn't have considered it bad for accidents generally, granted it is fast, but then again this is due to the good visibility and relative lack of traffic (compared to the Thames valley stretch).
Ironically it would seem that where the accidents occur is beteween J14 and London not this peaceful rural stretch of M4.
Over the other side, ie Cardiff area there are some more demanding stretches of motorway with some tight bends (for motorway speeds) which is more of an accident blackspot.
However I want to be clear that I think the deployment of these speed cameras is the actions of blood-sucking scum who only care about revenue generation and not about catching truly bad drivers.
A motorway cop once said to me that when they were sitting watching the traffic, they weren't overtly worried about speed (within reason), what they were looking for was driving that made cars 'stand-out' from the general flow.
Speed cameras can't do this now can they.....
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On several occasions that I've travelled between jnct 14 through 16 it's been quite misty. That, coupled with the morons who haven't bothered putting on their lights, despite the warning signs in the central reservation, I feel are *some* of the causes of the high amount of accidents that happen along this particular stretch of motorway.
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I noticed this evening that on the J17 junction, a scuffy white van was parked on the bridge in such a way that it was overlooking oncoming traffic in westbound lane . No signs or anything on it and it didn't look like a speed camera van. But from a distance and in the current climate, traffic approaching J17 would have probably thought otherwise. Conspiracy or just a couple of jokers having a laugh?
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