Speed Cameras ... ::sigh::

Inactive

Dress it up however you like, there is no excuse for speeding.:)

MrRedundant

It's impossible to say really.

I declared some points midway through my last policy (4 to be exact) and they didnt' increase the policy; when the renewal came in it was up by about £20-30 with a years extra no claims but then how much of that would have happened anyway?

Lum

Inactive wrote: »

Dress it up however you like, there is no excuse for speeding.:)

My argument has always been that the law should be changed, and that it's current direction is making things worse, not that you should just ignore it.

More variable speed limits, with the limits raising to 90+ at quiet times, not just lowering at busy times, would be a good start.

Inactive

Lum wrote: »

My argument has always been that the law should be changed, and that it's current direction is making things worse, not that you should just ignore it.

More variable speed limits, with the limits raising to 90+ at quiet times, not just lowering at busy times, would be a good start.

No argument with that..

Lum

I'd also like to see per-lane minimum speed limits introduced on motorways. I'm not 100% on the best implementation but at a starting point for discussion...

Raise the existing minimum speed limit of 25 to 50 with an exception for large, vehicles that are marked and have warning lights, as most of them do anyway. You should not reasonably expect to have to deal with a car doing 40mph in any lane, and if you cannot see a big yellow JCB with flashing amber lights on it then you shouldn't be driving.

For the middle lane, a higher minimum speed of 55 applies. Only exception is 2-lane wide loads that will still require an escort vehicle.

For all other lanes, minimum speed of 10mph below the current speed limit. If this minimum limit is lower than the explicit limits for L1 and L2 then this limit applies instead.

If any advisory signs are active, the minimum speed limit no-longer applies*, it also no longer applies if there is a hazard, such as a broken down vehicle not on the hard shoulder, pedestrian, traffic cone, fog, snow, standing water etc.

Coupled with sensible enforcement it should work pretty well. 55-60mph is generally the most efficient speed to drive at so I'm sure that many will appreciate having a lane where this speed is guaranteed in law. The HGV people should also appreciate a law keeping slow people out of their only overtaking lane.

I'm sure there are problems with this scheme, one that I anticipate is a complaint that it discriminates against car drivers who aren't confident to drive at 40+mph. But really such people shouldn't be on a motorway.

*Finally, a use for the "Fog" advisory sign.

jase1

Excellent post ... the only problem I can foresee is that it could lead to a hardening of the middle-lane owner's club's resolve -- if the minimum limit is 55 in the second lane that's exactly what they will do.

Of course, given that an indicated 55 is most likely only 50 in reality, it would be amusing to see them being pulled and given points for inappropriate speed Finally, a concrete charge to throw at these cretins

Actually, I withdraw my objection -- good all round.

Lum

If you're enforcing minimum speed limits then you can also enforce against the MLOC.

Unfortunately there are two things required to make this work:

1) Actual traffic police, though I suppose there could be money made by inventing a minimum speed camera.
2) Keeping the road surface in sufficient condition that L1 is not rutted as driving in L1 in a little Fiesta is a really horrid experience (only time I've ever felt sick while driving was on a heavily rutted section of M4 in a 59 plate Fiesta discourtesy car. I ended up speeding up so that I could overtake people and thus legitimately use the middle lane)

I'd like to see a specific offence for not keeping left, and you could probably enforce it by camera with just a software upgrade to SPECS cameras.

optimus_primera

Raise the limit a lot more for when the motorway is less used, ie say from 11pm to 4am? (with obvious bad weather caveats)
Maybe if we told the europeans to stick their 56mph limit for wagons (the legal limit is still 60 mph for them here) that would help a bit.

And back to the old issue of having motorway plod back, not just to catch those going over a limit, but the catch those who are driving badly???

cyclonebri1

jase1 wrote: »

>


The driver travelling at 30% below the speed limit is causing a comparable amount of potential for trouble as the driver travelling 10% above. Especially on two-lane motorways where there is no release valve (the third lane) for an overtaking vehicle confronted by a slow vehicle pulling out in front of them.

Nail hit on head, but who is breaking the law?? That is the dam problem. You can't "do" the slow driver but you dam well can the fast one??

optimus_primera

'driving without due care and attention'???? bit vague i suppose,but again needs the motorway plod to see them ....