Dangerous variable speed limits on M4 Newport

tripled

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

The clue is in the many signs dotted along the M4 around that stretch, they are 'variable,' the limit changes.

How can I notice these many signs, thus be prepared, yet you cannot?

You can make sure you keep your eyes open for any changes - which you should be doing anyway - but short of travelling more slowly in case they change (which negates the purpose of a variable speed limit) I am unsure of what steps you can take in preparation. I'd be grateful if perhaps you could dismount from your high horse so you don't need to look down your nose, and explain it to a simpleton like me?

Lum

kazza80 wrote: »

:oI have just travelled back from Cardiff tonight and passed through the Newport tunnel in torential rain and couldn't see any 50mph speed restrictions?!!! I actually panicked as I was expecting them due to the weather conditions! I am now worried thinking I missed them? but after reading the above I am now beginning to believe that there probably weren't any?!

Don't worry.

The Westbound 50 limit is on permanently as there was a severe fire in that tunnel a while back and supposedly the lighting still isn't quite right or something.

There is no permanent 50 limit eastbound, any reduction in limit there is triggered by congestion. I don't know where you live so I don't know what time you travelled through the tunnel, but I'm going to assume somewhere like Bath or Reading and thus suggest that you passed through the tunnel around 8-9pm way past the rush hour*, assuming there even was a rush hour today which is unlikely due to it being a bank holiday. Therefore the signs would not be on. as there was no congestion.

The UK doesn't implement lower speed limits due to poor weather the way Germany does, all they do is light up the orange signs to say "It's raining, LOL", just in case you didn't notice.

You'll be fine.

*Basis for this assumption, if you hit it at rush hour, the only way you'd be doing 70 is if you felt like driving into the back of someone

SHIPSHAPE

tripled wrote: »

You can make sure you keep your eyes open for any changes - which you should be doing anyway - but short of travelling more slowly in case they change (which negates the purpose of a variable speed limit) I am unsure of what steps you can take in preparation. I'd be grateful if perhaps you could dismount from your high horse so you don't need to look down your nose, and explain it to a simpleton like me?

You've just said it, keep aware, a basic driving requirement.

Coming from either direction for this stretch, there are permanent signs stating 'variable speed limits' and 'average speed cameras' long before they actually appear on gantries.

I'm not on a high horse, simply pointing out what I and others see so are prepared to adjust speed if/when required.

I travel it regularly at all times of the day yet I find no problem.

Indeed, during the rush hours, it is very effective and has reduced the congestion somewhat.

Lum

SHIPSHAPE wrote: »

Coming from either direction for this stretch, there are permanent signs stating 'variable speed limits' and 'average speed cameras' long before they actually appear on gantries.

None of the managed motorway networks use average speed cameras, they use digital Gatsos.

The only way you could have seen that combination of signs is if you drove through it after they had put the VSL signs up but before the roadworks were taken down, meaning that there was a SPECS enforced temporary 50 limit.

Wig

Looking at the google map the bend is a left hand bend before the gantry in question, you have about 200m to see the gantry after rounding the bend, takes 3 seconds to do 100m at 70mph. 6 seconds to do the 200m assuming you see the gantry straight away, and assuming other factors like coming down the hill on approach does not further reduce your ability to see the LEDs lit up. You are looking in your mirror observing all the street furniture around you which complicates everything. Something else might have your attention within the car for a second.or 2. You might be overtaking other vehicles (like I was).
I don't think a 200metre warning (assuming it is visible at 200m) is long enough when you are travelling 70mph.
And remember after travelling through 6 - 7 - 10? gantries already showing no speed limit so you are lulled into believing the system is switched off at the moment.
They give you a half mile warning for the exit and 200m warning for a reduction in speed limit which if you fail to observe is a speeding ticket.

The bend is underneath Rembrandt Way, the gantry is at the sliproad exit for J25.

Lum

Are you sure you don't mean J25A? that's the only one I've found problems with. Any chance of a link to the google map in question?

Wig

25A is even worse a 3 second warning. I am certain it was 25 that caught me out.
You are used to the road, I'm not. For all the reasons given I don't think the warning is adequate.

Wig

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Meanshile outside of Wales in the rest of the UK, very few places give advanced warning of speed limit changes - you get to find out when you see the sign.

Can anyone confirm any other motorway reductions in speed limit to 50 which are or are not warned of in advance? Around the country.

Lum

Wig wrote: »

Can anyone confirm any other motorway reductions in speed limit to 50 which are or are not warned of in advance? Around the country.

M8 through Glasgow, though to be fair that entire stretch is best described as a clusterf**k. No notification of speed limit changes, which are permanent, and it goes as low as 40 at some points.

As for M4 J25A w/b the problem seems to be reversed there, you get plenty of warning but as you get close to the signs they fade out of view as you move out of the viewing angle during the bend immediately before the signs.

I've never noticed any problems near M4 J25 w/b, even when the system was new, but I'll have a look in the morning.

adamc260

Don't talk to me about J25a .. I live near there! Can't get on the M4 westbound and can't get off eastbound.

Good design Newport City Council!