A couple of questions about gantry signage and speed limits

boxosox

Grey_Critic said:

From which junction? There are aroad works from around J41 M1 right through to Leeds and M62 J24  through to just short of J30 and 40mph restrictions plus the gantry cameras are live withh average speed cameras. Everything is well signed. I use both fairly regular and did so on Wednesday

Is this question directed at me?  They were overnight works at J17 (clockwise).

boxosox

born_again said:

[Deleted User] said:

What's the etiquette for letting people who leave it late into your lane?

If they are polite and don't barge I might allow it, but if it's an SUV/BMW/Audi... No way.

As per HWC..

Merge in turn. 

Hate the fact drivers sit in one lane while another is empty, you can use both lanes till lane is blocked. Causing longer tailbacks.

Apparently that's not true - the red X was lit about 500yds before the lane was physically blocked by cones, so although the lane wasn't closed one shouldn't drive in it (even though an awful lot of cars did).

boxosox

I've been thinking further about this, and I've concluded my frustration is at the poor implimentation of "smart" motorways.

The overhead gantries are so often wrong that people now largely ignore them.  "Report of obstruction" and a 50 limit is the one I often see.  There has never actually been an obstruction and after a couple of miles it's back to NSL - even though 90% of the traffic has ignored the 50mph anyway.

Last year I was on a motorway somewhere around Manchester and the limit went down to 20mph with "oncoming vehicle" displayed.  It went on for about 20 mins which is an awfully long time at about midnight when you're expecting to make good progress.  There was no oncoming vehicle.

Car_54

boxosox said:

Car_54 said:

sevenhills said:

Grumpy_chap said:

I am actually with the OP on this one.  If the gantry signage reads 40 mph and there is no signage to revert back to NSL, then the limit remains 40 mph.  It is possible that the OP missed the NSL sign, or just that gantry was out for some reason.  There comes a point where you have to take a judgement call that you did miss the NSL sign and then speed up but I doubt that would stand up in court.

I don't get how any gantry or temporary speed limit is enforceable, unless there is a photo of the vehicle speeding and the sign.

If I get a speeding ticket, how can innocence or guilt be proved either way?

sevenhills said:

Grumpy_chap said:

I am actually with the OP on this one.  If the gantry signage reads 40 mph and there is no signage to revert back to NSL, then the limit remains 40 mph.  It is possible that the OP missed the NSL sign, or just that gantry was out for some reason.  There comes a point where you have to take a judgement call that you did miss the NSL sign and then speed up but I doubt that would stand up in court.

I don't get how any gantry or temporary speed limit is enforceable, unless there is a photo of the vehicle speeding and the sign.

If I get a speeding ticket, how can innocence or guilt be proved either way?

If there’s a photo, it will show both your car and the sign. 

Otherwise, an officer’s statement is valid evidence. Whether it’s “proof” is a decision for the court.

How does it do that when they're on the same gantry as the limit signs?

There is a secondary camera to the side and in front of the gantry, which captures the displayed signs. The two cameras are triggered simultaneously.

Bigphil1474

OP, i totally get what you are saying re no NSL after roadworks. I tend to use the next junction as a marker. If I can see the signs to the next junction with no limit displayed, then it is clear to me that NSL is back in force. If I can't see the signs, but all the cars joining are speeding up to NSL speeds, then I assume that NSL is back in force. 

It might be that the Red Cross signs were put on because of concerns from road workers after their signs were put up. Who knows. But never ignore a Red X.

Zip merging is the term, and something most people can't seem to fathom. I had a truck literally pull out in front of me to block my progress on the A64 last month, because I was driving down the right hand lane a good 800 yards before the 2 lanes merged into 1. Traffic was backed up quite a way before the lane merge because everyone was in the left lane.