Has anyone been caught driving at more than the temporary speed limit, usually at roadworks, where your average speed through the restricted distance is supposedly calculated? Most cars etc seam to stick to the speed limit except for a few White Van drivers. I only ask out of interest, not because of guilt on my part.
Nope - but some people know how to beat the system (or get points!) - I can go through at the limit (as per my GPS) and cars will pass me at a reasonable rate - like they know exactly how fast they can go (maybe they treat them the same as ‘traditional’ cameras and use a rule-of-thumb 110% + 2mph?)
Or, I can be going along at the limit, with cars behind me, who will then overtake after one camera, pull away, before slowing down to the limit again for the next few.
Like they know cameras 1, 2 and 3 are linked, and 4, 5, and 6 are linked - but between 3 and 4, you can do what you like!?
I don’t like them - the benefit over traditional ones is if you’re behind a car going a fair bit below the limit, you know you can accidentally go over it a bit when you overtake, which on a GATSO(/whatever) lined road you can’t, so overtaking is safer.
Personally, I’d raher people were just educated better to be able to assess the road and conditions to make their own judgement of safe speed.
If you do get caught and fined etc. remember that your offence is (probably) only that of breaking the speed limit, and not necessarily of driving dangerously or recklessly. We are given to believe that average speed limits contribute to road safety, but until I see the results of a proper controlled comparison experiment, I’ll file that under propaganda. For myself, I find that I concentrate mainly on driving at, or just either side of, the posted limit, and have to make an effort to watch the traffic ahead of and behind me. I’d rather it were the other way around.
A good friend of mine who’s an Advanced Motorist recommends using cruise control in these situations to cap your speed, thereby giving one less thing to worry about. I’ve tried this in my other car (no CC in the Five) with varying results. On balance I prefer to control the speed myself.
One thing’s for sure. If average speed limits generate income for the Government, they’re here to stay.
I’m sure others won’t agree with this but personally I think the average speed cameras create more danger than they avert. You get bunching of traffic, people weaving as they try to concentrate on their speedos rather than traffic around them, gaps closing as people won’t let others move in from the outside lane ‘because they’re pushing the limit’, or from the inside lane ‘as they’re going too slow’ and as usual you get lorries side by side doing the same speed for mile after mile. All this leads to pent up frustration which manifests itself at the end of the limit as all the traffic bursts out of the restriction like a cork from a bottle neck.
However, we live with it I guess.
Join BTST and get a TALEX. I have and I have NO points!
Gary, would you mind posting a new thread with more info on that? - I looked it up last time, but their website’s pretty crap
No problem. Where would I place it? BTW did you see my pm?
I don’t have any points either (in 22 years of driving), in spite of not having a clue what either of those things are …
Ditto the above but, for 22 years, insert 55 years and I don’t drive slowly all the time but try to keep within the slower speed limits, in towns etc. (can’t find an emoticon for smug)
I agree with this.
Playing devil’s advocate, the Highways Agency or whatever body has the task of carrying out roadworks has to mimise traffic accidents on those roadworks but keep traffic flowing, and all at minimum cost. Their answer is to set a compromise blanket speed limit, to keep the motoring morons in check but allowing little or no leeway for sensible drivers who could make their own informed judgement about a safe speed for the prevailing conditions. If it brings in some money then so much the better.
It’s the same legislative approach that prevents my enjoying a glass of wine or a bottle of beer with a picnic in a public park; I’m lumped together with the kids drinking supermarket cider. Given adequate resources a more selective approach would be possible, but as Mr Cameron will be explaining, the resources ain’t there.
End of rant, back to work!
I haven’t been done by the average cameras but on the Speed Awareness Course I attended recently (35mph in a rural 30mph zone 
) there were two people who had.