ADVICE PLEASE - NOTICE OF INTENDED PROSECUTION - M1 SOUTHBOUND MIDNIGHT - VARIABLE SPEED LIMIT

[clk320x]

Backs up my attitude to speed cameras, drive at the speed limit using cruise control.

It takes a lot of stress out of driving, you do not need to constantly watch for cameras or police cars.


Easy to say when you are retired and time does not matter I know.

Fitted camera to car so have an argument with intended prosecution if it should arise

Huh? What about when the speed limit changes every few hundred metres…………

 

[markjay]

Backs up my attitude to speed cameras, drive at the speed limit using cruise control...

I tried that! Nigh-on impossible.

If you just flick the CC lever to the new speed the car accelerates harshly or applies the brakes, the passengers getting car-sick after a few of those....

The only way was to use the pedals, increasing and reducing speed gradually as needed.

 

[PenelopePitstop]

I drive with cruise control through road works. Of course there's always someone doing 45 in 50, etc.

 

[Deleted member 131833]

Huh? What about when the speed limit changes every few hundred metres…………

Just use the CC to reduce the speed to the new limit, do not see the problem, but you are right changing the speed limit every few miles makes it more likely to get caught.

Having said the above have you ever been on a live carriageway with only a hard hat and a hi viz jacket for protection? I have and it is not nice being passed by 40 tonners in the adjacent lane.

Until they invent materials that cure instantly they will always set speed limits on carriageways to protect the road workers, it is not economic to change speed limits every ten minutes.

 

[rockits]

Speed limit on gantry is visible from distance, so there should be enough time and space to brake. Of course, braking from 70 to 40 could be a bit harsh but in this case there was change from 60 to 50 and I didn't see any distracting or flashing lights on a video. Other driver was able to brake and it looks like he/she was going faster.

So, live and learn (and pay).

I know what you are saying & can't disagree. However after a long brain taxing technical day with the work I do I am using all my powers of concentration to keep the car in the lane, keep at a constant reasonable speed, what out for others cars, lorries & drivers, watch out for constantly changing speed limits, constantly changing lanes being closed & open, cones a over the place and lights everywhere.

I link some footage of the bits that show this better than this one.

It is a lot to take in & process. I'm not an idiot & do lots of fairly difficult technical work. Often under pressure & all this when there is the constant background worries of wife, kids, paying bills & keeping a business or two and quite a few customers happy.

 

[rockits]

Anyway, I am on the way back now, sat at Newport Pagnell motorway services, because the M1 south is at standstill due to a crash, waiting for it clear-up so I can continue my journey home.

A crash.....surely not caused by these roadworks & the craziness that ensues?!

 

[Stratman]

Roadworks don't cause crashes, people do.

 

[clk320x]

A crash.....surely not caused by these roadworks & the craziness that ensues?!

Very likely to be actually, that section of the M1 has been a complete shambles recently!

 

[rockits]

Roadworks don't cause crashes, people do.

The reason I was driving in the middle lane at that point was a little earlier in the journey I swerved and narrowly missed a stray cone on the inside lane. All the cones were on the line pretty much which was way too close IMHO. That cone nearly did and could have easily caused an accident. No roadworks.....no cone....no accident.

I am not so fussed about 3 points, a fine or a SAC. I'm more concerned that the organisation of these roadworks. IMHO they are dangerous.....and an accident and possibly a fatality waiting to happen.

 

[rockits]

These are the kinds of situations that get very confusing late at night:
https://rocksolutions-my.sharepoint...BCmEU9ZYUdisQBAijYdfK3HmsdQC8CRA46OQ?e=eC3pcG

 

[markjay]

Roadworks don't cause crashes, people do.

And "guns dont kill people...." etc

 

[rockits]

Wasn't that a song ?

 

[whitenemesis]

However after a long brain taxing technical day with the work I do I am using all my powers of concentration to keep the car in the lane, ....

Sounds like you could have done with either a driver or an over-night break to rest up. If your work is that tiring you need to factor in better travel arrangements?

 

[rockits]

Sounds like you could have done with either a driver or an over-night break to rest up. If your work is that tiring you need to factor in better travel arrangements?

A driver?.....you offering?! You mistake me for someone who has potloads of money [emoji6]

Last time I did some work for this customer in Leeds it was a known 2 day job setting up their new office. This time it was an expected 1/2 to 3/4 day job. Unfortunately as sometimes happens in the tech/IT world a few unexpected issues meant a few hours extra to get all works complete. Had to be back down in London next day so staying wasn't an option.

I left Leeds at 9pm & took my time & stopped twice. Didn't feel tired at all at any point.

I don't like to let people down & had jobs to do down in London that had already been booked in.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Your biggest mistake was one you soon sussed out - going down the M1!

I avoid it as much as possible and always take the A1 if heading south even if it takes me that bit longer.

 

[rockits]

Thanks & agreed. I was 50/50 on whether to go A1 or M1 as had gone up the A1 in the morning & the journey was smooth & without issue. I've learnt my lesson! Funny how things progress. If you want to get home quicker, safely and without a speeding ticket don't take one of the biggest motorways we have!

 

[rockits]

I've been caught once when I was young & less wise at 17. I don't advocate speeding & fully support the concept of speed limits. In the main they are there for a reason. The problem for me is that reason seems to be changing. It used to be & should be for safety and is perveyed that way. Don't purvey it as for safety when it clearly isn't & is a stealth tax.

I agree 100% with 20mph limits near schools etc. & have been doing less than 30mph myself when I feel it is applicable for years prior to this. However I disagree with blanket 20mph limits for no good reason other than as a stealth tax.

It is all about honesty, clarity & transparency which are three words that seem be lacking or wholly missing from much of our recent & current govts vocabularies.

I'm not trying to speed here just trying to work out what speed I'm supposed to be doing & stick to it. I'd prefer 50 miles of 40 or 50 mph fixed with average speed cameras rather than lots of constant variations of 40/50/60/NSL. At least you can pop the cruise on at a fixed speed and have one less issue to worry about or concentrate on.

 

[PenelopePitstop]

In the end you can only blame yourself for not slowing down. Sign was there. You can of course complain about road works safety to Highway Agency or whoever is responsible for M1.

 

[rockits]

In the end you can only blame yourself for not slowing down. Sign was there. You can of course complain about road works safety to Highway Agency or whoever is responsible for M1.

I bow to your better awareness, sharper braking & better acceptance of the variable conditions that clearly improve road safety & certainly don't worsen it.

One set of over head ganty signs at the point the camera is set. Hardly clear & in good time. All this does is created exactly the scenario of the person overtaking me at a much higher speed only to break hard & suddenly. Doesn't look particularly safe to me.

Average speed cameras clearly work much better at keeping a smooth steady flow of traffic. Problem is they don't generate much revenue in fines.

I am indeed the fool here. Not clever enough clearly.

I am 45 years old, am in good health, have decent eye sight, drive pretty safe & have reasonable reactions. I pray for the others that aren't so young, not so healthy, have lesser eyesights, drive worse & have lesser reactions. No accident waiting to happen there.

I've known for some time I'm not a sheep & clearly not 'normal'. I guess I should just be quiet & ignore the things I disagree with. What's the point? You cant change things things days.

Que sera sera.

 

[blademansw]

Smart motorways, constant roadworks, varying speed limits over short spaces of time, massive amounts of signage everywhere. Quite simply information overload. And we all know how that turns out so lets thank our beneficent government for all this shit.