So called Smart motorways

sionie1

sionie1

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9FBACBCD-DFC6-41E1-A5F4-5626830C5313.jpeg
So for some time I’ve had this niggling feeling that smart motorways are just a bloody con and often don’t genuinely take into account traffic flow. This is the M6 today, for 22 miles it wasn’t any busier yet the overhead signs are set to 60, and obviously the speed cameras are linked..... no need at all for 60mph. The m42 is the same ..
 
allandwf

allandwf

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I agree, all just a big con. A bit like driverless cars. Something else to charge you for.
 
zagatoes30

zagatoes30

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I also think they are much more dangerous, drivers get confused about when and when they can't use the nearside lane - it seems red cross doesn't mean stop anymore. The lack of a hard shoulder means when a car does breakdown we have a disaster waiting to happen. People stick to a lane even more than they do on a normal motorway so we still get traffic pushed out to pass slower cars overtaking no one.

On top of that they don't improve flow, they slow everyone down and bring in addiitional revenue - the one thing these motorways are not is Smart
 
Scaf

Scaf

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Nothing smart about a “smart” motorway.
For example I have been held at 50mph on the M25 at 11pm at night for miles and miles - no traffic - no road works - no accident -
They are a pain in the backside and an excuse to set the average speed cameras rolling!
 
Doohickey

Doohickey

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I agree when the motorway isn't busy - I was once stuck at 60 from Nottingham to Barnsley even though road was quieter than in the OP's pic. I also nearly had an accident when some moron jumped on the brakes in the outside lane because of the cameras even though they weren't on.

However, I know people who commute into Leeds on the M62 who swear it makes a massive difference to their trip. If everyone is doing the same speed (more or less) then you don't get the same bunching and knock on effect of someone braking so the queues are reduced.
 
J

jemgee

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Apparently the reason for the restrictions ...... Wait for it........ Is not because of the current traffic.........it is based on historical analysis of road conditions where problems occur.

Please form an orderly queue for a Rant
 
MrMickS

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Some of the reason for the restrictions is nothing to do with the traffic but air quality. Setting the limit to 60 doesn't have much of an impact though as more pollutants are created by the lorries that trundle along at their limit regardless. You'd have to set the limit to 40 to have any impact on that.
 
conaero

conaero

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So, can someone please explain a smart motorway. I get the restricted limit where you have to adhere, but under normal conditions are you still being monitored...step 1mph over 70 and your done for?
 
Doohickey

Doohickey

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conaero said:
So, can someone please explain a smart motorway. I get the restricted limit where you have to adhere, but under normal conditions are you still being monitored...step 1mph over 70 and your done for?
Click to expand...

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/mo...truth-about-new-smart-motorway-speed-cameras/

Presumably the cameras also have to make allowances for speedo inaccuracies so even if they are on you are probably alright at up to 75ish (on an entirely without prejudice and no liability basis!).
 
CatmanV2

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Doohickey

Doohickey

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CatmanV2 said:
Speedos may no overread. So yes, you might be OK up to an indicated 75 but as soon as you hit a real world 71....

C
Click to expand...
True!

On a related note, there's a section of roadworks on the A1 in County Durham which has 50 mph average speed cameras. There are big signs on the side of the road now saying an average of 10 people a day are nicked for speeding through the roadworks! Not sure if that is speeding through each camera or through the whole section but that's still a lot of stupid people (and significant cash generation)!
 
lifes2short

lifes2short

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I always stick the cruise control at 1 mph below the max speed, good if you start day dreaming or not concentrating
 
T

TimR

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Reckon I read set to 72mph....
There was some ex -police big wig ranting on about zero tolerance..but I think it might not be the first time as its a bit of a hobby horse for him apparently...
Smart motorways run by smart coppers..? Oh great !
 
Wack61

Wack61

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There are coppers , most of them are in unmarked cars now , very few marked traffic cars on the motorways though

Expect a lot more of this on the not so smart motorways , no laughing at the toilet seat

 
CatmanV2

CatmanV2

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Not seeing why that wouldn't happen on a normal motorway? Seemed highly unlikely the caravan could have made it to the hard shoulder assuming it had had some catastrophic failure. It didn't appear to be stationary and if it was crawling due to issues, the HGV driver wasn't really demonstrating great observation

C
 
Wack61

Wack61

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The car towing the caravan hit a stationary car that would've been on the hard shoulder if there had been one then the truck hit the caravan
 
sionie1

sionie1

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MrMickS said:
Some of the reason for the restrictions is nothing to do with the traffic but air quality. Setting the limit to 60 doesn't have much of an impact though as more pollutants are created by the lorries that trundle along at their limit regardless. You'd have to set the limit to 40 to have any impact on that.
Click to expand...
There are 2 such zones around here. One of them however is the result of some gross incompetence by the welsh government and highways, where 4 lanes go into 2 due to a road improvement that never happened, well half of it did.. Changing the speed limit isn’t going to make a jot of difference as it’s crawling at 15mph most rush hours and 10mph all summer..
 
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