Same stretch of motorway as my last story... its all smart motorway... with the 2 x yellow camera every 5 miles or so.. I rarely push the boundaries, with a gps quoted 71-74 mph depending on how my right foot / cruise control is feeling... on the darker sections at night you regularly see the odd camera flash here and there... you can see it on the road signs, numberplate reflections, lorries etc etc.. Last night just as we go under the camera section an rs6 comes past doing about 90.... I look for the flash thinking here we go... there’s a lorry in from with white rear doors ...road signs everywhere... yet nothing.... and the car just keeps trucking onwards Into the distance.... same with an S class limo the other evening..... so what’s the story..? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hi Al, Camera possibly turned off - but I'd think that unlikely. My beef is ridiculous limits in a bit of adverse weather. You'll know the stretch on the M1 south just before the Meadowhall turnoff, there's a speed camera there and the gantry was set to 40mph the other day, so all traffic was at a snail's pace going over the bridge. It was a bit windy, but 40mph? I slowed down and nearly had a lorry up my backside!
Good question...I've not had any problems as I stick with the same speeds as @a.s.uk . I've also seen the cameras flash, usually on the other carriageway. I do wonder if all the cameras are active all the time. The beef I have @bishbosh is the "report of obstruction" and imposing a 50 limit for miles on end when it is evident there is no obstruction whatsoever.
That's a pet hate too, had one this morning on the commute, 5 miles of absolutely no f*cking debris anywhere. Pre smart motorway, how on earth did we manage???
We drove to the road conditions at the time... had it last night...Stranded vehicle... 3 empty lanes and everyone slowed to 40..... in the end nothing... unrestricted sign at next gantry And they wonder why people ignore them... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I read a few days ago that the boss of Highways England is leaving his job early next year. Hasn't been sacked but has come in for a lot of criticism of his implementation of 'Smart Motorways'. I also remember reading that he claims to have achieved 'Great things' as boss of HE. I shook my head in despair when I read all that!
460k plus bonuses as well..!! Beggars belief Not a bad ‘paper round’ for some sh1te decisions... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I think that initially they weren't [the nearest 'real' motorway to here is maaaany miles away, consider c. 150ish miles], but with full computer control of the system now I reckon they just spit out NOIP notices etc and leave the driver to cough up or contest.
When driving on smart motorway sections, if there are no speed reductions showing, I reduce the setting on the cruise control to 75 Mph. I've read differing opinions about whether the cameras are used to enforce the National Speed Limit. But to be quite honest, I would not want to drive at a higher speed as I think that smart motorways are death traps and you need your wits about you. See my previous post on the subject on the link below. https://www.bmwland.org.uk/index.php?threads/smart-motorway-or-deathtrap.3069/
I think you're right. When the M1 section around J27-28 was 'upgraded' to a smart motorway I remember you could go past the gantries easily up to 80mph without the cameras going off. It was that way for a while then I think something was said on the radio that they had become active and since then I've taken it easy.
Seen smart motorway gantries on the 62 near Leeds flash even though there’s no speed limit displayed. It’s sneaky and I think it’s dependent on council/county. As a rule I’m always around 70-73 regardless, just in case. I have found though the average speed cameras are pretty lenient, keep up a good 55 in a 50 zone and no issues so far. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I had a camera flash me and a van, never got a NIP, M1 down near M25. Since then always ensure my speed is only a few over or is under regardless of whether theres a reduced speed limit in force. I always use my snooper/gps and in 50'S typically hover around 53/54 never had an issue. I have seen cars doing over 80 in outside lane and camera hasn't flashed yet have seen them flash on others, both when no reduced limit, so it does seem to be a postcode lottery.
The “smart” motorway sections on the M5 are as much of an annoyance. I’ve been through at 80ish when the national speed limit has shown and have been flashed, was in a hire car. Had nothing come back to me. My Garmin Dashcam is excellent at warning the locations of the cameras, helps to moderate the speed as appropriate. What absolutely does my head in when driving on these motorways is the morons that have no idea what a four lane motorway is, they seem to pick a random lane and sit in it. Regardless of what the conditions and traffic flow is like. Very frustrating. One of the reasons I’m probably going to stick with RFTs is smart motorways. Really, really don’t fancy having to limp to one of the lay-bys to attempt a change.
The Cardiff end of the M4 last week had a 50mph limit about 2 miles AFTER lorry tyre debris on the road.. not before not so 'smart'
3rd Lane is favourite..... I do a lot of ‘ out of hours driving’ and for some reason unknown to me.... some people, when there is nothing else around , love the 3rd lane..???? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
l blame the cars myself. my car has some fancy tech and a BMW badge and when you try and move from the outside lane the Lane departure warning goes mental so l just have to stay in the outside lane
That’s Speedo - I only ever refer to a gps speed if I’m worried I’ve gone past a camera too fast!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
