Man of Honour
What would you think was going on? Would you do anything other than reduce your speed? Do you know the circumstances in which a 20mph limit would be imposed?
What would you do if you saw a 20mph variable speed limit on a motorway?
- Thread starter Burnsy2023
- Start date
Depends. If I'm doing 90 in the fast lane and it suddenly pops up 50 yards ahead, I'm not slowing down to 20 and risking being rear ended by general courier.
Also they tend to allow a time before the cameras kick in for this very reason, to give you a chance to slow down safely. So I'd do that up to the next one gradually coming down to 20. I would assume it was due to workers in the road roadworks or an accident.
Also they tend to allow a time before the cameras kick in for this very reason, to give you a chance to slow down safely. So I'd do that up to the next one gradually coming down to 20. I would assume it was due to workers in the road roadworks or an accident.
Soldato
If I saw a 20mph limit on a motorway I'd be slowing down as safely as possible, eyes peeled and tbh looking for the nearest exit as something horrendous is likely to happen (driver on the wrong side of the road, livestock on the carriageway, lorry full of babies shed its load etc etc). IIRC 40mph is the minimum regular speed limit on a motorway so anything less than that is likely to be as a result of a serious intervention.
Man of Honour
Cry because it's about to become a very long day.
Lowest I've seen is a 40.
I slow and move over to lane 1, behind a truck and follow if possible.
Too many drivers in the outside lane see this as a chance to continue speeding, overtake cars and get to the front, following each other too closely.
I used to be one of them but now I don't mind being last if it means I get home in one piece.
And @DRZ said, start checking the sat nav for an exit and alternative route.
I slow and move over to lane 1, behind a truck and follow if possible.
Too many drivers in the outside lane see this as a chance to continue speeding, overtake cars and get to the front, following each other too closely.
I used to be one of them but now I don't mind being last if it means I get home in one piece.
And @DRZ said, start checking the sat nav for an exit and alternative route.
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Underboss
I would get on the bluetooth phone and call DI @Burnsy2023
I'd slow to 20mph and then nearly get rear ended by a truck because nobody pays any attention to the variable speed limits unless there is a camera on that particular gantry.
Honestly, I HATE 'smart' motorways for this reason. I back off to drop to the speed limit and the locals who know where the cameras are are then flying past on both sides.
Like Mujja I try and get to lane 1 ASAP but even then If it is anything below a 60 you then get a truck pinned to your rear bumper.
Honestly, I HATE 'smart' motorways for this reason. I back off to drop to the speed limit and the locals who know where the cameras are are then flying past on both sides.
Like Mujja I try and get to lane 1 ASAP but even then If it is anything below a 60 you then get a truck pinned to your rear bumper.
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I don't think I've ever seen less than a 40 either, even with standstill traffic on the motorway.
Soldato
On another note, why do most artics just keep barreling along at full speed ignoring the speed restrictions? Slow down on a motorway and one will be up your arse or barging into the middle lane to overtake almost immediately!
tisOh come on Wales isn't that bad
Soldato
I don't drive on motorways much, can't say I've seen a 20 limit, or even heard of it.
I've probably done 20 in really bad weather, but that's obvious so probably not what you're getting at.
I know that sometimes when traffic stops it concertinas back through traffic as ppl keep stopping and it takes ages to return to normal speeds. So maybe I'd assume they were trying to get flow restarted.
Regardless, I'd just stick to the limit assuming it's there for a reason, maybe even get off the motorway and take some other route if possible.
I'd probably pay attention to traffic radio too. Been a while since I used that, assuming it's still a thing, not sure I'd even know how to turn it on in my current car.
I'd be tempted to stop at services and research what's going on, maybe just have some food, but I'd probably assume services are rammed with other ppl doing the same.
I've probably done 20 in really bad weather, but that's obvious so probably not what you're getting at.
I know that sometimes when traffic stops it concertinas back through traffic as ppl keep stopping and it takes ages to return to normal speeds. So maybe I'd assume they were trying to get flow restarted.
Regardless, I'd just stick to the limit assuming it's there for a reason, maybe even get off the motorway and take some other route if possible.
I'd probably pay attention to traffic radio too. Been a while since I used that, assuming it's still a thing, not sure I'd even know how to turn it on in my current car.
I'd be tempted to stop at services and research what's going on, maybe just have some food, but I'd probably assume services are rammed with other ppl doing the same.
Soldato
I'd check Waze to see if the gantree had a camera, if it did I'd slow to 20 as long as I didn't think I'd get rear ended, if it didn't I'd probably stay at around 40. As far as I know, they're not allowed to go from 70 to 20 anyway, there has to be a gradual reduction. I've often seen one gantree at 60, the next at 40, etc.