Soldato
Probably because it takes them a long time to get up to speed. They're also probably trying to make up time they lost slowing down somewhere else
What would you do if you saw a 20mph variable speed limit on a motorway?
- Thread starter Burnsy2023
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Soldato
Probably assumed everyone would be hammered.I had a 20mph limit light up, driving back on the M42 on New Years Day at 2am. The road was completely empty and it was difficult sticking to it
Soldato
- Joined
- 27 Mar 2013
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I live near Hull, and while it's a fair limit as the bridge is cracked, on the westbound side it starts far too early. I do find it annoying when I seem to be the only one slowing for the so called smart motorways (cheap motorways would be a better name, binning off the hard shoulder is stupid).
Soldato
Certainly reduce speed and change lanes if safe/appropriate whilst seeing wtf is happening. I can't remember a 20 ever, lowest is usually 40 and then dead stop to join a queue. Maybe heavy fog or something like smoke reducing visibility would merit a 20 limit - but I'm guessing.
Is this a test ?
Is this a test ?
Permabanned
I'd curse and await what farce 'elf 'n' safety had conjured up this time, probably some attention seeking green haired bints with banners protesting their latest fad.
I'd continue the cursing at 22 mph, but this time lambasting the liberals who have broken the country, and put the wireless on hoping to hear President Putin had invaded us to bring some much needed discipline and sanity here
I'd continue the cursing at 22 mph, but this time lambasting the liberals who have broken the country, and put the wireless on hoping to hear President Putin had invaded us to bring some much needed discipline and sanity here
I had a 20mph limit light up, driving back on the M42 on New Years Day at 2am. The road was completely empty and it was difficult sticking to it
That takes the ****. I think I'd pull off and takes my plates off in that situation
Chances of being noticed by police is pretty much zero.
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Soldato
A 20 mph limit on an empty motorway in the early hours of New Years Day is exactly the situation when I'd expect to find a police trap tbh...That takes the ****. I think I'd pull off and takes my plates off in that situation
Chances of being noticed by police is pretty much zero.
Is there a camera on the gantry?
Emergency brake to 0. Gradually creep Up to 10 mph.
I hate smart motorways too. Most people don't go the speed until the camera then speed up again.
As I don't often know where the cameras are I tootle at the speed limit for fear of a ticket.
I don't drive on motorway much though except the m4 west of Cardiff. Which is usually clear.
I hate smart motorways too. Most people don't go the speed until the camera then speed up again.
As I don't often know where the cameras are I tootle at the speed limit for fear of a ticket.
I don't drive on motorway much though except the m4 west of Cardiff. Which is usually clear.
Man of Honour
I would safely slow down to 20mph and move over to the inside lane as soon as it was safe to do so if not already in it then get tailgated by some moron who can't read signs.
I assumed they were average speed cameras but it seems not. I suppose I'll just keep Waze open in future...
I was in a training course and the instructor said that if you see 20mph on a variable speed limit motorway, it means oncoming traffic in your carriageway - a vehicle going the wrong way. That might be many 10s of miles away due to needing to create a sterile area but might be over before you get to it. I never got taught about that prior to yesterday and wondered if anyone else knew.
Permabanned
So where is this "fact" about a 20MPH variable limit being shown on motorways documented? Google shrugs, other search engines shrug, the Highways Agency page on variable speed limits shrugs....
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Soldato
Slow down but treat it with a pinch of salt. 80% of reduce speed signs, or queue ahead turn out to be utter rubbish as you'll carry on driving and suddenly see an 'end' sign with nothing at all causing the initial signs.
Commissario
Just because you don't see what caused the initial signs, doesn't mean there wasn't something ahead. You can be slowed down some considerable distance ahead of an incident to reduce the amount of traffic that arrives at the same time and to stop you grinding to a halt ten miles down the road.
They don't just turn those signs on to annoy people, they're done for a reason.
Soldato
Not just that. They've been mostly used in advance of a full motorway closure where it hasn't been possible to force traffic to an exit slip beforehand. In these circumstances they are always preceded by 30mph limits.
As evidenced by this thread, I don't think most people realise that speed limits below 40mph on a motorway represent the danger that they really do. Doesn't help that on the odd occasion they've been mistakenly left up for hours on end on clear roads...
Soldato
Slow down with my hazards on with extra due care and attention towards what's going on around me (people coming to a halt in front, people not slowing down behind).
Soldato