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MaFt Pocket GPS Staff
Joined: Aug 31, 2005 Posts: 15311 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:14 pm Post subject: Scotland to Get 135 Miles of Average Speed Cameras |
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The Scottish Transport Minister, Keith Brown, has announced that average speed cameras will be placed along the A9 for a 135 mile stretch between Dunblane and Inverness.
The current safety issues are, by all accounts, caused by cars trying to pass trucks on the mostly single carriageway road and there are fears that the 40mph limit imposed on trucks, and to be enforced by these cameras, will cause more accidents as drivers try to get past the slower vehicles. There are, however, proposals to make the A9 a dual carriageway from Perth up to Inverness with a view to improving safety.
But, as we see all too often, speed cameras are seen as a 'quick fix' to poor road design and the first average speed cameras will be in place from early 2014 and the whole stretch should be fully operational from summer next year.
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MaFt Pocket GPS Staff
Joined: Aug 31, 2005 Posts: 15311 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks to @dorsetwurzel on The Twitter and forum user Quinny1 for the tip-off for this. |
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Quinny1 Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 29, 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Ossett.West Yorkshire.UK.
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 9:54 pm Post subject: |
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More accidents will result in these cameras, as has been posted, HGV's are limited to 40mph on single carriageways, and car drivers will be chomping at the bit to get past an HGV adhering to the law for fear of getting points on their licence.
Cameras saving lives?
Don't think so. |
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MaFt Pocket GPS Staff
Joined: Aug 31, 2005 Posts: 15311 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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I think it's silly that they admit that dual-carriageway is needed to make it safe yet they still insist on putting cameras up to make it safe... when they just admitted that that isn't what's needed!
MaFt |
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M8TJT The Other Tired Old Man
Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 10118 Location: Bexhill, South Sussex, UK
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Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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But cameras are quite a bit cheaper. Apart from that, it is easier to pass a truck doing 40 than a truck doing 56, so if the cams can limit the truck speed, it should be easier and safer to pass them.
Discuss |
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rf065 Lifetime Member
Joined: Oct 10, 2005 Posts: 80
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:39 am Post subject: |
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The traffic on the A9 up to Inverness has become a whole lot worse over the last few years as the big supermarket chains opened up stores in the area when before there were no large supermarkets.
Travel up the A9 now and all you see are Tesco arctics etc, this road would be a lot safer if all the supermarket freight was sent by railway, the road was never meant for convoys of arctics. Although taking them out of the equation still leaves the summer tourist traffic with convoys of overladen cars and caravans clogging the road. It really should have been upgraded to a M/Way years ago.
Russ |
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worried Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 74
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 9:06 am Post subject: |
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Are they going to use ANPR to determine what speed the trucks can drive at?
the do gooders will object to that just as they have done down south, its against the speeding truck drivers civil liberties to check his vehicle |
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MaFt Pocket GPS Staff
Joined: Aug 31, 2005 Posts: 15311 Location: Bradford, West Yorkshire
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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worried wrote: | Are they going to use ANPR to determine what speed the trucks can drive at?
the do gooders will object to that just as they have done down south, its against the speeding truck drivers civil liberties to check his vehicle |
I can't see how it is any different to a copper phoning up HQ with a registration to check the vehicle's details - how in any way is that a breach of civil liberties?!
Next you'll be saying that checking for a valid tax disc is a breach of civil liberties...
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worried Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 74
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Quinny1 Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 29, 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Ossett.West Yorkshire.UK.
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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rf065 wrote: |
Travel up the A9 now and all you see are Tesco arctics etc, this road would be a lot safer if all the supermarket freight was sent by railway, the road was never meant for convoys of arctics.
Russ |
And how would it get to the supermarket? By carrier pigeon?
In case you've been asleep for the last so many years, a lot of the goods to Tesco/Asda in Scotland, come from Crick in Northamptonshire (DIRFT.) by rail to a rail heads in Mossend, Grangemouth and Inverness, but they still have to reach their final destination by road. There is no other way.
Artics are still cheaper. Unless you want four 7.5 tonners for everyone artic at 44t, delivering to the stores instead? That way we can increase traffic 4 fold. Great idea. |
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rf065 Lifetime Member
Joined: Oct 10, 2005 Posts: 80
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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Quinny1 wrote: | And how would it get to the supermarket? By carrier pigeon?
In case you've been asleep for the last so many years, a lot of the goods to Tesco/Asda in Scotland, come from Crick in Northamptonshire (DIRFT.) by rail to a rail heads in Mossend, Grangemouth and Inverness, but they still have to reach their final destination by road. There is no other way.
Artics are still cheaper. Unless you want four 7.5 tonners for everyone artic at 44t, delivering to the stores instead? That way we can increase traffic 4 fold. Great idea. |
You sound like a rude little man, but thanks anyway.
Russ |
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Quinny1 Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 29, 2005 Posts: 202 Location: Ossett.West Yorkshire.UK.
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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Not rude, just pointing out what most people who shout about the dirty, smelly, slow lorries, don't seem to realise, which is the obvious.
No trucks = no food in supermarkets. Simples. |
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rf065 Lifetime Member
Joined: Oct 10, 2005 Posts: 80
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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Quinny1 wrote: | Not rude, just pointing out what most people who shout about the dirty, smelly, slow lorries, don't seem to realise, which is the obvious.
No trucks = no food in supermarkets. Simples. |
And you have missed ALL of my points.
Before the big supermarkets moved into the Highlands, there were no convoys of arctics using the A9 to deliver tons of food. Believe it or not, the far north of Scotland & large supermarkets are a recent development, the area was served by local farmers/suppliers before who do not have the need for fleets of arctics. Maybe that would be better for the rest of the UK too? Maybe the big supermarkets have got too big for the UK's already congested roads.
And if we really need to have all these trucks on the A9, then at least upgrade it to dual c/way or m/way. The present road is not fit for purpose.
If we must have them on the A9 then lets introduce some new laws that are common in parts of Europe. For a start ban arctics from travelling on a Sunday leaving the road free of traffic congestrion for at least one day a week. Another common law in Europe we should introduce is to ban lorries overtaking each going up hills, you know the ones, I'm doing 1/2MPH faster than him, I could probably get past in about 4 or 5 miles if I just stick to the outside lane & ignore everyone else on the road. Lorry drivers do themselve no favours sometimes.
Russ |
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M8TJT The Other Tired Old Man
Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 10118 Location: Bexhill, South Sussex, UK
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Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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Ask Alex fish to do it. I'm certain he will be able to afford it if he's quick enough before his oil drys up |
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s3dbw Regular Visitor
Joined: May 07, 2004 Posts: 203
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Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2013 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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The A9 is going to be a nightmare to travel on when this comes into force. As already pointed out the HGV's will be restricted to 40mph and they will start to convoy together and the vast majority of cars will not overtake for fear of exceeding the average speed! as the majority of people dont seem to understand how these things work. We will end up with huge tailbacks of traffic following convoys of HGVs at 40mph. As usual the Scottish Government is addressing symptoms and not the route cause.
As someone who travels this route regularly I reckon the only time to be on the road when this comes into force will be either late evening or very early morning, which in fairness is the best time to travel it even now |
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