Roadwork Cameras To Switch To 60mph

[RobBrady]

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Highways England have announced that roadwork speed limits are soon to be increased from 50mph to 60mph.

In tests using heart monitors, it was discovered that motorists driving at 60mph were more relaxed and felt better able to accelerate past large lorries in sections of roadworks - they were able to spend more time concentrating on driving rather than checking their speed and worrying about the average speed cameras.

Following a report that 16 road-building schemes are being postponed by up to two years to prevent overloading the network, a spokesman for Highways England said: "The volume of roadworks that the network and our users can cope with is probably reaching its peak".

There are currently 30 major roadworks under way on England's motorways and trunk roads.

The 60mph initiative will be rolled out starting next year, but lower limits will stay in place at roadworks with narrower lanes, contra-flow systems or if workers are close to the road.

The RAC commented: "This is good news for motorists as it should help to improve the flow of traffic which often builds up well ahead of motorway roadworks. Increasing the speed limit to 60mph, where appropriate, also enables motorists who feel threatened by the close proximity of HGVs in roadworks to free themselves."

Further research has shown that there were 1.35 million traffic jams on the UK's major roads in the past 12 months which cost the economy £9 billion in lost productivity and extra fuel.

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Robert Brady

[Kremmen]

In 2004/5 when they widened the western section of the M25 they dropped the limit to 40 and put in loads of cameras.

The M25 has never flowed so well. I used to get home quicker than when the limit was 70 and caused concertina jams.

Poor drivers heart rates, learn to position yourself properly so lorries don't stress you out.
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[Chigman]

When you've got 15 miles of roadworks and you get a few in succession, and you are on the road all day, then 60 mph to me makes more sense. I have been saying that 50 is to slow for ages.

[M8TJT]

[M8TJT]

Yes, I realise that, which is exactly what I do when unimpeded. Set the cruise for (say) 50mph as indicated by the satnav.
However, it surely is what I suggested that causes a lot of the frustration.

[dales]

You are right, M8. It's very true. Many people seem to drive to their speedos (and which items are all required by EU regulations to read short).

We up North we have suffered these 50 limits for many years now, whilst the A1M is progressively being widened. The road works are all behind big concrete barriers, and which completely segregate the workforce from traffic (on the few occasions when any workforce is present !). Apart from those areas where the lanes are narrow, I think it is reasonable to consider an increase to 60 in the limit.

However it is very noticeable how Some drivers think it's good to drive at (indicated) 50 ie (actual) 46-47 in the Outside line, and driving Side-by-Side with a similar person in the Inside lane. I do suspect they are doing this on purpose, because they do not advance further forward in their lane but rather they maintain their (blocking) position all the way down the road.

(Volvo and Mercedes drivers over a certain age do seem the most perpetrator of this tactic, to me),

But what can be done ? It only loses me a few minutes (as people have said) but it's still deliberately obstructive and inconsiderate behaviour, and annoying.

Dales.
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nuvi 2599LMT-D, oregon 700, basecamp, memory-map.

[Kremmen]

The road workers have voted to keep the 50 limit.
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[DennisN]

A year or two ago, I had a puncture on the M4, offside rear of my van.

I pulled onto the hard shoulder and got out to change the wheel. And promptly got back in again and drove on to the next services - less than half a mile, it was so frightening on the hard shoulder (but it shredded the tyre!). I am very sure I would not have felt any safer behind a traffic cone.

And how many of us have actually experienced the shockwave of a passing vehicle whilst standing next to a live traffic lane?

I can't argue against those roadworks speed limits (although I'd argue against empty sites!).
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Dennis

If it tastes good - it's fattening.

Two of them are obesiting!!

[MaFt]

The M5 has a stretch at 30mph... It's painful!!

I always thought the 50mph speed limit was for the safety of the workers not for the happiness of the drivers? If the extra 10mph doesn't affect the safety of the workers then where do you draw the line? Keep it at 70 in roadworks?!

MaFt

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