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[The Sheriff]

Well.....would you Adam and Eve it? Been over to Liverpool in the snotmobile today. Quite a lot of the journey was 50mph speed limit because they are making smart motorways...but....after Manchester and up to Leeds it is finished. All the gantry's are fully operational. All cameras permanently on so you have to abide by the speed shown. Going past Leeds it flashed up 60mph, and everyone obeyed.
Now the rub..as Jason mentioned a while back, even when they are not lit up, the cameras are still on. Everyone seemed to know this. Mercs, Audis and even BMW's wafting along at 70. The odd frustrated driver in his German supercar creeping past you at 74.
Surprisingly, it was quite relaxing and I arrived back home quite fresh.

[chrisgixer]

This is coming to the m4 soon.


Time to move.

[tunnie]

Currently upgrading the M3, looking forward to it being finished. Even with shed loads of 50mph limit, I can do the run in on the bike in around 30 mins. Aiming for 20 minute commute once finished.

Although some idiot decided to change the filter system last week, now all traffic from M25 Gatwick bound, has to filter in with M3 

Result is backed up traffic on M3 now, never has that problem before on the home run. Still, easily filtered on the bike 

[Crazycarzowner]

Its all well & good but when they start to open up the Hard Shoulder to traffic and then there's a RTC its gonna cause mayhem for us!!!

[the alarming man]

already here on M20 and does nothing  for rush hour jams

[biggriffin]

Been on m25 for years and m1 for couple of years.
Do keep up weekend wandering types.

[biggriffin]

The reasons for changing most of the busiest sections of motorway,to smart motorway,is a cheap fix way to increase capacity,without building new roads.

[the alarming man]

well it does not work here....M25 Kent towards Gatwick still nose to tail at 7.00am Junc 5 to 8

[VXL V6]

Totally useless system, M42 now runs worse than it did before they put it in. You do learn which gantries have speed cameras though!

Just waiting for a major RTA when someone breaks down in the hard shoulder lane 0.

I really think they ought to put a red X over the hard shoulder when it's not a live lane in normal traffic, the amount of inbreds who drive on it when you aren't supposed to is astounding.

[Nick W]

The reasons for changing most of the busiest sections of motorway,to smart motorway,is a cheap fix way to increase capacity,without building new roads.

Which shows they were 'designed' by people who have misunderstood the fundamental problem: motorway congestion and delays are mainly caused by new traffic struggling to join the carriageway, and existing traffic queuing to exit it. If the traffic is all flowing, even if it's only doing 50mph, it isn't a problem.

It is the junctions they should be dealing with on busy motorways like the M25 or around Birmingham etc. Many of them could be made to work a lot more efficiently with some paint to alter the lanes or adjusting the traffic light phasing. Such changes are easily done, quickly proved and cheap to implement. Which is probably why it isn't happening.

[TheBoy]

Totally useless system, M42 now runs worse than it did before they put it in. You do learn which gantries have speed cameras though!

Just waiting for a major RTA when someone breaks down in the hard shoulder lane 0.

I really think they ought to put a red X over the hard shoulder when it's not a live lane in normal traffic, the amount of inbreds who drive on it when you aren't supposed to is astounding.

It probably has more traffic on it now?

That said, for it to work, like the variable speed limits introduced on M25 years ago, people have to play by the rules - stick in lane, and stick at the highlighted limit.  But we have too many mongrels who either constant speed up and brake (which causes a concertina effect a dozen cars behind), constantly lane change to get ahead (causing cut up cars to brake) or simply drive too bloody slow.

[Kevin Wood]

It probably has more traffic on it now?

That said, for it to work, like the variable speed limits introduced on M25 years ago, people have to play by the rules - stick in lane, and stick at the highlighted limit.  But we have too many mongrels who either constant speed up and brake (which causes a concertina effect a dozen cars behind), constantly lane change to get ahead (causing cut up cars to brake) or simply drive too bloody slow.

Plus the fact that the system on the M25 was initially delivered with an algorithm developed by some very clever people to maximise throughput and minimise bunching, but, of course the DOT knew better and decided they could keep a couple of civil servants in a job messing about with the limits manually. Hence, that system worked really well for the first 6 months, before they found out how to meddle with it manually. Not sure if that same is true of the other systems being rolled out.

My view is that this is all about installing network infrastructure at the roadside in preparation for road charging.

I wonder how much they spent on all those signs that constantly remind you that letting go of the steering wheel is dangerous, or listening to the stereo too loud? Their only use is to warn of traffic problems, whereby you get "Delay after A<random number>" and you have to fumble with your map to find the road for it to make any sense whatsoever.

Oh, and "Fumbling with your map causes accidents" probably.

[chrisgixer]

Ooh dont get me started on matrix signs. The number of times Wo kingham district council can't be arsed to inform motorway drivers via matrix signs that the 329m is oppsed again due to wdc roadworks is infuriating. Drivers could so easily go on to jcn 11 but no, they are quite happy to let winnersh back up to the point it actually fills the 329 with cars AND then causes the m4 to back up from the slip road.

Sometimes as far as 8/9 ... Of course, you can have as many empty matrix signs as you like then, it's too late. Oppstards!

Where as the 404 is always advised in matrix signs. That council seems to cope with talking to Highways agency no problem. Oppstards. I blame the imported Northamptonshire water myself

[Nick W]

As for the "Think bike" and other drivel, does anyone else think some of them should read "motorcyclists, don't ride like self-abusers"?

[chrisgixer]

As for the "Think bike" and other drivel, does anyone else think some of them should read "motorcyclists, don't ride like self-abusers"?

Bikers do get the other end of the spectrum as far road safety goes. I don't remember that particular slogan though.