Be careful on the M4 from tomorrow (J14 - 18)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1565657,00.html

"THE last haven where drivers can creep over the speed limit is being
invaded by cameras.
From tomorrow one of Britain's busiest motorways will be monitored in the
first attempt to enforce the 70mph limit.

Until now police have struck only when motorists drive well over the limit
on motorways. With their central barriers, gentle curves and grade separated
junctions, motorways are considered to be far safer than any other road.



Shortly after midday tomorrow, drivers on the M4 in Wiltshire, between
junctions 14 and 18, will face a £60 fine and three penalty points for
speeding by as little as 9mph. "

Safety my arse.

 

Further quoting:

"Under Department for Transport rules, camera partnerships can deploy
mobile cameras only on stretches where there have been at least two
collisions resulting in death or serious injuries per kilometre in the
previous three years."

That stretch of motorway is, according to the RAC route planner,
82.5km. Using the figures elsewhere on that report of "There were 18
deaths, 69 serious injuries and 641 slight injuries between junctions
15 and 17 between 2001 and 2004" gives a figure of just over 1 KSI per
km.

Quite. On the brighter side, if the vans are deployed along the M4,
that leaves the A4 etc. less at risk of a patrol.

 

Train of thought hadn't reached that far. Too much blood in the
caffeine stream.

 

ISEWYM.

 

This little exercise isn't going to bother motorbikes anyway

'Hog

 

How can you be so sure? Were it just Scam Vans I'd agree with you - but it
appears the Plod are in on it too - therefore whilst the Van may not catch
you, the plod a mile down the road likely will.

Same potentially applies to 'losing' the numberplate...

 

Someone here sent around an email about it this morning so I was being
cautious when going to the dentist at lunchtime.

And as I was going onto the M4 today at lunchtime sure enough - at the
top of the slip lane there was a jamjar waiting with 3 very big blokes
in it in full traffic regalia.

2 miles down the road he came past me at eeek MPH and pulled over
someone who obviously hadn't heard about the speed traps (or noticed
the police car at the top of the on-slip lane).

I was glad I was on the bike - sticking to 70 is easier when you can
feel the wind-blast..

Phil.

 

I'd far rather be in the car doing 70 than on the bike.

70 on the bike feels like "almost stopped" on the motorway.

And at least in the car, I can stick on the cruise control and it's a
piece of piss sticking to 70.

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Phil Launchbury amazed us all with this pearl of
wisdom:

I'd rather be doing 70 in a car. It's much easier to stick to that speed
when you can see the speedo.

Doing 70 on the bike on a motorway is almost painfully slow.

 

We could just do 70mph. That 'nothing' would cause a right blip in the stats
and hopefully make some people unemployed as I don't think they could manage
to stretch to lowering the speed limit on the M4 without some issues.

 

Happy as Larry?

 

So would I - but the car was in for it's 81.5K service.

Indeed.

Phil

 

well, on my 'blade, anything under about 110-120 feels "slow". Though
even when I had an unfaired Bandit, I could easily sit for a hundred
miles at 70-80mph...

 

You're either riding a faired bike or you've got too many muscles...
--
O
1 Black, shortly to undergo extensive surgery.
1 Red, undergoing lightweight surgery. -----
1 Blue, for Power-Ranger baiting. | o |
Numbers ... | o |
Stuff ... | ooo |
Life ... -----

 

Exactly. I don't know why people talk such bollocks about riding an
unfaired bike. I went from London, E13 to a B/EOSM a couple of years
ago at a constant 120mph or above and it was a fucking doddle.

 

But Ben, sitting bolt upright, your head is barely out in the wind

'Hog

 

poofs. It's the only explanation.

 

yes, yes, yes. However, there's an expanse of me sideways, which
catches the wind.

Oh, found a 2000 model Carrera 4S in dark blue for 20k sterling.
Should I?

 

it's definitely a safer bet than your Ferrari plan...

 

It's a perfectly viable everyday car, too.