Forum menu
Yeah seriously.
No reason for a truck to be up yer arse is there ?
Unless you like it that way.
So, instead of being shaved from behind or flashed for doing the speed limit.. slow down a bit over a section of say 100mtrs and they get the picture that you aren’t going to be intimidated and either overtake or more likely undertake.
I do it yes, I’ll continue to do it because I value MY life and don’t want nor need to be intimidated on the public highway by morons who think they own the road.
Happy to share that with you.
and you don't think just pulling into the correct lane is safer ?
Quite honestly it sounds to me like you are more worried about "want nor need to be intimidated on the public highway by morons who think they own the road."
Any pissing contest with 30T of truck only ends one way if it goes wrong.
Average speed cameras have transformed the A9. I used to drive Elgin to Perth regularly and there was almost always a “moment” every trip. Did it again this last summer – firts time in about 8 years..everyone was much better behaved.
Yup,as others have said, trips up the A9 have gone from almost being guaranteed to have some sort of close call everytime (either daft overtaking on single lane road, or the frantic MUST overtake at all costs to gain 2 seconds in time at the merging of a dual sections), to being a far more relaxed and well flowing affair.
On my trips from Stirling to Ullapool I used to feel frazzled by the end of the journey - now it seems pretty straightforward stuff. IMO Average speed cameras have been a total blessing to that route.
So, instead of being shoved from behind or flashed for doing the speed limit.. slow down a bit over a section of say 100mtrs and they get the picture that you aren’t going to be intimidated and either overtake or undertake.
I'm with you on the slowing down momentarily for tailgating trucks bit, it enforces braking distance. But if you're being undertaken (and doubly so if it's "more likely" to happen), you're in the wrong lane. Stop being a road hog and move over please.
I’m with you on the slowing down momentarily for tailgating trucks bit, it enforces braking distance. But if you’re being undertaken (and it’s “more likely”), you’re in the wrong lane. Stop being a road hog and move over.
Exactly ... but be aware the driver might not even see you if they are as described inches away....
Ages ago my Dad was driving in slow traffic (Padiham road) and my brother and I were in the back. A truck hit us at 2-3mph... and the back of the car was completely crushed..incredibly no one was hurt. The driver was incredibly apologetic and my Dad said he believed he honestly he just didn't see us. Similarly I was once on a bus that clipped a parked car ... (empty) ... not going fast at all and the car was just destroyed,
Those memories have stopped with me... and I've driven a few class 'C''s with air brakes as well... so quite honestly I wouldn't consider who is right or wrong... because so much can go wrong... Small comfort to your partner, parents or kids who was in the right...
I always thought the 56mph thing was related to fuel economy?
Nah - 56mph = 90km/h
All of the above, though they don’t cover the dualled sections and the two at Tomatin/Daviot always operate as a pair.
I should correct this...
ASCs on the A9 cover the dual carriageway between Dunblane and Perth and only the single carraigeways between Perth and Inverness. Sorry if I misled.
According to the “Live traffic” thingumybob on my TomTom, some of the cameras are on but not all
Nah – 56mph = 90km/h
Relevant to European lorries, but ours?
Nah – 56mph = 90km/h
Relevant to European lorries, but ours?
As ours will have to comply with EU regs, yes, especially if they pop over the Channel. There’s a reason UK spec cars have to be able to display vehicle speed in km/h.
According to the “Live traffic” thingumybob on my TomTom, some of the cameras are on but not all
I have the tomtom live service. There's absolutely no way in hell that it knows what cameras are on at any given time
I agree the A9 cameras are a brilliant success in saving lives, reducing incidents and making the road less stressful to drive. Combined with increased truck speed, it's faster overall too.
@scotroutes - got a source for the Bluetooth thing?
Journey Times on the A9 are measured using Bluetooth technology and the available data is
sourced from Transport Scotland’s established journey time stations immediately north of
Inveralmond Roundabout, Perth and immediately south of the A96 Raigmore junction,
Inverness.
But there are many similar systems installed throughout the UK
https://tracsistraffic.com/technology/bluetooth-traffic-surveys/
Every day's a school day, thank you
*Turns off Bluetooth*
The A9 has definitely got a lot safer with the cameras but it means that Edinburgh to Aviemore is now a three hour journey because traffic moves at 50 on the non duelled sections, caused by the mathematically challenged driving at that speed to make sure they don't average above 60. We need a new kind of speed awareness course I think!
because traffic moves at 50 on the non duelled sections, caused by the mathematically challenged
Except trucks and most vans are limited to 50 on the single carriageway section, so ultimately almost all traffic will do 50mph unless they have an amazingly clear run with no trucks or vans which is highly unlikely
Been driving up the A9 for years and it used to be a rat run of dickish behaviour, never had a problem on the A9 since the introduction of the average speed cameras and it’s a much more pleasant journey with the aid of cruise control and gps alert speed warnings.
A9 has been improved enormously by average speed cameras.
Used to be at least one butt clenching moment every time I drove it, now that's rare.
But the dickheads still manage to smear themselves across the road surface from time to time. Sadly sometimes it's the people in the other vehicle.
There’s a reason UK spec cars have to be able to display vehicle speed in km/h.
Saves printing two different sets of dials?
Pretty sure my 1977 Ford Fiesta had secondary km/h, and that was unlikely to be going round Europe any time soon,
I do 5 days a week on the A9 and I've got to say I'm a big fan of the cameras.
I've not noticed a big slow down, matter of fact I think it's easier to overtake the trucks now cos the coppers mainly leave the cameras to police the singletrack and focus on the dual. So you can overtake trucks quickly rather than worrying about being caught at over 60 by a copper.
I think theres actually no need to dual the bloody lot now, thats whats going to be delaying me in the future.
<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">Really ? The A9 is now tedious and boring with people doing dangerous overtakes.</span>
Back in the day you could easily drive at 70+ mph without it being dangerous
Some of the stuff people used to do on the A9 was just crazy. I drove it this summer, and it was no problem at all.
Saves printing two different sets of dials?
Construction and Use regs '86:
"35.—(1) Save as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), every motor vehicle shall be fitted with a speedometer which, if the vehicle is first used on or after 1st April 1984, shall be capable of indicating speed in both miles per hour and kilometres per hour, either simultaneously or, by the operation of a switch, separately. "
Back in the day you could easily drive at 70+ mph without it being dangerous
And yet the number of accidents and fatalities has reduced. 🤔
Saves printing two different sets of dials?
Construction and Use regs ’86:
“35.—(1) Save as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), every motor vehicle shall be fitted with a speedometer which, if the vehicle is first used on or after 1st April 1984, shall be capable of indicating speed in both miles per hour and kilometres per hour, either simultaneously or, by the operation of a switch, separately. “
Also, EU Regs mandate km/h capability, but allow for mph in markets using imperial measurements, such as UK. So German/French (etc) market vehicles only have to display km/h, though now with digital rather than analogue, many have the ability to display in either.
I drive from Suffolk to Somerset regularly as well as other trips around the country and using cruise control works well for limited areas (although I wish people would overtake by putting their foot down instead of staying on their set speed). I tend to focus on driving safely and trying make sure I have space. I speed occasionally but in 13 years of trundling across the country by various routes on Motorway and A roads I've had one ticket and that was three miles from home by a local mobile unit! :-/
Interested to hear about the Bluetooth initiative, I’m not that worried about the ping from my car/device if the information it only a “ping” and captures nothing more than that.. which it should do becuse you have to pair the devices together for any meaningful data to be accessed..
Which is obviously a Data Privacy issue, and against many laws in the country.
So happy to leave my Bluetooth on for those reasons, if it helps traffic flow management.
I'm just going to cover my van in tin foil, cos #bigbrother
I also find the A9 much improved, a significant element from my perspective is allowing the big trucks to do 50mph.
I also find the A9 much improved, a significant element from my perspective is allowing the big trucks to do 50mph.
Yep. Two initiatives running in parallel make it difficult to ascertain which caused the biggest improvement in accident statistics. I reckon that increasing the speed of the slowest vehicles whilst minimising the speed of the fastest is a pretty good combination though.
I'd happily see the whole motorway network covered by ASCs tbh, freeing the traffic cops to monitor poor driving instead.
And then a sensible debate on why we have cars on the road that are capable of stupid speeds anyway....
So happy to leave my Bluetooth on for those reasons, if it helps traffic flow management.
The issue is that your bluetooth ID is being collect when you step in any large shop too (every supermarket does bluetooth tracking to work out 1) who you are so they can advertise to you and 2) to learn about the movements of their customers through their own store AND between other stores because they buy the data from the 'impartial' companies who have the hardware installed). You can probably guarantee that companies collecting this data are also selling it. So yes if your BT ID was only being tracked on the side of motorways by traffic monitoring agencies then it would be fine. But it's being collected constantly whenever you are in a busy town. And that can build a pretty solid picture up of you
Yeah I know, but only Walmart (Asda) do this and I don’t shop in Asda so I don’t care.
And a few festivals this year have done it too, but again I don’t go to festivals so that’s fine.
Apreciate the privacy element though, it’s certainly a concern and the ICO have been looking at devices that have Bluetooth and who knows if this will become the next privacy issue.. dunno.
Bluejacking is possible, you can get apps for that and have been able to for sometime.. again another privacy concern.
But I do see the application for traffic management utilising Bluetooth to monitor traffic a reasonable use of it. And therefore I’m fine with it.
To clarify for BoardinBob, my TomTom only registers some of the many speeding camera gantries on the Newport section of the M4, not all of them, and, rather cleverly I think, often flags up mobile units on the dual from Usk to Ross (not always correct, but when it registers a false alarm will usually ask if the camera’s still there). I don’t know how it does it, or if it’s accurate, but there’s some kind of voodoo shenanigans going on there.
my TomTom only registers some of the many speeding camera gantries on the Newport section of the M4, not all of them, and, rather cleverly I think, often flags up mobile units on the dual from Usk to Ross
Mine does the same however as far as I know it relies on users flagging up the location of fixed cameras and also hot spots for mobile cameras. When I’m driving through average ones I’ll get a random warning but I believe that’s only because someone has reported one at that point. There’s no way the authorities are feeding details of what cameras are on or off to TomTom
I do it yes, I’ll continue to do it because I value MY life and don’t want nor need to be intimidated on the public highway by morons who think they own the road.
You understand that two wrongs don't make a right, yes? If you're in the way, just get out of the way - it won't cost you anything and lorry dude can crack on however he likes.
I don't travel regularly on the M42 round Brum, but I remember trips in 2001/2002 during rush hour that were a nightmare compared to the same trip now, even with the massive increase in traffic volume. Got no problem with smart motorways, me.
(The roadworks related to the Oldbury viaduct are another matter - blinkin criminal, they are....)
Police authorities have the ability to set which ASCs operate and when. The presence of a camera does not mean it's turned on.
On a stretch of motorway with ASCs installed the driver does not know which ones are turned on - it could be none; it could be every third one; it could be all. Don't forget that the police are able to change which ones are turned on when it suits them so - on yesterday but off today or off yesterday etc; you get the message.
does seem like theyre everywhere here (bedford way).
though there were ave speed signs (and ridiculous 30mph signs) all down the road where I was today, could see no actual cameras, so had to stay in 3rd gear all day
Is it possible that theyre pulling our legs?
(I had the bike in the car, so was going for a ride. I dont want to ride on the road even though its just as quick)
There are definitely 30 average cameras coming into Bedford from cardington way
ridiculous 30mph signs
I want to see one of those! 🙂
'There are definitely 30 average cameras coming into Bedford from cardington way'
its so slow along the chicksands road with roadworks etc, I often take the scenic route home
I’m just going to cover my van in tin foil,
Just spray WD40 on your number plates, fools the cameras 🙂
it appears that these types of cameras only upset one set of people. those that like to make progress.
as much as i said it stops the nutters on the a9. I was overtaken on the long corner between blair atholl and house of Bruar by an artic truck on sunday night I was doing a GPS 60mph held on cruise control
I think he underestimated my length (7m) as it was clear that by the time he was level with my cab he was running out of steam and a car was coming the other way. the **** didnt brake i was forced to brake hard to give him space to complete his maneuver.
I may be a lot of things but I'm not going to cause a head on smash just because truck driver was a dick.
it appears that these types of cameras only upset one set of people. those that like to break the speed limit
FTFY 🙂
no no no ..... no one on STW breaks the speed limit . they just make progress . there was a huge thread explaining the difference about why its ok so long as your overtaking someone to speed as its safer to pass someone at 100 as your out there for less time etc .
it went on for pages and pages and pages and pages.*
*but yes your right .break the speed limit.
Locally its all those that took advantage of cheap property in dundee and did the daily commute to aberdeen that are up in arms. instead of them being able to commute (at speed) in an hour its now 2 hours.