For the last couple of months, there have been roadworks on the A14 Ipswich bypass, to put up some signs. (You may wonder how it can take 11 weeks to put up a few signs.) These consist of a couple of large concrete barriers (well clear of the road) and a line of cones along the verge, which can be moved out to close off the nearside lane if work is taking place. There is a 40mph temporary speed limit in force.
Now I am all in favour of speed limits to protect the workforce, but this particular limit has annoyed a lot of people because it is very rare to see anyone actually working on the site. You can come through at any time of day and it is deserted - just a line of cones on the verge, two clear lanes and a 40mph speed limit which appears to serve no purpose. So of course most of the regular road users have been ignoring it.
Someone must have complained, because about four weeks ago some new signs appeared reading 'Speed limit for safety reasons'. Then one Saturday morning there was an unmarked Vectra tucked away behind the cones, with a policeman operating a mobile speed camera. This really annoyed me because the speed limit was intended to protect the workforce, yet this policeman was the only person on site at the time.....
Yesterday evening I noticed that, although the cones and barriers were still there, the temporary speed limit signs had all been covered up. Presumably the authorities have at last recognised that when there is no-one working on site, and no obstruction in the road, a 40mph speed limit is inappropriate. So will all the people caught by the speed trap be let off? Somehow I doubt it - unless the speed limit was illegal in the first place, perhaps because it was only supposed to be in force while work was actually taking place.
Richard Hall
bangernomics.tripod.com
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I don't hold out much hope as, IIRC, temporary speed limits cover a specified period with no reference to void times within that period.
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anti-car nazis in charge again
common sense they havnt got
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You're a traffic policeman yeah? Maybe I'm wrong. If I'm not maybe its time more of the sensible ones like you appear!
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To conduct roadworks other than simple patching, Local Authority, months ahead will have made and published an Order which gives the dates the works will be carried out within,
the length of road involved and any restrictions applicable i.e lane closures, speed limits etc.It is all within the Order as to what is involved.
First thing L.A. will do is sign to protect the area but because of logistics etc equipment/materials/labour may not come in for days (or weeks) as and when available. During this period the Order remains in force as do the restictions unless any special proviso is mentioned. Not cost effective to pull down the signs etc every day and this could also prolong the length of time.
Plod with Handheld in plain car. Did he pull anyone? Doubt it from what you say. Could be carrying a percentile speed check for reference/testing equipment/training. Likewise could it have been LA doing the same on percentile speeds?
As to fine repayment I can only make general comment that it will be up to the individual Mags Clerks Office where the fines are due to be paid but in my day if a defective speed limit was brought to light then back records were checked and all treated the same. I leave Pugugly to explain Queen's Pardon. I never had any trouble as I banged em to right.
DVD
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