Hi All,
I've been meaning to ask this question for a while so appologies if it its old hat or not relevant any more - its a month or so since I used the road!
The M4 pass Cardiff is 50Mph. The repeater signs are on the posts on the central reservation which implies its kind of long term. But the last few times I have used the road there has been no obvious reason why the limit is so low.
Has anyone got the answer?
Cheers.
FTF
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That limit was on there back in 1998 so its nothing new.
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As someone who goes to south wales at least 6 times a year and has been doing so for the best part of 20 years this statement isn't true. There were reduced limit signs for very short sections for a number of the tighter bends around Newport, but it was 70 mph for the rest.
I join the M4 near Celtic Manor and the 50 limit is from there until after the section which is currently being widened around Cardiff - about 15 miles.
The only reason I can think is there is the road widening, junction works where the A48 joins the M4 and they are also improving the M4 near Newport in preparation for the Ryder Cup next year - easier to reduce it all rather than temporary limits every few miles. Whatever it is it's a royal pain and I'm glad my visits to the area are infrequent.
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A quick Google found this.
www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/4265404.New_speed_l.../
Edited by daveyjp on 17/05/2009 at 10:27
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They are tough on speeding around the Cardiff area. Travelling into Cardiff the speed drops to 40 mph and is backed up by cameras. Road safety and road deaths & incidents from previous years and public outcry have resulted in slowing the traffic speeds.
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Does anyone know why for some distance in both directions from approx junction 25 (near Newport) to junction 30+ there appears to be an "official" 50 mph limit now in place on that section of the M4.Overhead signs also show 50 but there are no roadworks and nothing seems to have changed from how that section has always been that would affect road safety.Consequently this is causing some confusion amongst drivers who initially slow but seeing no reason for the reduced speed limit eventually carry on driving at normal motorway speeds probably assuming there is a fault with the overhead signs display.
Edited by Pugugly on 26/05/2009 at 23:41
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Unless the overhead signs have the "50" within a red circle (and I'm pretty sure they don't), there is no "official" 50 limit here; it would just be an advisory.
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There are proper 50 repeaters on plenty of the lamposts and there is a temporary TRO in place reducing the limit to 50.
Your choice whether to exceed this or not - but the 'everyone was ignoring it' line won't wash with the boys in blue!
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From 2010 they are going to have variable speed limits along the M4 from Coldra, Newport to Cardiff, as on the M25. This is to reduce the mass traffic jams and lower the accident rate as they have been a few quite bad ones and also they are replacing the steel central barrier with concrete as a few lorries have crossed over.
Currently there are no speed camera's enforcing the 50MPH, but for how long ??? The only ones are approaching the M4 widening programme from the East and West to the road works.
Edited by autumnboy on 31/05/2009 at 17:06
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MT - has the reduction of speed resulted in a reduction in the number of deaths and incidents?
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news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8084160.stm
Worth noting.
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Watch out - it's about to hit the Dartford Crossing too, the signs are there
but don't worry most times there will be a queue so no chance to get caught speeding
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Went to Cardiff yesterday and discovered that the average speed cameras are in place. Dutifully set my speed at bang on 50 mph and at times I felt that I was the slowest car on the road. Does everyone else know something I don't?
Regards.
FTF
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>> set my speed at bang on 50 mph and at times I felt that I was the slowest car on the road. Does everyone else know something I don't?
Well; perhaps 'everybody' else is applying the 10% + 2mph rule, which of course applies to corrected 50mph.
Logically you could travel at 57mph before trouble strikes, which must be around 60mph indicated?
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>>Well; perhaps 'everybody' else is applying the 10% + 2mph rule, which of course >>applies to corrected 50mph.
>>Logically you could travel at 57mph before trouble strikes, which must be around 60mph indicated?
Maybe, but not experienced it in other average speed zones!
FTF
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Dutifully set my speed at bang on 50 mph and at times I felt that I was the slowest car on the road. Does everyone else know something I don't?
My Inforad camera detector is excellent for informing if you've crept 1 mph over the set speed limit (providing of course it has been added to its database). I imagine others around you are also using some kind of satellite receiving device to keep an eye on their speed instead of using their inaccurate speedo.
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My speedo is pretty good if the speed indicated by my SatNav is anything to go by.
Maybe its my understanding of how average speed cameras work. I have assumed that number plate recognition is used at the entry and exit points of the zone, and then the average speed calculated.
I reckon that on the Newport/Cardiff part of the M4 either those the cameras are not switched on or there are going to be a few speeding tickets dished out!
FTF
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I think they are live now as if you travel pass these at night from Coldra to the tunnels or the otherway you see a red light in the Camera and since they were errected the camera's have been aligned for their Zone's.
Also it appears, if correct, each camera only covers one lane, the outside lane is not as there are only two camera's on each gantry looking at the inside and middle lane. ????
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