Drivers face new crackdown on motorway speeding

Motorists may no longer be reduce any slack when it comes to the 70mph limit thanks to the roll-out of a new wave of motorway speed cameras.

Drivers on motorways about the UK are facing a considerably greater threat of becoming fined for exceeding the 70mph speed limit.

This is due to the roll-out of the Wise motorway scheme, in which varying speed limits are enforced at various occasions of day to assist smooth the flow of targeted traffic.

‘Unfair approach’

Smart motorways, which so far include components of the M1, M2, M6 and M25, control site visitors making use of a series of overhead gantries with variable speed-limit signs and speed cameras.

Even so, official figures show that the cameras are not only becoming utilized to catch motorists who exceed reduced speed limits.

More than current months, thousands of drivers are believed to have been caught – some going at only a small more than the 70mph limit – by this new wave of cameras.

But critics say that this strategy is unfair – firstly since the cameras are painted grey and are harder to spot, but also because motorway driving is relatively safe and travelling a few miles per hour more than the 70mph limit is typically unlikely to lead to a significantly higher threat of an accident.

Guidance provides leeway

Guidance from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) says that motorway drivers ought to be given some leeway and only fined or stopped for driving at over 79mph.

This policy is not legally binding but is generally followed by most of the country’s police forces.

Paul Watters at the AA added that the ACPO guidance stated drivers should be offered the selection of attending a speeding-awareness course rather than becoming fined and obtaining points on their licence unless they have been caught going above 86mph.

“Motorways are the safest roads – only about 4% of accidents happen on them,” he said.

Should limit be strictly enforced?

Nonetheless, Watters added, the security and effectiveness of intelligent motorways depended on drivers observing the speed limits.

“Even though we can’;t anticipate the police and Highways Agency to divulge specifically what the strategy is we would like to believe that speed enforcement on motorways is security and not revenue-associated.

“But if every thing is protected, the roads are clear and the national speed limit is set, there is not the exact same justification to enforce the limit.”

Roger Lawson from the Alliance of British Drivers mentioned: “These cameras are not painted yellow: they are essentially concealed and are set to trigger fines for anybody who breaks the 70mph speed limit.

No security benefits

“If there is a especially dangerous stretch of road, speed cameras can be useful if individuals see them and slow down.

“But that is not the case here simply because drivers don’t know the cameras are there.”

Government figures show that speeding on the motorways is extremely widespread: Division for Transport figures published last year show that 47% of drivers go above 70mph in free-flowing situations.

About 12% of drivers go at 80mph or a lot more, the DfT also found.

Scheme to beat congestion

Watters stated: “These statistics show that speeding is not that serious but some drivers exceed the limit by an even bigger margin and place other folks at threat.”

Wise motorways have been introduced by the Highways Agency in 2013 for use on particularly congested parts of the road ne2rk.

At instances difficult shoulders are utilized as an further lane, and central lanes can be utilized by visitors travelling in either direction based on the time of day.

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Drivers face new crackdown on motorway speeding