Safe Speed Forums

Last night I drove into Heathrow Airport to pick up a friend who was arriving from Warsaw. There is road construction in progress at the J4 roundabout, and some changes being made on the spur. The normal speed limit of 50 has been reduced from 50 to 30! RoadAngel™ began chirping, so I didn't go over 30. I looked for the camera but could not see it. Perhaps they've taken it away. (?)

Coming back, the outbound spur had some "roadworks". In this day and age, a few cones on the hard shoulder constitutes "roadworks", and because of this extreme hazard, the speed limit is reduced to 30. And of course, to keep us all from injuring ourselves, there's a sp... er, safety camera. RoadAngel™ again began singing! Again, with two pairs of eyes this time, the search for the camera was on. We finally spotted it - a reversible one on the central reservation, but it is NOT coloured yellow - it's a grey Gatso and almost impossible to spot at night. So be careful out there.

I actually believe that is causes a hazard. Knowing that it was there without actually being able to see it, I kept the speed down to 30 and was in the left of the three lanes. Some drivers coming up behind me weren't expecting a slow moving car to be there - at least one swerved around me. Most were doing 45-50. Certainly, the 30mph signs are not well positioned, and were not easy to see at night in some cases. All lanes were open, and many drivers might not realise that a few cones on the hard shoulder create a safety hazard. It's essential to slow down to 30, in case one jumps out in front of you.

Thank you RoadAngel!

I'm sorry but you can't blame that sort of incompetence on a camera. Anyone who's not expecting drivers to be doing the speed limit (or less) in L1 of 3 then should remove themselves from the road now.

Well that's one way of looking at it, but given that all lanes were open and that it was 8pm on a Sunday evening, few people would have guessed that roadworks were actually in progress. The 30mph sign looked like it had been pushed aside along with all the cones and other detritus, awaiting collection upon completion of whatever work was being done. Why the 30 limit if all lanes are open and no roadwork is in progress?

Got to keep the cash flowing in all the time!

DM - can you pinpoint it ---going to Heathrow Fri , M40 - m25 -T3.Anywhere near my route ??

Many tanks in advance

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lets bring sanity back to speed limits.
Drivers are like donkeys -they respond best to a carrot, not a stick .Road safety experts are like Asses - best kept covered up ,or sat on

If it was the one located about halfway (when heading north) between the last overbridge and the junction with the main M4, then it's a permanent installation unrelated to the recent roadworks, and has been there for at least the past 2-3 years monitoring the 50 limit...


...although given the rather shabby state of the thing the last few times I saw it (before the roadworks began), I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be inactive - which would fit in with it not having a dayglo jacket unlike all the other M4 cams in this area.

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Chris

Any update on this? I drove through this last night and didn't see it till I was right on it. Is it legal for a Gatso to be grey?

When i was in Heathrow in oct -spotted it in daylight - in centre of road -in roadworks, grey but visible in daylight- but that was oct. Still legal to be grey -just means that the SCP get no cash(or should mean that)

You can't ignore the fact that it happens and the fact that it wouldn't happen without the camera? That's exactly the kind of logic which has turned around our previously splendid road safety record.