Safe Speed Forums

... but no mention of a crash epidemic

extracted from the Guardian (of course)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story ... 85,00.html


But its operator, Midland Expressway, has angered hauliers by charging high prices for lorries. The road is notorious in the Midlands for its scant enforcement of speed limits.

Figures from the Highways Agency yesterday revealed that the motorway is so clear of traffic that speeding has become epidemic, with vehicles travelling at an average of 75.8mph on weekdays.

Just 42,000 motorists use the M6 Toll daily, a fifth of the traffic on the parallel free motorway. A three-month breakdown of figures by the agency revealed that drivers were completing a 43-mile route through the Midlands in just 34 minutes.

The Highways Agency said it was "aware of the problem" of chronic speeding. "We are working with Midland Expressway and the police to address the problem," the agency said.

There's something wrong with their figures though: the M6Toll is 43kms long not 43 miles

Two points come to mind:
1. Given 42,000 motorists somehow survive the route each day, what is the 'problem'
that needs to be 'addressed' (other than collection of 60 pound tax per car)?

2. Anyone know the 85 percentile speed on this road in good conditions?
It would be a good indication of what the limit should be across the entire
motorway network.

Well, speed limit enforcement ON the motorway may well be light-touch (except for Gtr Manchester heads of traffic policing), but OFF the motorway, it's suddenly got all heavy:

http://www.abd.org.uk/local/warwickshire.htm

I wonder if they're trying to force people to pay whichever way they go?

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Keep right on to the end of the road ...

it must be safe, the DfT had a very sudden change of heart over widening the M6 from the end of the M6 Toll to where they are going to put in the link motorway to the M56 and Manchester (which could stil be the M56 junction on the M6 ) They have decided to build an M6 Toll extention roughly alongside the M6 (this will, no doubt, be scrapped in 5 years and we'll see the widening finished by 2020 ).

The 85% percentile speed on the M6 Toll in good conditions is very likely to be over a ton. I've heard stories of people carriers doing 99 in lane 1 and still being overtaken.

I don't think there's been a KSI yet on the Toll, but I could be wrong. It does, however, show the speed scare-mongerers that cars don't insantly blow up at 100, unless of course they hit something.

TBH i think that average speed is rather underestimated, unless it counts time stopped at booths, or cars going slowly round the narrow and tight slip roads. Average free moving mainline speed is more like 80-85.

Simon

Mind you, they still need to drum up trade a bit - way below projected traffic volumes even 6 months after opening. Although, if you believe the noises coming from Midland Expressway and their sycophants, this is a "great success", as it has reduced traffic on the M6 by 10%! See this story from the Birmingham Post:

http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=14399877%26method=full%26siteid=50002%26headline=study%2dshows%2dtoll%2dcuts%2dm6%2dtraffic%2dby%2dten%2dper%2dcent-name_page.html

Frankly, only 10% is abject failure. We should have hoped for 25% or better - and, of course, HGVs are not using the toll road because of the huge £10 toll! Then again, HGVs cause more carriageway wear than light vehicles, don't they?

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Keep right on to the end of the road ...

OK the survey is done between two points on the M6 either side of the Toll
so it's 27 miles of Toll and 16 miles of ordinary M6. So yes, the average
speed on the Toll itself would be higher than 75mph.

The full report is a pdf available here

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projec ... st3months/

No data about speed distributions though, just overall average travel times.

I don't know, but from experience I would guess it is around 95-100 mph in free-flowing conditions.

I have never been on such an empty motorway anywhere else in the UK

The quoted average of 75.8 mph is believable, as speedo error and the fact that speed tends to fluctuate means that people often overestimate their speed. A point-to-point average of 76 mph is consistent with a target cruising speed of an indicated 85.

If people start getting pulled for speeds in the low 90s it will further reduce the attractiveness of the road. I suspect that MEL, despite what they say in public, would prefer Staffs Police to do nothing more than target those well over 100 mph.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Ever tried the M50? The M48 is pretty quiet, too, as most traffic goes over the new Severn crossing rather than the old. And the M69 has 3 lanes each way for a trickle of traffic! Rather redundant since the M42/A42 were "finished".

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Keep right on to the end of the road ...

I've never been on the M69, and the M50 is nowhere near as quiet as its reputation.

I have experienced many supposedly deserted motorways such as the M58 and M180, but in my experience the sight of a long stretch of three-lane motorway with nothing in view but the tail-end of a BMW disappearingly rapidly into the distance, at 4.30 pm on a Saturday, and going on for 27 miles, is quite unique on our network, particularly the total lack of trucks and vans.

How Darling can claim it as a success is beyond belief.

_________________
"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

I've always found the M180 to be completely deserted no matter what time I've been on it. Noticed a rash of camera signs on it when I was up there a few weeks back. Don't know if there are actual cameras or if it's a warning for possible mobile units on bridges? The M10 is always empty too, but more of an M1 spur than a proper motorway.

Haven't used the M6 toll yet as I always tend to use the M1/A50 and get back on the M6 at J15. Roundabouts aside, I'd say the average speed on the A50 is pretty high as well....

Mobile camera unit is usually situated after the second camera sign on a left-hand bend on a raised "patrol cars only" platform.

I know from first-hand experience.

I usually like the Guardian newspaper. Found the article (original topic msg) a bit dissapointing though!!

Guardian says: "Just 42,000 motorists use the M6 Toll daily, a fifth of the traffic on the parallel free motorway."

Traffic stats show that around 120,000 cars use its equivallent free motorway (at it greatest volume). And that's both driections people. Do the maths.

I have actually seen someone pulled for speeding on the M180 by an unmarked police car (which I had already spotted).

_________________
"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

It's so aggravating though as the M180 is one of the most flat, straight, empty, well-kept motorways I've ever had the pleasure of driving on.

That said, I now avoid it like the plague. I'd rather stay on the M1, head towards Hull and then jump the bridge.

£2.50 is cheaper than £60 and three points.