Highways Agency Fraud?

sasquatch

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I had this email today-at least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask!

'We had an email in from Drive
Protect Member Simon last week
about the 40mph average speed
limit on the M32 in Bristol.

It recently caught out a staggering
6,048 (yes, six thousand) Drivers
in just 15 days.

With the new rules on speeding
fines being calculated based on
your weekly earnings, that's
some serious revenue
generation!

Just like in many other areas
of the country, the propaganda
says that the cameras have
been installed to "provide safety
to road workers".

However, according to Simon,
who commutes on the road
regularly, the road workers only
ever work at night.

The 40mph limit was introduced
way back in August 2014 after
it was discovered that the
central reservation between
junctions 1 & 2 was corroded.

In Simon's words...

“It is a money grabbing farce.

Can you imagine driving down a
nearly empty motorway, and
trying to stay below 40 mph?

It’s ludicrous!”

It seems bizarre to me that we
live in a first world country, and
yet the Highways Agency can’t --
or wont? -- sort out an issue as
fundamental to safety as barrier
corrosion...

...but will instead financially
penalise motorists over the
course of nearly three years...

This is the latest in a long line
of apparent incompetence from
the Highways Agency, which
could also be interpreted as a
deliberate ploy to raise revenue.

At worst this could surely be
considered a form of fraud,
wouldn't you agree?'

Anyhow, have a great weekend,
whatever you’re up to and stay
safe on the roads!
 
I was advised that the variable roundels were not enforceble as they no longer have the older style flashing lights either side. The type approval was being updated (and may now have been so), but just in case it's of use.

There are several big issues here. The main is the work pattern, which really needs changing to 24hr across the board to get in and out much quicker.

The central reserve barriers are all being phased out in favour of concrete, but it's time consuming, costly, and does, short term, worsen delays.

Smart motorways, grrr, don't even get me started on those!!!

Poor operational performance, quite possibly. Fraud? I think that would be unlikely to be the case as my understanding is that HE simply supply the data to the local police forces, who deal with it as they see fit, hence all the various responses. Some enforce to zero tolerance, some to ACPO guidelines and some ignore the HE data.
 
Whilst the HA may well be guilty of incompetence over getting the work completed, although I've not heard their counter argument, how can they be guilty of fraud?
As for concrete barriers', I was told last year that the M1 limits where kept low after the work had seemingly been finished to allow the concrete to fully set.
 
colinmd said:
Whilst the HA may well be guilty of incompetence over getting the work completed, although I've not heard their counter argument, how can they be guilty of fraud?
As for concrete barriers', I was told last year that the M1 limits where kept low after the work had seemingly been finished to allow the concrete to fully set.
Click to expand...

I like the 2nd statement, did they say how long for?
 
40 is 40, if you don't like the fine don't do the crime Simples. :scared::lol-053:
 
i may be completely wrong about this but to drive the m32 at 60mph[av] it will take about 4 1/2 minutes,at the 40mph speed limit it will take 6 mins,[approx],are those 'lost' 90 seconds so important?.
all the best
jan
clean license for 30 years,@ sunny west london
 
hextal said:
I like the 2nd statement, did they say how long for?
Click to expand...

I was told, but it was only of passing interest to me so not something I'm likely to remember. The person telling me had to drive throu the limit several times a week I don't know where he learnt it from.
 
Money from speeding fines=costs towards replacing the barriers. The longer it takes, the more money they receive.
 
concrete gets harder with passing time, change is rapid at first then slows, spec used to be 28day hardness as by 28 days it was at something over 95 percent of final hardness and only changing slowly
 
colinmd said:
I was told, but it was only of passing interest to me so not something I'm likely to remember. The person telling me had to drive throu the limit several times a week I don't know where he learnt it from.
Click to expand...

From experience it's either got traffic management protecting it or is safe for full speed. From memory 24-48hrs is usually enough to have achieved the min recommended strength.
 
Fazerloz said:
All that means is you have been lucky enough to have never been caught breaking a traffic law.
Click to expand...


No it means some one has driven for 30 years always paying proper care and attention. I must admit to 2 speeding tickets in over 50 years and both of them were my own fault
 
Fazerloz said:
All that means is you have been lucky enough to have never been caught breaking a traffic law.
Click to expand...

it's not just down to luck,brains can also come into it.any driver that speeds through roadworks [a place of work for some]with average speed camera signs is a tincy wincy bit stupid,the speeding drivers that slow down to the signed speed limit as they pass the 2nd camera are just plain thick.
all the best and safe motoring over the b/holiday,
jan
 
janner said:
it's not just down to luck,brains can also come into it.any driver that speeds through roadworks [a place of work for some]with average speed camera signs is a tincy wincy bit stupid,the speeding drivers that slow down to the signed speed limit as they pass the 2nd camera are just plain thick.
all the best and safe motoring over the b/holiday,
jan
Click to expand...

Nail on head....

I drive on average 1500 miles a week.... and have done for the last 25 years or so.....
I've had one speed awareness course in that time (Deserted single carriage way in middle of North Yorkshire)
It was MY fault not anyone else's.....

IF you drive over the speed limit, then expect to get caught
It's no one else's fault...

Take the punishment and learn from it,
there are no excuses.

Simples
 
janner said:
i may be completely wrong about this but to drive the m32 at 60mph[av] it will take about 4 1/2 minutes,at the 40mph speed limit it will take 6 mins,[approx],are those 'lost' 90 seconds so important?.
all the best
jan
clean license for 30 years,@ sunny west london
Click to expand...

Not much chance of speeding in West London!
 
5 People killed the other early Morning in collision with a Lorry on a Motorway, I do not know the full story but I would bet that speeding was a major factor, an empty Motorway very early AM so those that think speeding is Ok beware.
 
vindiboy said:
5 People killed the other early Morning in collision with a Lorry on a Motorway, I do not know the full story but I would bet that speeding was a major factor, an empty Motorway very early AM so those that think speeding is Ok beware.
Click to expand...

Unlikely the LGV was speeding as they are usually limited by law....
and by the looks of the aftermath the Micra had been hit square in the rear....

I suspect the Micra was close to or stationary before being impacted from the rear
And I have my suspicions are (from the looks of the seating/and seat belts) that had seat belts been worn there would have been less in the way of fatalities.

Driver of the LGV medical incident/fallen asleep/on phone etc etc ????
 
yorkslass said:
Money from speeding fines=costs towards replacing the barriers. The longer it takes, the more money they receive.
Click to expand...


Fines all go into the treasury pot, apart from schemes wher aprt of the money raised goes to running the cameras and road safety schemes. On that basis your road will never be fixed.
 
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