Speed Check N4

greyc

I noticed yesterday that the Gardai were doing a speed check just past the new flyover at the Newcastle rd junction, west bound (just before the Spa Hotel).
For anyone not familiar with the area, this road has been recently upgraded and is a 3 lane dual carriageway with an 80 kmh speed limit.
My initial thought when I saw them was the "shooting fish in a barrell" attitude, however as I approached the speed check today doing 80 kmh, 2 cars passed me at speed in the middle lane, doing at least 100kmh if not 120, yet the guards made no attempt to pull them in, even though they had plenty of time to clock them.
I was just wondering what allowances are made by the Gardai when it comes to breaking the speed limit, I always thought it was about 10%, but the 2 cars in question were going a lot faster than 88kmh.

Anan1

That stretch is always heavily policed by both unmarked cars and camera vans, are you sure the Gardai weren't using a camera?

Seanieke

Sh*t, what time was this????

unkel

For once I agree with setting up speed traps on a 3 lane road of motorway quality. There are a lot of entry / exit points (dodsboro, spa hotel, celbridge) and 120km/h is way too high for there. We all know how bad people are here merging / exiting.

greyc

Anan1 wrote: »

That stretch is always heavily policed by both unmarked cars and camera vans, are you sure the Gardai weren't using a camera?

It looked like they were just using a laser gun, as there was a second guard pulling in offending motorists. I would have thought if they were using a camera they wouldn't bother pulling anyone in. Maybe some Guards who are regular posters here might be able to clarify.

Seanieke wrote: »

Sh*t, what time was this????

Mid morning both days, but they were very visible.

L1011

unkel wrote: »

For once I agree with setting up speed traps on a 3 lane road of motorway quality. There are a lot of entry / exit points (dodsboro, spa hotel, celbridge) and 120km/h is way too high for there. We all know how bad people are here merging / exiting.

Since the service lane was added there is one exit and one entry point for *all* of Dodsboro, th Spa, Kew Park, McCoys and Celbridge! The service lane is barriered off.

unkel

Ah damn, forgot about that! In that case they were shooting bloody fish in a barrel

Skopzz

greyc wrote: »

I noticed yesterday that the Gardai were doing a speed check just past the new flyover at the Newcastle rd junction, west bound (just before the Spa Hotel).
For anyone not familiar with the area, this road has been recently upgraded and is a 3 lane dual carriageway with an 80 kmh speed limit.
My initial thought when I saw them was the "shooting fish in a barrell" attitude, however as I approached the speed check today doing 80 kmh, 2 cars passed me at speed in the middle lane, doing at least 100kmh if not 120, yet the guards made no attempt to pull them in, even though they had plenty of time to clock them.
I was just wondering what allowances are made by the Gardai when it comes to breaking the speed limit, I always thought it was about 10%, but the 2 cars in question were going a lot faster than 88kmh.

They normally allow you 10km/h over the limit before they stop you. I remember passing a Garda Speed trap doing 110km/h in a 100km/h zone and I didn't get stopped.

Seth Brundle

Most traffic will be going somewhere between 100 and 120 along this road (its well able for it). Maybe the gardai are using some common sense along here!

@greyc - given that lane 1 is rarely used (usually just by people undertaking everyone else) am I right in assuming that you were in lane 3 (the rightmost lane)?

Matt Simis

kbannon wrote: »

Most traffic will be going somewhere between 100 and 120 along this road (its well able for it). Maybe the gardai are using some common sense along here!

Yeah, I usually start out at the speed limit here but on a 3 lane road of motorway quality (actually better than stretches of the M50) it feels like coasting to a stop and you start to get in the way of everyone else.

So I usually stick with the pack and go whatever speed they are going, usually 110kph 'ish, occasionally popping in the the 3rd lane and overtaking.

bazzachazza

Have to say I just don't speed on this section either direction as it's been said the Gardai are regularly checking speeds. They can be out at any time night or day. So I just stick to the 80k and take the pain till I get to the M50 or M4 and let rip. Thankfully as the traffic jams are mostly gone it only adds a minute or so to my journey and saves me 80 bills and two points.

BTW I'm not high horsing just being sensible. It is a section of road that should be minimum 100k, why hide all the estate, hotel and petrol station entrances and exits if your not going to increase the limit ? Look at how different the road is now to what it was before, the limit makes no sense to me.

stevenmu

I used to drive that road every day, there's always been regular checks along there, can be either gardaí or gatso vans on the verges. They used to be there a lot even when there was the fixed camera at the spa hotel, now it's gone I'd imagine they're there even more often.

beggars_bush

there is nowhere to pull in offending motorists.
maybe that is the problem?

Shires

bazzachazza wrote: »

the limit makes no sense to me.

Not a whinge or anything like that on my part, but when I have this thought I find it to be a good indicator that there will be speed checks on a given section of road. :pac: