Go safe vans on M50

johnthemull

I saw a go safe van on the M50 Northbound yesterday and Southbound today.
There has been no change to the Garda go safe locations map and I didn't see any camera signs in the areas where the vans were.
I did see some very sudden breaking behaviour which doesn't really do a lot for road safety.
Anyone know whats going on here?

pippip

Where on the M50 in each direction?

alias no.9

Was it set up at the side of the road or just travelling on the M50

johnthemull

In both cases the van was set up at the side of the road.
Just after the Finglas exit yesterday and today it was just before the Cork exit.
Maybe its a trial run for fun and games to come?

bbability

Are they in a designated area or just parked on the hard shoulder?

johnthemull

Hard to tell. Certainly looked comfortable to me.

hardCopy

Was it definitely a Go Safe TM van as opposed to a Garda GATSO van?

osheen

Saw a go safe van setting up before j5 northbound on the m1 yesterday evening in the garda only spot .
GoSafe markings and two guys out measuring the angles and distance . I am very surprised at this as I was told two years ago by a relative in traffic corp that they would never be allowed on the motorways . Just goes to show how badly they need the revenue now .

whiskeyman

osheen wrote: »

Just goes to show how badly they need the revenue now .

Or how badly some people are speeding on these roads and they need enforcement in these areas...

pippip

The m50 has had some serious crashes the last few weeks, more than usual. Not saying speed was the culprit but may have brought the road into the spotlight.

R.O.R

osheen wrote: »

Saw a go safe van setting up before j5 northbound on the m1 yesterday evening in the garda only spot .
GoSafe markings and two guys out measuring the angles and distance . I am very surprised at this as I was told two years ago by a relative in traffic corp that they would never be allowed on the motorways . Just goes to show how badly they need the revenue now .

I saw one southbound last night on the M1 in the Garda vehicle only spot. Between Balbriggan South Exit and the Swords Exit.

murphyebass

This morning there was a van on the N3 from Clonee to city centre just before where the road forks left to go Northbound M50, city centre or Southbound M50.

I think it's a 60 zone but could be 80.

Then it goes to 50 incredibly quickly.

Anyway a LOT of crazy braking going on just before the van definitely not conducive to road safety imo and the 50 Zone just before the road to town is just mentally slow for the road but that's another conversation.

hardCopy

murphyebass wrote: »

This morning there was a van on the N3 from Clonee to city centre just before where the road forks left to go Northbound M50, city centre or Southbound M50.

I think it's a 60 zone but could be 80.

Then it goes to 50 incredibly quickly.

Anyway a LOT of crazy braking going on just before the van definitely not conducive to road safety imo and the 50 Zone just before the road to town is just mentally slow for the road but that's another conversation.

The 50 actually makes sense if you're driving from N3 Eastbound to M50 Southbound, the roller coaster flyover is hairy enough in the wet.

woejus

whiskeyman wrote: »

Or how badly some people are speeding on these roads and they need enforcement in these areas...

"Lisa, I want to buy your rock"

They were behind the bridge at Cherrywood accident southbound and slowed the traffic from 120 to 80 in the space of 200m, nearly caused a serious pile up of compliant drivers. Madness.

Riesen_Meal

R.O.R wrote: »

I saw one southbound last night on the M1 in the Garda vehicle only spot. Between Balbriggan South Exit and the Swords Exit.

Saw them at 4PM in that exact spot on the other side of the motorway yesterday, exiting Swords going northbound to Balbriggan - loads of twits jamming on who were breaking the limit, very dangerous...

johnthemull

The Guards should have amended their go safe map and should have notified drivers that these parasitic vans would be placed on the M50. They should have erected camera signs on the road as well.
In the meantime there will be even more accidents on this road directly due to the presence of these cameras on the road.
The M50 will be even more dangerous than it already is!

Reg'stoy

johnthemull wrote: »

The Guards should have amended their go safe map and should have notified drivers that these parasitic vans would be placed on the M50. They should have erected camera signs on the road as well.
In the meantime there will be even more accidents on this road directly due to the presence of these cameras on the road.
The M50 will be even more dangerous than it already is!

Not having proper speed enforcement because it might cause an accident; is such a straw man argument.

This type of claim is purely "I heard it in the pub" anecdotal evidence. If another driver rear ends the car in front because that car braked when seeing a speed van, particularly on the M50, well then they also would have rear ended them if the car braked for debris or was rubber necking or the most likely situation on the M50, simply meeting slower traffic.

Christ on a effing bike, if people can't react to a car braking well they shouldn't be on the road. People do stupid things on the road everyday, more accidents are as a result of rubber necking another accident or people coasting along away with the fairies and not copping that the traffic in front of them has slowed dramatically, then for a speed van.

Although, no doubt people will post their "car in front slowed from 110 to 80 in 1/2 sec" anecdotes.

johnthemull

Reg'stoy wrote: »

Not having proper speed enforcement because it might cause an accident; is such a straw man argument.

This type of claim is purely "I heard it in the pub" anecdotal evidence. If another driver rear ends the car in front because that car braked when seeing a speed van, particularly on the M50, well then they also would have rear ended them if the car braked for debris or was rubber necking or the most likely situation on the M50, simply meeting slower traffic.

Christ on a effing bike, if people can't react to a car braking well they shouldn't be on the road. People do stupid things on the road everyday, more accidents are as a result of rubber necking another accident or people coasting along away with the fairies and not copping that the traffic in front of them has slowed dramatically, then for a speed van.

Although, no doubt people will post their "car in front slowed from 110 to 80 in 1/2 sec" anecdotes.

This kind of thing happens. It can also be very hard for the driver behind a car braking for a van, to predict or anticipate, as the driver behind may not have seen the camera van. The point is that some cars react to the van and some don't. This is much more dangerous than the entire body of traffic ahead stopping suddenly. An attentive driver should spot this in time. Putting speed vans on the M50 is in my view the result of a very poor risk assessment. Drivers doing 110kmh are not the problem. The problem is poor concentration, poor lane discipline, driving too close to the car in front, not using indicators, etc. As a daily user I could go on but I won't. I now have to add sudden and random heavy braking to the list thanks to these vans.
When are the authorities going to focus on rubbish driving?
I guess doing people for a few kmh over artificially low speed limits is the best way to coin it in.

bladespin

Seen on the M7 (motorway 120k bit) parked on a garda ramp, definitely not a garda van too, didn't think they had jurisdiction there.

ba_barabus

I must put a post it in my car to remind me they're on the M50 and M7 now.

slimjimmc

bladespin wrote: »

Seen on the M7 (motorway 120k bit) parked on a garda ramp, definitely not a garda van too, didn't think they had jurisdiction there.

Was that between J9 and J10? That section has been a designated GoSafe zone for years. http://www.garda.ie/GoSafe.htm

markpb

murphyebass wrote: »

This morning there was a van on the N3 from Clonee to city centre just before where the road forks left to go Northbound M50, city centre or Southbound M50.

I think it's a 60 zone but could be 80.

Then it goes to 50 incredibly quickly.

How does a road change speed limit "incredibly quickly"? Surely the sign is permanent? Does it hide behind a hedge and jump out at the last minute?

niallam

Is the M50 not still classed as a motorway even though not a motorway speed limit in places?
Is it not illegal to stop on a motorway unless broken down?
Garda cars have their pull off ramps for this reason I thought. The private speed vans surely can't stop on a motorway?

ba_barabus

markpb wrote: »

How does a road change speed limit "incredibly quickly"? Surely the sign is permanent? Does it hide behind a hedge and jump out at the last minute?

You wouldn't think so but have you seen some of the signs placed in hedges around the country

bladespin

slimjimmc wrote:

Was that between J9 and J10? That section has been a designated GoSafe zone for years.

No, much further on, near J14 services.

jeffk

murphyebass wrote: »

This morning there was a van on the N3 from Clonee to city centre just before where the road forks left to go Northbound M50, city centre or Southbound M50.

I think it's a 60 zone but could be 80.

Then it goes to 50 incredibly quickly.

Anyway a LOT of crazy braking going on just before the van definitely not conducive to road safety imo and the 50 Zone just before the road to town is just mentally slow for the road but that's another conversation.

I almost went through the windscreen yesterday because a taximan spotted this van,slams on and then points at it as my heart is my mouth.

All the signage I can see is 80, I was barely at 70 and this fool slammed on. Not very safe

Reg'stoy

johnthemull wrote: »

This kind of thing happens. It can also be very hard for the driver behind a car braking for a van, to predict or anticipate, as the driver behind may not have seen the camera van. The point is that some cars react to the van and some don't. This is much more dangerous than the entire body of traffic ahead stopping suddenly. An attentive driver should spot this in time. Putting speed vans on the M50 is in my view the result of a very poor risk assessment. Drivers doing 110kmh are not the problem. The problem is poor concentration, poor lane discipline, driving too close to the car in front, not using indicators, etc. As a daily user I could go on but I won't. I now have to add sudden and random heavy braking to the list thanks to these vans.
When are the authorities going to focus on rubbish driving?
I guess doing people for a few kmh over artificially low speed limits is the best way to coin it in.

The structures are in place already on the M50 to have overhead cameras. These could check for some of the issues that you are raising.

Unfortunately in line with your safety concern of speed vans parked along side the road, the blues lights of Garda cars would create a rubber necking problem as some Irish drivers invariably will brake and slow to have a gape. If the Gardai were to pull in every driver not observing lane discipline or indicating on the M50, there would be multiple accidents following your logic.

Should all enforcement cease to reduce the possibility of an accident caused by poor drivers. The issue of possible accidents and speed vans is simply a straw man argument considering the revenue generating label has been debunked.

visual

Who building scarecrows with all this strawman to debunk post.

Speed vans aren't safety it's revenue generating otherwise the garda would be out in force pulling in idiots for bad driving.

Idiots in wrong lane don't have to be speeding to cause accidents and the pile ups on M50 is usually caused by bad lane changes poor traction surface and Chinese tyres with little grip in wet.

pa990

bladespin wrote: »

No, much further on, near J14 services.

were they parked on the raised garda ramps at the side of the motorway ?

hardCopy

visual wrote: »

Who building scarecrows with all this strawman to debunk post.

Speed vans aren't safety it's revenue generating otherwise the garda would be out in force pulling in idiots for bad driving.

Idiots in wrong lane don't have to be speeding to cause accidents and the pile ups on M50 is usually caused by bad lane changes poor traction surface and Chinese tyres with little grip in wet.

The Go Safe program costs more than it makes and the contractors are paid based on their hours, not the amount of money collected. It's not revenue generating.

bladespin

pa990 wrote:

were they parked on the raised garda ramps at the side of the motorway ?

Yes, garda only sign beside it.

ThisRegard

jeffk wrote: »

I almost went through the windscreen yesterday because a taximan spotted this van,slams on and then points at it as my heart is my mouth.

All the signage I can see is 80, I was barely at 70 and this fool slammed on. Not very safe

The van is regularly in that spot in the lay by beside the exit for the hospital, taxi driver should have been expecting it if he's in the area regularly. The limit does drop lower than 80 though.

BMJD

Reg'stoy wrote: »

Not having proper speed enforcement because it might cause an accident; is such a straw man argument.

This type of claim is purely "I heard it in the pub" anecdotal evidence. If another driver rear ends the car in front because that car braked when seeing a speed van, particularly on the M50, well then they also would have rear ended them if the car braked for debris or was rubber necking or the most likely situation on the M50, simply meeting slower traffic.

Christ on a effing bike, if people can't react to a car braking well they shouldn't be on the road. People do stupid things on the road everyday, more accidents are as a result of rubber necking another accident or people coasting along away with the fairies and not copping that the traffic in front of them has slowed dramatically, then for a speed van.

Although, no doubt people will post their "car in front slowed from 110 to 80 in 1/2 sec" anecdotes.

I won't/can't disagree with your point of view...however...I am fairly certain that the M50 is statistically the safest road in the country based on fatalities or serious injuries per km travelled or per vehicle. IIRC, there are only a couple of fatalities per year on it, and I know of at least 2 involving stolen cars in the last few years. I would wager that the vast majority of collisions on it occur below the speed limit - and remember that any crash that occurs anytime around rush hours is going to be on the news.

That would lead me to question why "GoSafe" vans are now on it, as opposed to, statistically, far more dangerous locations.

Del2005

niallam wrote: »

Is the M50 not still classed as a motorway even though not a motorway speed limit in places?
Is it not illegal to stop on a motorway unless broken down?
Garda cars have their pull off ramps for this reason I thought. The private speed vans surely can't stop on a motorway?

That's what I'd be thinking. If the evidence of you speeding was gained illegally can it be admitted in court? Saw a van parked on a footpath beside the Jobstown Inn on the N81 and since they are just average Joe public they have to obey the laws.

hardCopy wrote: »

The Go Safe program costs more than it makes and the contractors are paid based on their hours, not the amount of money collected. It's not revenue generating.

If "Safety" cameras where about safety they'd be in the location of accidents, not the current system of on the same road but nowhere near the actual black spot, and only deemed successful if they catch no speeding motorists and no more accidents. If a "Safety" camera is making money then it's not a safety camera it's a revenue earning device, which is what they are as they are always in the same places on open roads while on the road next to it you can safely speed past schools etc.

Tropheus

One on the M1 yesterday just before the aiport junction. Usually they sit after the juntion in the 60 kph zone. They're now placing them on motorways so they must be way below their speed tax quota.

ThisRegard

If you use the M1/M50 regularly you'll see the amount of accidents on an almost daily basis costing a fortune to businesses. They'll change drivers behaviour generally and the idea that they're there because they're below quotas is horse crap

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

AhHaor

murphyebass wrote: »

This morning there was a van on the N3 from Clonee to city centre just before where the road forks left to go Northbound M50, city centre or Southbound M50.

I think it's a 60 zone but could be 80.

Then it goes to 50 incredibly quickly.

Anyway a LOT of crazy braking going on just before the van definitely not conducive to road safety imo and the 50 Zone just before the road to town is just mentally slow for the road but that's another conversation.

That area isn't on the Garda go safe map, or are those areas only the regular spots and they can go anywhere?

Passed by on Wed and van there. Still not sure if 60 or 80. Truck slammed on brakes and I ended up getting quite close to it so hopefully it'll shield me if it's a 60 zone

marno21

ThisRegard wrote: »

If you use the M1/M50 regularly you'll see the amount of accidents on an almost daily basis costing a fortune to businesses. They'll change drivers behaviour generally and the idea that they're there because they're below quotas is horse crap

I'd agree with this if the accidents on the M50/M1/M7 etc were caused by speeding but Gosafe vans aren't going go prevent people not reading all the ADS and cutting across lanes to make their exit

murphyebass

AhHaor wrote: »

That area isn't on the Garda go safe map, or are those areas only the regular spots and they can go anywhere?

Passed by on Wed and van there. Still not sure if 60 or 80. Truck slammed on brakes and I ended up getting quite close to it so hopefully it'll shield me if it's a 60 zone

I looked at it again this morning and it looks to be an 80km zone to me.

Well there's no sign that I can see saying 60km zone so I'm assuming it's 80km.

I was doin just over the 60 so I'd hope to ok either way but 60 is very low for that stretch of road.

jeffk

ThisRegard wrote: »

The van is regularly in that spot in the lay by beside the exit for the hospital, taxi driver should have been expecting it if he's in the area regularly. The limit does drop lower than 80 though.

Yeah everyone knows its there,well I assume they do and don't care as most piss past me as im doing 60/80.

Is that road 80 until you come to the flyover?

AhHaor

jeffk wrote: »

Yeah everyone knows its there,well I assume they do and don't care as most piss past me as im doing 60/80.

Is that road 80 until you come to the flyover?

I have asked lots of people and no one seems to know. If you come off the exit at Blanch IT you don't see a speed limit sign until you come to the hospital turn off, which is where the van is always parked. In that case I fear it's a 60, however others have said that there's a 60 sign down the road. Which could mean a change of speed or reminder.

jeffk

AhHaor wrote: »

I have asked lots of people and no one seems to know. If you come off the exit at Blanch IT you don't see a speed limit sign until you come to the hospital turn off, which is where the van is always parked. In that case I fear it's a 60, however others have said that there's a 60 sign down the road. Which could mean a change of speed or reminder.

The opposite side is 80 most of the way till around the shopping center exit it hits 100.

Often wonder how well it would stand up in court if you challenged it by saying 80 other side of road and no signs to say limit

AhHaor

jeffk wrote: »

The opposite side is 80 most of the way till around the shopping center exit it hits 100.

Often wonder how well it would stand up in court if you challenged it by saying 80 other side of road and no signs to say limit

I suspect you'd get the usual "it's 50 unless you're told otherwise" nonsense!

anonanymore

On Streetview there's an 80 sign on the ramp

keithclancy

Reg'stoy wrote: »

Not having proper speed enforcement because it might cause an accident; is such a straw man argument.

This type of claim is purely "I heard it in the pub" anecdotal evidence. If another driver rear ends the car in front because that car braked when seeing a speed van, particularly on the M50, well then they also would have rear ended them if the car braked for debris or was rubber necking or the most likely situation on the M50, simply meeting slower traffic.

Christ on a effing bike, if people can't react to a car braking well they shouldn't be on the road. People do stupid things on the road everyday, more accidents are as a result of rubber necking another accident or people coasting along away with the fairies and not copping that the traffic in front of them has slowed dramatically, then for a speed van.

Although, no doubt people will post their "car in front slowed from 110 to 80 in 1/2 sec" anecdotes.

IMO after being here 6 months, any old van with luminous shíte all over the back of it causes people to stamp on the brakes.

Over in NL the Speed Cameras are not obvious at all so no such event occurs.

I don't really get what the point of them being so visible is, if you've seen it then its too late already since its laser based.

M50 should just have Average speed cameras on it speeders would be caught regardless.

Road markings here are shít as well, I've seen a load of stop signs with yield symbols on the road, traffic lights that its not really clear what junction they are for and speed limit signs that contradict each other.

Falcon L

keithclancy wrote: »

if you've seen it then its too late already since its laser based.

It isn't, because they're not. :P

pa990

keithclancy wrote: »

I don't really get what the point of them being so visible is, if you've seen it then its too late already since its laser based.

They are radar, and have a very limited range

keithclancy wrote: »

Road markings here are shít as well, I've seen a load of stop signs with yield symbols on the road, traffic lights that its not really clear what junction they are for and speed limit signs that contradict each other.

Shur tis all part of the local charm.

the foreigners love that type of stuff

Del2005

ThisRegard wrote: »

If you use the M1/M50 regularly you'll see the amount of accidents on an almost daily basis costing a fortune to businesses. They'll change drivers behaviour generally and the idea that they're there because they're below quotas is horse crap

How many of these are caused by exceeding the limit v's people swerving across several lanes for exits due to inattention or ,my eye opener as a passenger in a van, using the their phones? There where 2 crashes on a jam packed motorway with no one going over 20km/h, speed checks did a great job!

Then there's the fact that it's illegal to stop on a motorway, unless in an emergency, and taking pictures isn't an emergency. They are a hazard on the motorway, if it's illegal for me to stop why are these civilians allowed?, and should be getting penaly points for driving on the hard shoulder of a motorway

PeteK*

keithclancy wrote: »

speed limit signs that contradict each other.

Where are they?

visual

hardCopy wrote: »

The Go Safe program costs more than it makes and the contractors are paid based on their hours, not the amount of money collected. It's not revenue generating.

Is it more correct to say their overheads are subsidised by tax payer in their inefficient operation. It's been proved in other countries that removal of speed detection cameras reduced accidents.

Catching cars a few kph over the limit isn't making roads safer. Same with garda sitting at slip roads with speed gun when 90% of the traffic is in wrong lane and lane hopping without indicating.