Speed vans on a motorway

Johnboner

I have seen quite a few signs put up on the motorways recently but I have never seen the piggy bank itself, so are they there just for decoration purposes or has anyone seen an actual van on the motorway?

IsaacWunder

I've seen official garda vans, as opposed to the Go Safe ones, on the M18.

Atlantic Dawn

Have seen GoSafe stopped on M6 before, was on the hard shoulder though which was odd.

aujopimur

I've seen the cops with the tripod on the M8 hard shoulder near Watergrasshill, seems daft and dangerous to me.

ironclaw

The built a lay by for GoSafe on the M50 southbound just before the M11 merge. And I have seen them on the motorway section that loops around Naas (M7?)

Commotion Ocean

Ridiculous to have speed checks on motorways

pippip

dfeo wrote: »

Ridiculous to have speed checks on motorways

If there wasn't at least the threat of being caught could you imagine the speeds some people would do on a more regular basis.

Commotion Ocean

pippip wrote: »

If there wasn't at least the threat of being caught could you imagine the speeds some people would do on a more regular basis.

And ?? Most people will only drive at a speed that they're comfortable with and suitable for the conditions. 160 km/h, whilst technically illegal, is not necessarily dangerous on a motorway.

pippip

dfeo wrote: »

And ?? Most people will only drive at a speed that they're comfortable with and suitable for the conditions. 160 km/h, whilst technically illegal, is not necessarily dangerous on a motorway.

Would you be happy with others doing 200kph+

Commotion Ocean

pippip wrote: »

Would you be happy with others doing 200kph+

Yes, again, in a well-maintained car and in dry conditions, 200 km/h is perfectly fine.

pippip

dfeo wrote: »

Yes, again, in a well-maintained car and in dry conditions, 200 km/h is perfectly fine.

So just speed traps for less maintained cars and wet roads?

IsaacWunder

pippip wrote: »

Would you be happy with others doing 200kph+

Does it matter? Germany manages fine with no speed limits. The problem isn't speed, rather it's bad drivers.

donspeekinglesh

Used to regularly see the GoSafe van on the M3 between the Dunboyne and Clonee exits. Not in the last few months though.

Commotion Ocean

pippip wrote: »

So just speed traps for wet roads?

Yes. Variable speed limits are the answer. 90-100 km/h during wet weather, less during snowfall and heavy fog (the latter happens rarely in Ireland). During the day, the speed limit should be 160 km/h (or at the very least 140 km/h) and no limit necessary at night.

Walter2016

ironclaw wrote: »

The built a lay by for GoSafe on the M50 southbound just before the M11 merge. And I have seen them on the motorway section that loops around Naas (M7?)

Not GoSafe van. Garda operated speed detection van.

Walter2016

dfeo wrote: »

Ridiculous to have speed checks on motorways

Next time you are in a 5km tailback due to some effer going far too fast and causing an accident think of your post.

They are not out to catch someone doing 125-130kmh.

Also signs are for speed detection zones - nothing says they have to be camera vans. In most cases its traffic corp sitting on a down ramp.

pippip

dfeo wrote: »

Yes. Variable speed limits are the answer. 90-100 km/h during wet weather, less during snowfall and heavy fog (the latter happens rarely in Ireland). During the day, the speed limit should be 160 km/h (or at the very least 140 km/h) and no limit necessary at night.

Well that's fine and I agree speed limits on certain stretches could be higher but your original statement was there shouldn't be speed checks on motorways.

marno21

Walter2016 wrote: »

Next time you are in a 5km tailback due to some effer going far too fast and causing an accident think of your post.

They are not out to catch someone doing 125-130kmh.

Also signs are for speed detection zones - nothing says they have to be camera vans. In most cases its traffic corp sitting on a down ramp.

These accidents aren't caused by any ****ers doing massive speeds. They're caused by drivers not focusing on the road, not driving to the conditions, not adhering to the rules of the road.

None of the accidents on the M50/M11/M1/N4/N7 which are about 5 a day these days are caused by speed. Therfore, efforts should not be concentrated on motorway speed checks, the majority of which are on empty motorways where there's nothing to crash into anyway.

Commotion Ocean

Walter2016 wrote: »

They are not out to catch someone doing 125-130kmh.

But if you go by it at 130 km/h you WILL get points and a fine.

But will the lane hogger driving at 70km/h in the middle lane with no traffic on the inside lane be punished? Not a chance, that'd require Garda work.

Commotion Ocean

"Speeding" should only attract penalty points if going over 160 km/h, with a graduated fine for exceeding 120 km/h (limit should ideally be higher).

Lane hogging should be met with €200 fine and five penalty points.

I seen when there were roadworks on the M7 (i think it was the M7 anyway) that they had a silly limit (50 i think?) and loads of 'average speed cameras in operation' signs everywhere.

I presume it was just to scare people, as I never seen any cameras set up, and no one was driving at, or below, 50. Most were pottering along slower than normal, but mostly still around 80-100. Still felt like you were walking slowly all the same though.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Commotion Ocean

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Why should speed limits as low as 120 km/h apply on motorways?

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Charles Babbage

dfeo wrote: »

And ?? Most people will only drive at a speed that they're comfortable with and suitable for the conditions.

What about the subset of people that will drive at a speed unsuitable for the conditions?

Prenderb

dfeo wrote: »

Why should speed limits as low as 120 km/h apply on motorways?

Motorways, and all newly designed roads, have a geometry - curves in the horizontal and in the vertical - that is calculated to allow for the safe and comfortable operation of vehicles at the design speed. Lane widths, superelevation and road markings are all used to factor into this.

This accounts for, amongst other things, the drivers of vehicles being able to see around the bend in front of them and react in time to stop if necessary.

Example - the M50 has 100kph speed because it had much tighter curves built into it around the Sandyford/Dundrum area than you'll see on the M7 where 120kph applies.

The higher the design speed, the straighter the roads, and the more expensive they'll need to be because they can't accommodate the landscape without more bridges, tunnels, cutting and filling. Also straight roads are a bad idea.

(Edit: Just by way of reference, there are 9 volumes of standards used of the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges in this country. 9 Volumes. That's to make motorways and other roads built safely to accepted engineering norms, and to allow road users take advantage of roads of a high standard to make progress around the country. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_Manual_for_Roads_and_Bridges)

This engineers a balance between the efficiency of the transport on the roads and their safety, as well as the costs of the roads.

And yes, lower speed limits are frustrating on roadworks, but so is the road being closed because of a fatality. Roadworks lead to lower lane widths which in turn lowers the safe speed, and also (obviously?) squishy road workers with families, friends and colleagues working much much much nearer to live traffic than usual.

newacc2015

pippip wrote: »

If there wasn't at least the threat of being caught could you imagine the speeds some people would do on a more regular basis.

Motorways are extremely safe. Hardly anyone dies on them.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/may/13/speed-limits-reduce-number-road-deaths

Speedvans on motorways are a revenue making exercise. Like the fact the only speed camera I see within the canals happens to be on the straightest and safest roads within the canal IMO ie Phisboro Road. The Gardai put it there as its busy road where they will be able to dole out the speed tickets aka revenue for them

If speed cameras are to save lives, than the Gardai should put them on rural roads where people go well over 100km/h despite not being able to see the road ahead of them

pippip

newacc2015 wrote: »

Motorways are extremely safe. Hardly anyone dies on them.

And you don't think the speed limit plays any part in that?

M94

I am glad I bought a motorcycle so I wouldn't be affected by any of these changes such as ridiculous average speed cameras.

martingriff

marno21 wrote: »

These accidents aren't caused by any ****ers doing massive speeds. They're caused by drivers not focusing on the road, not driving to the conditions, not adhering to the rules of the road.

None of the accidents on the M50/M11/M1/N4/N7 which are about 5 a day these days are caused by speed. Therfore, efforts should not be concentrated on motorway speed checks, the majority of which are on empty motorways where there's nothing to crash into anyway.

Doing massive speed is not adhering to the rules. The thing is a lot of people think they are so much better then they are. I rather be on the road with people who know they are ok but know to limit rather than the oh I am so great I can handle anything and then say it the other persons fault if they can't do what I do

Also just because a motorway is empty does not mean nothing could happen you could get a blow out hit a bit of ice

martingriff

newacc2015 wrote: »

Motorways are extremely safe. Hardly anyone dies on them.

https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/may/13/speed-limits-reduce-number-road-deaths

Speedvans on motorways are a revenue making exercise. Like the fact the only speed camera I see within the canals happens to be on the straightest and safest roads within the canal IMO ie Phisboro Road. The Gardai put it there as its busy road where they will be able to dole out the speed tickets aka revenue for them

If speed cameras are to save lives, than the Gardai should put them on rural roads where people go well over 100km/h despite not being able to see the road ahead of them

I hate this phrase its Revenue making it aint its the people who think its okay to break the speed limit are revenue makers. Stay at the limit you do not get caught and they don't take your money. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Riva10

pippip wrote: »

If there wasn't at least the threat of being caught could you imagine the speeds some people would do on a more regular basis.

How right you are. Some of the baskets would reach 90kph. :eek:

Fozzie Bear

dfeo wrote: »

Yes, again, in a well-maintained car and in dry conditions, 200 km/h is perfectly fine.

Its not necessarily the guy doing 200k that id be worried about. Its all the other idiots that would freak me out. Tractor pulling a trailer with no lights? Granny with her nose pressed to the windscreen doing 80kph. The lads who pull out into traffic off the hard shoulder from a standing start in 1st gear. Lane hoggers. No indicator too using twats.

Too many other fcuk wits out there unfortunately...

Johnboner

Johnboner wrote: »

...............has anyone seen an actual van on the motorway?

I can't recall seeing one.

I've seen AGS chase down speedsters on the M7 though fairly frequently in 2016. Most days I travel the road on a weekend during the day in fact.

givyjoe

marno21 wrote: »

These accidents aren't caused by any ****ers doing massive speeds. They're caused by drivers not focusing on the road, not driving to the conditions, not adhering to the rules of the road.

None of the accidents on the M50/M11/M1/N4/N7 which are about 5 a day these days are caused by speed. Therfore, efforts should not be concentrated on motorway speed checks, the majority of which are on empty motorways where there's nothing to crash into anyway.

More camera's on the motorways themselves, or mandatory dash cams to at least be able to determine who is actually at fault after.. and perhaps discourage moronic driving before these accidents ever happen.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Pataman

Average speed cameras are in operation in the Dublin Port Tunnel

Alkers

Don't mind them on the motorway, 120km/hr is an easy limit to adhere to if you're paying any attention. What I hate is when it's somewhere that the limit feels inappropriate for the road, I went by one on the N4 outbound the other day, in the 80km/hr section, hopefully I was near enough to the speed limit! This is a dual carriageway with at least three lanes in each direction and has the look and feel of a motorway, it's much harder to stick to the limit here.

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Guy:Incognito

IsaacWunder wrote: »

Does it matter? Germany manages fine with no speed limits. The problem isn't speed, rather it's bad drivers.

But apparently all these bad drivers are well able to judge what a safe speed is on the motorway? While also needing to be kept in check on non motorways because they are only bad drivers when not on motorways?

martingriff

Fozzie Bear wrote: »

Its not necessarily the guy doing 200k that id be worried about. Its all the other idiots that would freak me out. Tractor pulling a trailer with no lights? Granny with her nose pressed to the windscreen doing 80kph. The lads who pull out into traffic off the hard shoulder from a standing start in 1st gear. Lane hoggers. No indicator too using twats.

Too many other fcuk wits out there unfortunately...

And this is why we have limits cause there are other people (not idiots) people on the road and just not yourself

K.Flyer

pippip wrote: »

Would you be happy with others doing 200kph+

Perfectly fine, as long as they move over when I want to pass them :pac:

Sue Pa Key Pa

IsaacWunder wrote: »

Does it matter? Germany manages fine with no speed limits. The problem isn't speed, rather it's bad drivers.

So we should have speed limits for poor drivers but none for good drivers. I can see that working.........

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

ironclaw

Walter2016 wrote: »

Not GoSafe van. Garda operated speed detection van.

No, they are GoSafe zones. Recently instated.

Fred Swanson wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Drove the M6/M4 tonight, don't know what anyone here is thinking but not a single section of it is suitable to do 200km/h on for any short of time to make a difference to your day. Too tight, too uneven and holds water. Your sight lines at night are rubbish. You start wash-boarding at that speed and give regards to the other side from the rest of us if you are in anything but a car set up for that type of speed. You can however hold a steady 130 ~ 160 and still make a reasonable rate and I'd like to see limits upped in that direction.

K.Flyer

Fred Swanson wrote: »

Over 60% and growing of autobahns have speed limits.

That's just the it. So many people presume all the motorways in Germany have no limits. Even then, on the unlimited ones, you can suddenly come upon a speed restricted section for a km or two.

pa990

K.Flyer wrote: »

That's just the it. So many people presume all the motorways in Germany have no limits. Even then, on the unlimited ones, you can suddenly come upon a speed restricted section for a km or two.

And when you do, everyone brakes, and drives at the speed limit.
Often a speed cam will be waiting not far after the speed limit sign.

K.Flyer

pa990 wrote: »

And when you do, everyone breaks, and drives at the speed limit.
Often a speed cam will be waiting not far after the speed limit sign.

Actually what I found where I was, that there was a gradual slow down into the zone, rather than the heavy on the brakes at the last 100 m and having cars running up the rear of each other.

marno21

Speed cameras right behind a speed limit change are stupid. Often people will see the speed van, brake (and almost cause a pile up) and then when beyond the speed van proceed to break the speed limit through the village/town.

Logic?