Average speed cameras on M7

bop1977 · 09-03-2021 5:47pm #1

It started in Dublin port tunnel and is now on its way to Limerick on the M7.

Details here:
https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/launch-of-irelands-1st-mainline-motorway-average-speed-safety-camera-system-9th-march-2021-.html

Tzardine · 09-03-2021 5:50pm

I welcome them.

Wont be an issue for most people. I set the cruise control when on the motorway and I assume most do. Hopefully it slows down some of the numptys on the motorways.

You cant miss the cameras too, so if you do like to travel a bit faster, and get caught out its your own fault.

09-03-2021 5:50pm

And by Limerick, you of course mean Tipperary.

PsychoPete · 09-03-2021 5:50pm

I assume they'll be plenty of warning signs when you are about to approach it so if you are over the limit you can slow down, I don't see the problem with having them on a motorway

Renault 5 · 09-03-2021 5:52pm

Common in the UK I think and Australia.

Surprised it took so long to introduce them here

6034073

The Continental Op · 09-03-2021 6:02pm

The one place they are really common and work well in the UK is on motorway roadworks. Before no one took any notice of the speed limits for road works but the average speed cameras have changed that.

AndyBoBandy · 09-03-2021 6:07pm

No issues with them at all. Set cc at 120 km/h and sit back and relax...

The only time they’ll be an issue is that time your driving at 120, and a car passes you, and then slows down to 110-115, so you overtake them again, and a few minutes later they do the exact same thing, rinse & repeat......... sometimes you need a quick blast at 130-140 to lose them once and for all..... (or at least for 10-15 minutes until they catch you again and slow down again’.

You see them on almost every long motorway drive......

eusap · 09-03-2021 6:11pm

That section of motorway is well known for accidents, so no surprise they picked it

liamog · 09-03-2021 6:16pm

Someone needs to invent an average lane camera to teach people how to keep left

for the other end of the M7

bazz26 · 09-03-2021 6:23pm

PsychoPete wrote: »

I assume they'll be plenty of warning signs when you are about to approach it so if you are over the limit you can slow down, I don't see the problem with having them on a motorway

You mean one of these?

1602502558504.jpg--m7_cork__dublin__limerick_motorway.jpg?1602502558000

frozenfrozen · 09-03-2021 7:54pm

press release reads more like they're putting in variable speed limits than average speed cameras since they mention adverse conditions so many times and say 41% of people are speeding, must be pretty safe to speed if 41% of people are speeding and there are only accidents when it has freak hail storms?

bazz26 · 09-03-2021 7:56pm

https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/launch-of-irelands-1st-mainline-motorway-average-speed-safety-camera-system-9th-march-2021-.html

Jakey Rolling · 09-03-2021 7:59pm

PsychoPete wrote: »

I assume they'll be plenty of warning signs when you are about to approach it so if you are over the limit you can slow down, I don't see the problem with having them on a motorway

Average speed cams - there will be another at 1km/5km/next junction. They time you over that distance to determine average speed. Obvs requires number plate recognition to work.

Kalyke · 09-03-2021 8:07pm

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

No issues with them at all. Set cc at 120 km/h and sit back and relax...

The only time they’ll be an issue is that time your driving at 120, and a car passes you, and then slows down to 110-115, so you overtake them again, and a few minutes later they do the exact same thing, rinse & repeat......... sometimes you need a quick blast at 130-140 to lose them once and for all..... (or at least for 10-15 minutes until they catch you again and slow down again’.

You see them on almost every long motorway drive......

My God I thought I was the only one inflicted with the CCC (Curse of Cruise Control) Why do they do it? Weird, "I wont be overtaken" attitude!

Jakey Rolling · 09-03-2021 8:13pm

The Continental Op wrote: »

The one place they are really common and work well in the UK is on motorway roadworks. Before no one took any notice of the speed limits for road works but the average speed cameras have changed that.

Have had them on a lot of the UK dual-carriageways for at least 15 years. One place they made a difference is the road to Stranraer, as lots of drivers were overcooking it to make their ferry in time. Makes it a much more pleasant drive now that you don't have people up your ar*e trying to pass when you're sticking to the speed limit. And roadworks, as you say.

kirving · 09-03-2021 8:14pm

Badly needed in some areas, particularly around busy junctions where it can be difficult to pull out from the left lane, to let people join due to people way above the limit in the right lane.

(And yes, I know it's up to the cars joining to match speed, but it's good practice to do as much as possible to allow them to join by moving over or adjusting your own speed.)

I'm just astounded that 10% of people are still speeding in the port tunnel.

Vittu · 09-03-2021 8:17pm

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

No issues with them at all. Set cc at 120 km/h and sit back and relax...

The only time they’ll be an issue is that time your driving at 120, and a car passes you, and then slows down to 110-115, so you overtake them again, and a few minutes later they do the exact same thing, rinse & repeat......... sometimes you need a quick blast at 130-140 to lose them once and for all..... (or at least for 10-15 minutes until they catch you again and slow down again’.

You see them on almost every long motorway drive......

What is that about, it really annoys the hell out of me.

1percent · 09-03-2021 8:22pm

liamog wrote: »

Someone needs to invent an average lane camera to teach people how to keep left for the other end of the M7

I fully support this idea!

vectra · 09-03-2021 8:42pm

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

No issues with them at all. Set cc at 120 km/h and sit back and relax...

The only time they’ll be an issue is that time your driving at 120, and a car passes you, and then slows down to 110-115, so you overtake them again, and a few minutes later they do the exact same thing, rinse & repeat......... sometimes you need a quick blast at 130-140 to lose them once and for all..... (or at least for 10-15 minutes until they catch you again and slow down again’.

You see them on almost every long motorway drive......

Thanks heavens for adaptive cruise

Before I had adaptive I felt the same as you, It used to annoy the living hell out of me. I eventually came to the conclusion that the only way to get the aggrevated feeling was to slow to 110 for a few kms. instead of speeding up.

Hogzy · 10-03-2021 12:43am

vectra wrote: »

Thanks heavens for adaptive cruise

Before I had adaptive I felt the same as you, It used to annoy the living hell out of me. I eventually came to the conclusion that the only way to get the aggrevated feeling was to slow to 110 for a few kms. instead of speeding up.

But the adaptive cruise control would have you slow down with the car in front which keeps over taking and slowing down, which sort of defeats the purpose of cruise control in the first place.

Darc19 · 10-03-2021 12:53am

PsychoPete wrote: »

I assume they'll be plenty of warning signs when you are about to approach it so if you are over the limit you can slow down, I don't see the problem with having them on a motorway

If you miss them, then not even Specsavers couldn't assist you.

They will be mounted on bright yellow poles with advance signage

Atlantic Dawn · 10-03-2021 1:10am

Fit them on the M1 and the fines would clear our national debt

eringobragh · 10-03-2021 1:34am

infuriating to see this wasted on a motorway..but alas

having lived in Australia, they had speedcams eachside of every school district...seems the focus is way off dangerous roads here

...Leave them to it anyway the gosafe thing was a fiasco running a massive deficit...Irish drivers for the most part are some of the slowest drivers on the planet

vectra · 10-03-2021 2:27am

Hogzy wrote: »

But the adaptive cruise control would have you slow down with the car in front which keeps over taking and slowing down, which sort of defeats the purpose of cruise control in the first place.

Cruise control yes.
But not adaptive as you don't have to do anything, unlike normal cruise you either disengage it or put the foot down to overtake.

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime · 10-03-2021 8:48am

I used to drive many a bus on the motorways including the M7/8/9/1/11/50 etc and it was regular I'd get overtaken by a car, only for the c,unt to slow down in front of me leaving me to overtake it again. Rinse and repeat about 4 times until one of us exits. So that's nothing new with average speed cameras.

I took a quick glance on the Twitter feed, and of course there's a dose of clowns saying it's just another money racket and a waste etc.
I'm not getting into it with them but very simple if you don't speed then what's the issue ?

10-03-2021 8:55am

frozenfrozen wrote: »

press release reads more like they're putting in variable speed limits than average speed cameras since they mention adverse conditions so many times and say 41% of people are speeding, must be pretty safe to speed if 41% of people are speeding and there are only accidents when it has freak hail storms?

The accidents due to hail storms are more towards Roscrea / Borris in Ossory. I’m not aware of many accidents on this Nenagh - Birdhill stretch despite what was posted earlier by eusap.

salmocab · 10-03-2021 9:08am

If they put one in the M50 they would end up sending out parking fines

bazz26 · 10-03-2021 9:13am

There has been a good few accidents over the years in that spot alright, there was at least one fatality and freak weather at the time was one factor. Some people I've spoken to, who use it regularly recon the design of the road and the way water drains off it may be another factor too.

AndyBoBandy · 10-03-2021 9:13am

vectra wrote: »

Cruise control yes.
But not adaptive as you don't have to do anything, unlike normal cruise you either disengage it or put the foot down to overtake.

yeah but you still have to overtake them to return to the speed you've set....

If I set cruise control at 120 km/h, I don't want cars overtaking me and slowing me down to 110, I want to drive at the 120....

if I wanted to drive behind a 'pace car', I'd do so and let adaptive cruise control keep me at a safe distance.
I dont want to drive behind pace cars because they'll go 105 up a hill, and 120 going down the hill etc.....

If I want to drive at 120, I want to drive at a constant 120

Adaptive is fine when there's no opportunity to overtake, but it's irrelevant when on a dual carriageway and overtaking can be done

Rodin · 10-03-2021 9:19am

Will be a great success.

AndyBoBandy · 10-03-2021 9:23am

My favourite is when you're driving along a relatively quiet stretch of motorway, and see a truck in the distance, and as you get closer to it, there's a lone car sitting in behind it, no more than 2 car lengths away from it, wipers on full blast (because of the wash from the truck, despite the fact it stopped raining 20 minutes ago), completely happy to sit there, and oblivious of the fact an overtake would make their life much easier. then long after you pass them, you take a look behind, and they're still tucked in behind the truck!!!

I'd say that some of them are drafting, and doing it for fuel efficiency, but i think I'd be giving them too much credit, and the reality is they simply have no awareness of their surroundings..

Must be a nightmare for truck drivers having someone tail you so closely for so long on a motorway!!!

air · 10-03-2021 9:31am

bazz26 wrote: »

There has been a good few accidents over the years in that spot alright, there was at least one fatality and freak weather at the time was one factor.

That happened between Birdhill and Limerick if its the incident I'm aware of, at the bog crossing.

plodder · 10-03-2021 9:34am

PsychoPete wrote: »

I assume they'll be plenty of warning signs when you are about to approach it so if you are over the limit you can slow down, I don't see the problem with having them on a motorway

They have special average speed camera warning signs on the port tunnel. They are more likely to be accepted if there are specific warnings. Good to see it finally happening.

ratracer · 10-03-2021 10:14am

The miserable €80 fine is not a deterrent to speeding in this country. It should be ramped up to €250 or more, then that would make some think twice about their speed.

BTW, I also think 120km/h is too low a limit on the motorway network, it could be raised to 140km/h safely.

Rodin · 10-03-2021 10:15am

ratracer wrote: »

The miserable €80 fine is not a deterrent to speeding in this country. It should be ramped up to €250 or more, then that would make some think twice about their speed.

A realistic chance of being caught might make people think twice...

AndyBoBandy · 10-03-2021 10:32am

ratracer wrote: »

The miserable €80 fine is not a deterrent to speeding in this country. It should be ramped up to €250 or more, then that would make some think twice about their speed.

It's like the driving in the bus lane fine.... €80 and that's it, it's not a penalty points offence (I dont think it is anyway).

When was the last time you saw a Garda enforcing the bus lane??
How often do you see people driving in the bus lane (and thus slowing you down when they merge back in ahead of you)?

For the time it would save someone every morning/evening, it would probably be worth the potential €80 fine every few weeks/months if it's saving you a few hours a week in commuting time..... (and I'm sure people have and go by this attitude)

Much better enforcement is needed, but perhaps remote enforcement... like say a team of CCTV operators that can focus on completely random sections of bus lanes (hot spots) around the cities, and issue postal fines (along with photo's of the offence taking place) to the offenders. Can't ID the driver, no problem, the registered owner of the vehicle gets the fine.... don't pay the fine??, road tax increases by 10% for every unpaid fine for the following year, and insurance database updated to show you are a rule breaker and dont pay your fines...

If there was a belief out there that maybe this bus lane is being watched today, I better not risk it...., would completely cut it out all togeher say for teh few that are happy to risk it and pay the fines...

fryup · 10-03-2021 11:52am

and i just bought myself a hot hatch

MEGA BRO WOLF 5000 · 10-03-2021 11:55am

They should fix that section of motorway instead of putting a revenue generating device on it. It absolutely pools water and is extremely dangerous...but fixing it doesn't generate income.

liamog · 10-03-2021 11:57am

ratracer wrote: »

The miserable €80 fine is not a deterrent to speeding in this country. It should be ramped up to €250 or more, then that would make some think twice about their speed.

BTW, I also think 120km/h is too low a limit on the motorway network, it could be raised to 140km/h safely.

If I was in charge, I'd make fines be €20 but only payable in person (by the driver) at a motor tax office. The fines should be low so that we can massively ramp up enforcement, but annoying so that you are irritated into compliance.

dastardly00 · 10-03-2021 11:58am

fryup wrote: »

and i just bought myself a hot hatch

It's the twisty country roads that you'll enjoy your hot hatch, not on the motorway

biko · 10-03-2021 12:13pm

liamog wrote: »

If I was in charge, I'd make fines be €20 but only payable in person (by the driver) at a motor tax office. The fines should be low so that we can massively ramp up enforcement, but annoying so that you are irritated into compliance.

And make it that the only office where you can pay, is the tax office in Longford

i57dwun4yb1pt8 · 10-03-2021 12:37pm

pity they didnt fix the road design instead, its very bad in harsh weather .

vectra · 10-03-2021 12:39pm

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

yeah but you still have to overtake them to return to the speed you've set....

If I set cruise control at 120 km/h, I don't want cars overtaking me and slowing me down to 110, I want to drive at the 120....

if I wanted to drive behind a 'pace car', I'd do so and let adaptive cruise control keep me at a safe distance.
I dont want to drive behind pace cars because they'll go 105 up a hill, and 120 going down the hill etc.....

If I want to drive at 120, I want to drive at a constant 120

Adaptive is fine when there's no opportunity to overtake, but it's irrelevant when on a dual carriageway and overtaking can be done

OK
so when they drop to 105 up the hill you can indicate and overtake, then they do 120 down the hill and you are already in front doing 120.

If this continues for too long, one of my ways to sort them is when they indicate to pass me for the 3rd time I will accelerate to match their speed before the cross lanes.
You will 99% of the time see them pull back in and stay there. The others will get annoyed and put the foot down

DaveyDave · 10-03-2021 1:12pm

Don't see the issue. We need more of these. The rampant speeding on the M50/N4/N3 is ridiculous. If they stood on an overpass with the new laser guns they'd clean up.

My only concern if we do see more of these is people suddenly dropping the anchors, sick to death of people dropping to 60 in an 80 zone on the N4 because a Garda car is engaged with someone pulled over or when there's a speed van.

fryup · 10-03-2021 1:23pm

dastardly00 wrote: »

It's the twisty country roads that you'll enjoy your hot hatch, not on the motorway

but more chance of pranging it

10-03-2021 1:27pm

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

yeah but you still have to overtake them to return to the speed you've set....

If I set cruise control at 120 km/h, I don't want cars overtaking me and slowing me down to 110, I want to drive at the 120....

if I wanted to drive behind a 'pace car', I'd do so and let adaptive cruise control keep me at a safe distance.
I dont want to drive behind pace cars because they'll go 105 up a hill, and 120 going down the hill etc.....

If I want to drive at 120, I want to drive at a constant 120

Adaptive is fine when there's no opportunity to overtake, but it's irrelevant when on a dual carriageway and overtaking can be done

You are aware that you don’t suddenly lose the ability to overtake with ACC on? Or indeed that your accelerator doesn’t stop working either?

AndyBoBandy · 10-03-2021 1:54pm

DaveyDave wrote: »

My only concern if we do see more of these is people suddenly dropping the anchors

People will see these, and think it's a 1 shot deal, drop the anchor for it, and then once passed, it'll be back up to speed....

DaveyDave wrote: »

sick to death of people dropping to 60 in an 80 zone on the N4 because a Garda car is engaged with someone pulled over or when there's a speed van.

This.

see's Garda car/camera van, immediately drops to about 20-25 below the posted speed limit.

:mad:

frozenfrozen · 10-03-2021 1:56pm

There will be people doing 60-80 for a decent portion of the monitored zone 'to be sure' they are under the 120 on average

The Continental Op · 10-03-2021 2:02pm

frozenfrozen wrote: »

There will be people doing 60-80 for a decent portion of the monitored zone 'to be sure' they are under the 120 on average

Maybe drivers drive differently in the UK but I've found on long stretches of Average Speed Cameras the traffic tends to move at just below the limit when I measure using a satnav. So my guess is the average motorist is sticking bang on the speed going and going by their cars speedo.

I use the satnav in the UK primaily to give me my speed in MPH.

stoneill · 10-03-2021 3:13pm

vectra wrote: »

OK
so when they drop to 105 up the hill you can indicate and overtake, then they do 120 down the hill and you are already in front doing 120.

If this continues for too long, one of my ways to sort them is when they indicate to pass me for the 3rd time I will accelerate to match their speed before the cross lanes.
You will 99% of the time see them pull back in and stay there. The others will get annoyed and put the foot down

Yep, this works, you have to match their speed for a while until they make a decision to pull in behind you.

AndyBoBandy · 10-03-2021 3:21pm

vectra wrote: »

If this continues for too long, one of my ways to sort them is when they indicate to pass me for the 3rd time I will accelerate to match their speed before the cross lanes.
You will 99% of the time see them pull back in and stay there. The others will get annoyed and put the foot down

I must try that..

Though the issue with this method now is you'll be speeding and will beat the allowable time from 1 'gate' to another in an average speed check zone...

Average speed cameras on M7

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