Speed limit change 120/80km (was I caught?)

If they didn't stop you, then no ticket.

They are not really interested in those doing a little over the limit, more interested in the manic speeders.

Haven't seen a speed van on the N4 in years. First day of the lockdown and there it is sitting at the Liffey Valley exit. Another traffic corps car sitting near the Spa Hotel tonight.

sirmixalot wrote: »

On the N4 dublin bound the limit changes from 120 to 80km, there's a bridge that is nearly in the middle of the two signs (just as you bypass leixlip and into lucan) The guards were there in the car with the gun facing towards the west I.e I was heading towards them, I changed down from 120 to 100 but was probably going 90 when passing the 80 sign.
Just wondering is that a ticket. How can they sit in such a contentious area?

They can sit there because people will often not see the signage (driving without due care and attention) or people will ignore the signage as the road itself doesn't change .... So they continue at whatever speed they were doing.

Areas where there is a change of speed limit are often used to enforce speed restrictions, areas where road deaths occur are supposed to be monitored by gosafe vans, but I think it's essentially fair game by both sides to get numbers up.

As someone who has regularly driven this path of road, it was noticeable that enforcement was lacking, but there was a recent announcement that new zones were to be used for speed limit enforcement, the m/n4 has a number of new spots added to it.
The gardai were also catching people driving in the hard shoulder during rush hour at the start of march, before the m/n4 turn into a ghost road lol.

In recent days it's more important to monitor your speed, less traffic on the roads can lead to accidentally going over the limit, there were 2 speed checks on the n4 yesterday that I witnessed.
On the M4 one guy in a 05 with a learner plate was pulled over westbound at location linked in Google map ...Garda car with blue flashy lights behind him.

Seth Brundle wrote: »

How is it a contentious area?

No issue with it being an 80km/h zone whatsoever, it's very much needed.

I travel this road all the time, usually inbound to Dublin on a Friday evening when it's relatively quiet.

Most people know the road and ease off gradually in the 120km/h zone, braking gently to get down to 80km/h before the sign. All too often though, they're tailgated by people who are determined to do 120km all the way to the sign.

Then you have idiots who drive to the letter of the law, as in they do 120km/h right up to 20m before the sign and absolutely stand on the brakes.

Finally, those who blast into the 80km/h zone still doing 140km/h need to be caught, but that's easily done by a Gard on the opposite side of the bridge.

It's already an area where there's an accordion effect with traffic, and a Gard on the bridge doesn't help that IMO. Opposite side of the bridge, or 200m up the road would be a better place to position.

Further up the road, the limit drops to 60km/h where the Liffey Valley traffic joins. This used to be another favourite for GoSafe vans, but this location was removed as it actually led to much worse driving. There was enough going on with people trying to get across three lanes quickly and safely, and doing 66 in a 60 to slot into a gap is far preferable than hitting the brakes when they see the van.

Your speedo is 10% off. If it said 90 you were doing 81

sirmixalot wrote: »

They are sitting in between the 2 zones. Why not before the 120 or after the 80? So there's no gray area...

What's an "in between zone"

I'm driving 34 years and have never heard of one.

tuxy wrote: »

Where are you getting the 10% figure from?
Any official sources?

I also drive a Skoda Octavia frequently where the reading shows 100 km/h and GPS shows 98km/h

Same here, and with Skoda too, The SatNav always shows a lower speed ( 3/4 Klms) than the dash. All cars, in their factory built configuration, are deliberately calibrated to show a few klms over their true speed, as shown on the dash. One reason for this is that if the reading was under showing the true speed, then the manufacturer would be liable for any claims, in the case of accidents etc. Its for the same reason that truck manufacturers deliberately under state the load capacity of the vehicle....If it's plated for say 15 ton, then realistically, it will take maybe 20 ton, before it twists or warps under the load. Again, this is to cover the manufacturers liability.

tuxy wrote: »

Exactly and that makes perfect sense but there is no 10%, it's different for every car and like I said changing wheel size will change the reading.

If the wheel / tyre size is changed the car's ecu should be reprogrammed to keep the indicated speed accurate, and slightly over the actual speed.

European law (ECE-R39) says speedometers cannot show speeds less than the actual speed, and they must never show more than the 110 per cent of actual speed plus 4 km/h. So, under those rules, a car could be moving at 100 km/h, but the speedometer could legally display as high as 114 km/h.

In pracice they're more accurate than that but would still indicate at least 4km/h over the actual speed.

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Absolute nonsense.
If you are unable to drive, then don't! As I mentioned, I cycle (and drive) along there and would prefer if incompetent drivers were not sharing the same roadspace as me!

I agree. However, can you foresee how placing a speed van right after a sign may contribute to negative reactions from motorist approaching that zone?

As a cyclist too, and a driver, I would much rather someone let off the throttle gently and coasted into the 80km/h zone still doing 90km/h and let the car reach the limit gradually, rather than hit the brakes on a busy motorway. Smooth predicaticable driving is far safer driving.

Depending on road surface, wind, gear selection, incline, etc. it's difficult to let the car slow by itself and be at 80 on the button as you pass the sign. Slowing to 80 before the sign will just mean you have tailgaters, and rigidly sticking to the limit is not necessarily good driving.

Have the Gard sit on an onramp and nail people taking the mick out of the limit 200m up the road. Everyone would be happy to see that.

Kevin Irving wrote: »

I would much rather someone let off the throttle gently and coasted into the 80km/h zone still doing 90km/h and let the car reach the limit gradually, rather than hit the brakes on a busy motorway. Smooth predicaticable driving is far safer driving.

Depending on road surface, wind, gear selection, incline, etc. it's difficult to let the car slow by itself and be at 80 on the button as you pass the sign. Slowing to 80 before the sign will just mean you have tailgaters, and rigidly sticking to the limit is not necessarily good driving.

That is quite bizarre. You seem to think there's nothing between coasting and throwing out an anchor. It's perfectly possible for your average driver to use the accelerator and brakes to control the speed of the car, reducing it in a controlled way from one speed limit to another.

When you see a speed limit sign, you drive at that speed from the point of the sign. How you accomplish that safely is up to you but it's quite black and white.