HGV/Coach Speeds

[Johnuk123]

Eastern European lorries usually don't have speed limiters as they have little or no enforcement procedure.

Like most European laws we always obey without question and the rest simply do exactly what benefits them most.

You hardly need any proof, when you're on the motorway and a lorry passes you at 65-70 mph it will always be from Hungary/Romania/Greece etc.

 

[Butts]

Eastern European lorries usually don't have speed limiters as they have little or no enforcement procedure.

Like most European laws we always obey without question and the rest simply do exactly what benefits them most.

You hardly need any proof, when you're on the motorway and a lorry passes you at 65-70 mph it will always be from Hungary/Romania/Greece etc.

Yikes, one would hope they have some form of MOT Tests

 

[starrymarkb]

I used to work in a truck dealership and occasionally we'd get a customer wanting the limiter "re-calibrated" (not so much on the trucks, but certainly heavy vans and 9 seat taxi drivers would ask) and as a franchised dealer we'd refuse. Wouldn't be surprised if some back alley workshop would oblige them though.

I was also told that on the Mercedes SK (the older truck before the Actros) the limiter was disabled by pulling a certain fuse which was accessible from the driver's seat!

 

[Zoidberg]

I'm going to cross post a quote from another forum, from a copper, about this very subject only a matter of days ago:

These aren't hard and fast rules and the Safety Scamera Partnerships don't have to rigidly stick by them.

...

An interesting post. Thank you.

I tend to refer to the devices as Revenue Cameras.

 

[90019]

I was also told that on the Mercedes SK (the older truck before the Actros) the limiter was disabled by pulling a certain fuse which was accessible from the driver's seat!

That works on other trucks as well (though not always accessible from the driver's seat), but I think it puts a mark on the tacho if pulled out.
I believe it also disables the speedo on some, which will take a bit of explaining if you get stopped and the tacho is checked.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

An interesting post. Thank you.

I tend to refer to the devices as Revenue Cameras.

I prefer Piggy Banks.

 

[Zoidberg]

...

I prefer Piggy Banks.

Well, they fill someone's piggy bank

I'll be in Auld Reekie later in the week and over the coming weekend - if I get on your bus I'll say "hi" - from your profile pic you should be instantly recognisable.

 

[90019]

I'll be in Auld Reekie later in the week and over the coming weekend - if I get on your bus I'll say "hi" - from your profile pic you should be instantly recognisable.

Well, I'm not quite that distinctive in person.

Also, this weekend is my long weekend, so I'm off tuesday to thursday.

 

[Zoidberg]

Well, I'm not quite that distinctive in person.

Also, this weekend is my long weekend, so I'm off tuesday to thursday.

Oh, what a disappointment - and a long weekend? What's that fur

Hope you've a good 'un.

 

[Ploughman]

An interesting post. Thank you.

I tend to refer to the devices as Revenue Cameras.

Talking of revenue.
If you opt for a Speed awareness course if you get caught speeding.
It will cost you about £96
Around here there are 3 locations were the courses are run.
They run 3 sessions a day 5 days a week with about 25 people per session

That is an awful lot of revenue.

 

[Butts]

Talking of revenue.
If you opt for a Speed awareness course if you get caught speeding.
It will cost you about £96
Around here there are 3 locations were the courses are run.
They run 3 sessions a day 5 days a week with about 25 people per session

That is an awful lot of revenue.

Are they private institutions or state run ?

 

[Ploughman]

Around here the AA have the contract with the local police force or whoever manages the scheme.

This goes on nationally so there will be similar schemes all over the country.

 

[Zoidberg]

Are they private institutions or state run ?

Hereabouts, it's a private company. But I do not know what contractual arrangements it has with the Safety Scamera Partnership.

 

[fowler9]

All this talk about revenue and a scam as though breaking the speed limit is something that is pretty much unavoidable. Ha ha.

 

[Donny Dave]

All this talk about revenue and a scam as though breaking the speed limit is something that is pretty much unavoidable. Ha ha.

Considering how a fair proportion of cameras are located, then yes, it is a scam. For example. Here in North Lincolnshire, there are no fixed camera locations. However, the mobile unites are often out an about, including on the M180 (both directions between the M181 and A161), and at the bottom of Ferry Road Hill.

Bradford is just as bad as well in places, as there is (or used to be several years ago) 3 cameras on the A6177 westbound (the North and West ring road). Trouble is, westbound, it's descending for quite a while. Strangely enough, there were no cameras there to catch speeders heading east ....

 

[notadriver]

Modern sat navs have a database for almost every speed limit on every uk road. That combined to a speed limiter would put an end to speeding. Intelligent speed adaptation they call it.

 

[455driver]

Talking of revenue.
If you opt for a Speed awareness course if you get caught speeding.
It will cost you about £96
Around here there are 3 locations were the courses are run.
They run 3 sessions a day 5 days a week with about 25 people per session

That is an awful lot of revenue.

Done one of those a number of years ago, of the 20 people on our course 15 had been caught by the same average speed cameras (on the A316), coincidence or what.
Oh when I got caught (at 0415 on a Saturday morning) I still had 20 minutes to get to work and the cameras are 3 miles away from work, you do the maths.

There was one bloke there who was waiting a court date as he had documented proof (via the on board computer which had been downloaded) that his Mercedes was doing 38mph when he got done, the person taking the course wasnt very impressed with him!

 

[Bob Ames]

All this talk about revenue and a scam as though breaking the speed limit is something that is pretty much unavoidable. Ha ha.

Indeed, it never ceases to amaze me how many people hate speed cameras - I guess they think having speed restrictions is a violation of their human rights! In 20 years of driving, I've only ever once broken a speed limit (last year I did 107 mph on the M6 for 40 seconds in a BMW 320d rental, just to feel what it was like to be a BMW driver) and felt somewhat guilty afterwards.

 

[Zoidberg]

Deleted

 

[90019]

Considering how a fair proportion of cameras are located, then yes, it is a scam. For example. Here in North Lincolnshire, there are no fixed camera locations. However, the mobile unites are often out an about, including on the M180 (both directions between the M181 and A161), and at the bottom of Ferry Road Hill.

Bradford is just as bad as well in places, as there is (or used to be several years ago) 3 cameras on the A6177 westbound (the North and West ring road). Trouble is, westbound, it's descending for quite a while. Strangely enough, there were no cameras there to catch speeders heading east ....

The mobile units in Edinburgh have found a new hiding place, just before a corner by a bus terminus, so that when there's a bus sitting there, you can't see them until they've done you.

Oh, what a disappointment - and a long weekend? What's that fur

Hope you've a good 'un.

I only work four days a week, and get a long weekend of six days every few weeks.
The trade off is working 12 hour shifts with unpaid breaks.

Though, as I'm swapping to get backshifts next week, it's now only thursday to sunday.

 

[Zoidberg]

The mobile units in Edinburgh have found a new hiding place, just before a corner by a bus terminus, so that when there's a bus sitting there, you can't see them until they've done you.

.

Oh. Where's that?

 

[notadriver]

Indeed, it never ceases to amaze me how many people hate speed cameras - I guess they think having speed restrictions is a violation of their human rights! In 20 years of driving, I've only ever once broken a speed limit (last year I did 107 mph on the M6 for 40 seconds in a BMW 320d rental, just to feel what it was like to be a BMW driver) and felt somewhat guilty afterwards.

Drive the vehicle in your avatar and you can do those sorts of speeds all day legally

 

[Johnuk123]

The mobile units in Edinburgh have found a new hiding place, just before a corner by a bus terminus, so that when there's a bus sitting there, you can't see them until they've done you.

Unless the operator is having a cup of tea you're right - when you see them it's too late.

The most common type of mobile camera has a 1km detection range and a less than 0.3 secs time of recording.
They don't have to get your numberplate at that distance just your speed, they keep focus on you and get the number when you're closer.

So when you're coming over the brow of a hill and see the van at a distance if you slam the brakes on it will probably be too late.

 

[90019]

Oh. Where's that?

West Granton Road, just past the terminus of the 8.

Unless the operator is having a cup of tea you're right - when you see them it's too late.

The most common type of mobile camera has a 1km detection range and a less than 0.3 secs time of recording.
They don't have to get your numberplate at that distance just your speed, they keep focus on you and get the number when you're closer.

So when you're coming over the brow of a hill and see the van at a distance if you slam the brakes on it will probably be too late.

That would explain why they like to sit in this layby, to catch people coming down the hill towards the Cramond Brig.

 

[Zoidberg]

West Granton Road, just past the terminus of the 8.

...

Thanks - a bit sneaky, indeed.

 

[fowler9]

Ha ha, come on folks, how is it sneaky, they can't do you for anything if you don't break the speed limit.

 

[90019]

Ha ha, come on folks, how is it sneaky, they can't do you for anything if you don't break the speed limit.

Because they like to hide themselves at the bottom of hills where it can be easy for some to drift over the limit without realising.

It's interesting, only once have I ever seen them anywhere I'd consider to be vaguely useful and likely to improve road safety.


If they genuinely are interested in slowing people down, why do they always try and hide so you can't see them until they've done you?
That smacks of trying to catch as many people as possible and make the most money they can, rather than trying to make anyone slow down.

 

[455driver]

These operations are all about road safety and nothing whatsoever about maximising revenue!



I even managed to keep a straight face when I typed that!

 

[fowler9]

Because they like to hide themselves at the bottom of hills where it can be easy for some to drift over the limit without realising.

It's interesting, only once have I ever seen them anywhere I'd consider to be vaguely useful and likely to improve road safety.


If they genuinely are interested in slowing people down, why do they always try and hide so you can't see them until they've done you?
That smacks of trying to catch as many people as possible and make the most money they can, rather than trying to make anyone slow down.

Looking at my mates it always seems to be the same ones who can't help drifting over the speed limit. If like my other mates they tried to avoid drifting over the speed limit it wouldn't matter where the police hide trying to catch them out.

 

[GatwickDepress]

If they genuinely are interested in slowing people down, why do they always try and hide so you can't see them until they've done you?

Because if you can see them, most people would just slow down and then speed up when out of sight! As lots of people do with static cameras...like my uncle.

But I do agree that it's all revenue enhancing rather than safety. One place I have seen mobile speed cameras in a location where safety is important (read: watched motorbike being smashed into by an inattentive speeder) is here.

 

[Class2ldn]

As said previously 56 for a truck and 62 for a coach. U cant stop gravity though. If downhill the vehicle will still go over the speed its restricted to, its just the accelerator drops to the floor and u cant accelerate anynore but u can still get over the limit.
Legally a truck isnt allowed over 60 anyway but its certainly possible if downhill not that I would know lol. Single carriageway in a truck is 40 , 50 for a coach and then +10 for a dual carriageway for both respectively. You will find though alot of irish registered trucks have the limiter slightly higher for some reason, make your own minds up for the reasons why lol