After many decades of appreciating this picturesque motorway , I received a letter congratulating me on the speed capabilities of my Skoda.
Can't really argue and I've accepted the speed awareness course get out of jail card.
But the speed of the documentation arriving was amazing- 5 days after my trip to bonnie Scotland.
Adopting the correct mindset to pass the course may be difficult after 42 years; any ideas?
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Didn't know there were speed cameras on the M6 in Cumbria.
Whereabouts?
And does everyone obediently do 70mph, or do the cameras trip at a higher speed?
Oh, and to answer your question, I understand most people find the course helpful.
So just turn up with an open mind and be prepared to go with the flow.
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go with the flow
But not too quickly - M6 in Cumbria was renowned for having camera vans on overbridges...
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Dare we ask how well the Skoda was performing ?
5 working days seems to be the turnaround these days.
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...M6 in Cumbria was renowned for having camera vans on overbridges...
Ah, so the OP was probably caught by one of those, rather than a fixed camera.
On the A1(M) in County Durham the Highways Agency Traffic Officers sometimes park their 4X4s on bridges.
Speeding drivers mistake them for a police camera vehicle and slam on the anchors.
Last edited by: Iffy on Sun 3 Oct 10 at 11:57
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An era passes eh GWS ? Preston to Hamilton used to be a bit of a hoot if you had something tasty to pilot. Oh well, never mind.
I had to go on one of these course about 4 years ago. I must say I was not looking forward to it but faced with points make prizes as the alternative, off I toddled.
Now, this may come as a surpirise to some but I actually enjoyed it. It was presented by a couple of very witty and highly knowledgable ex-driving instructors who were not at all in the blame or shame game. In fact they started off by clarifying their position in that all the attendees had been caught at just over the limit which was the reason they had been given the option of the course. More serious offenders are not given that choice.
They went on to make it clear that they knew very well that most drivers stray over limits at some point, some intentionally and some due to inattention and that being caught was mainly the luck of the draw.
The course did deal with the danger aspect but didn't labour it. It was much more about improving situational awareness. As a driver with more than 30 years and well over a million miles of experience I freely admit that I genuinely learned some useful stuff from these guys.
Oh and they gave us tea, biscuits and a keyring...
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Cumwhinton, travelling north. And it was a bright orange van. Round my way they are white. Thought I was doing about 77 but the invitation says 80.
Thanks Humph, sounds pretty positive and I'll try to enjoy.
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Invitation says 80, so speedo poss reading about 85ish??
I used to hammer down the road from Hamilton to, well until you hit serious traffic, as you could usually spot the police cars etc.
Then they did all the upgrades and there is one bit that is 3 lanes and you can see for nearly 2 miles, on a long bend. That is now the only bit I would do serious speed.
Now I mostly stick the cruise at my GPS speed of 75/76 and just leave it. Fast enough not to caught in any slow traffic, slow enough not to get caught, but enough that I don't need to scour the bridges and sliproads for vans.
Though I do check out any possible unmarked cars though thats just a habit.....
Full marks to GWS for not whinging about getting caught and pleading that it wasn't fair as the day had a "y" in it etc etc
I have been driving for 23 years, never had a point, and would like to think that when I do get points I accept them gracefully like this!
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Humph, That's pretty much the way my course was as well.
Knowt to be scared of at all. Just make sure you get there on time, as if you are late or miss it you will have to pay the course fee, and the fine AND get the points!!
Tea was ok, biscuits a named brand, I still have the keyring in a box somewhere...
... And I got a pen! long used up and chucked though!
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I saw two camera vans on bridges over the Cumbrian bit of the M6 last week. I was OK as I was on a legal (ish) cruise control setting. It is amusing watching the drivers who spot the van late and stand on the brakes long after the van has clocked them. Any course is easy, just play their game for a few hours.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sun 3 Oct 10 at 14:24
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I often do that journey at night now, no camera vans then, they're all safely tucked up in bed.
The Tomtom gives enough warning of the sites on the daylight journeys, but you're forever on and off the cruise and people driving around you don't know why you keep adjusting your speed. When the TT warning goes off, i've got 'er indoors trained to scan the map on the TT and tell me the likely site e.g. 'bridge around the corner' or 'not our side of the road'.
If you've got enough wits about you, it shouldn't be a problem (hope that's not famous last words, we're up there in a couple of weeks time).
I'm sure some builders like to stop to have their sarnies in the middle of the m/way bridges just to watch the rest of us slow down. Same with the laybys on fast 'A' roads. Gits.
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I've got a Road Angel which alerts me to fixed cameras and SPECS. Don't think their data base covers mobile cameras.
I normally use cruise control to maintain an indicated 80mph (77 according to Road Angel).
It's likely I was pulling out to overtake when I was copped.
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...I've accepted the speed awareness course get out of jail card...
GWS,
Before you do the course, it might be an idea to remove the phrase: "slow drivers wind me up no end" from your C4P profile.
Just in case you let slip your forum interest in the group discussion.
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I attended the speed awareness course today. I was the only person "done" on a motorway. The organiser said I was "unlucky" to have been summoned.
5 out of the 20 attendees were done by the same camera in Darley Dale. The camera had been installed in the yellow box after several years of emptiness.
What did I learn? Well that only a minority knew what the NSL,and dual carriageway limit was.Hence my frustration with slow drivers.
What very useful tip did I get? When stopping on a main road ,preparing to turn right, keep your wheels pointing straight ahead. Otherwise you may be tail ended into oncoming traffic.
The course was distinctly lacking in positive tips about better driving or how to keep your speed down and mainly reinforced the nasty consequences of speeding. I'd say it was a useful course for many people and better than getting points.
We were warned that things will get worse. Automatic cameras will monitor seat belt wearing, no road , no insurance , tailgating etc etc.
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>>?What did I learn? Well that only a minority knew what the NSL,
I never cease to be amazed at how few know this surely essential piece of information. I've sat in cars with people who when on a dual carriageway NSL, see a fixed camera, speed drops to 50. "Why did you do that, the limit's 70", say I. "Oh? How do you know..."
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..."Why did you do that, the limit's 70", say I. "Oh? How do you know..."...
I get mixed up with single and dual carriageways.
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>> I get mixed up with single and dual carriageways.
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Don't use the A9 then, that has killed many people who got mixed up, and their victims.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Mon 15 Nov 10 at 14:08
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>> >> I get mixed up with single and dual carriageways.
>> >>
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>> Don't use the A9 then, that has killed many people who got mixed up, and
>> their victims.
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The A9 claimed two more victims today, a head on near Dalwhinnie. Condolences to the families.
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There is of course the distinction between "dual carriageway" and "two lanes in the same direction"; they have different limits, which to be honest I didn't twig until recently.
I was working on the theory that if there were two lanes in my direction of travel I could drive in then that was a "dual carriageway" and the limit was 70, but of course that's not true.
More fool me, not that I ever go faster than 60 ish anyway.
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...More fool me, not that I ever go faster than 60 ish anyway...
Tends to be how I work as well.
I think it says in the Highway Code a dual carriageway must have a barrier, not just a central reservation.
A road which is two lanes in one direction and one lane in the other with no barrier does not qualify.
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>> I think it says in the Highway Code a dual carriageway must have a barrier,
>> not just a central reservation.
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I don't think so.
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>> I don't think so.
Indeed
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Here we are, straight from the Highway Code>>
Dual carriageways
A dual carriageway is a road which has a central reservation to separate the carriageways.
The A556 off Junction 18 of the M6 to Rudheath is the classic one which catches lorry drivers out. This is a four lane road with two lanes in each direction but no barrier at all.
Lorries are therefore limited to 40MPH as it's classed as a single carriageway.
There are two speed cameras along that stretch, one on either side and they are set to detect lorries from cars as well.
Pat
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Ref your point about NSL and dual carriageways, couldn't agree more - apparently Anglesey people have a fixation on 60mph being the proper limit on the A55 (a nicely made bit of DC) to the extent they will give you really dirty looks when you whizz past them.
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Yeah, but you can forgive them a dirty look when you whiz past at 85
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It was rather more than that..
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Thanks......it was a bit quicker than that - don't change anything though, the Anglesey cars are easy to spot as they mimse along a beautifully graded near deserted road...
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M6 Cumbrian Speed Cameras - Iffy
