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At last! Yellow vultures are taken down from M-way



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Published Date:
11 August 2008
THE 'yellow vultures' that have been hovering over one of the area's main roads for months have finally flown away.
The speed cameras – which have picked up the nickname because of their colour – have been catching speeders on the M27 while work takes place to widen the road.
But the cameras, which measure a vehicle's average speed over a set distance, have now been removed from between junction 11 at Fareham and junction 12 at Portsmouth.
Four of the five cameras were removed on Sunday, and the last one, on a sliproad at junction 11, was removed yesterday. The cameras were put up in January.
But the Safety Roads Partnership won't say how many speeding tickets have been issued while the work on adding extra climbing lanes took place.
Julian Hewitt, of the Safer Roads Partnership, said: 'We are cautious about issuing site-specific data whilst the roadworks are ongoing because motorists may make inferences about the likelihood of being detected speeding.
'For camera enforcement to be truly effective there must be the perception that the chances of being recorded are high at all sites.
'We would normally be happy to publish figures after the roadworks were finished. However, in the case of the road works on the M27 at Junction 11 and Junction 12 this is complicated because there are still roadworks and average speed cameras in place at junction three and junction five.
This means that issuing figures for junction 11 and 12 would reveal the figures for the ongoing road works at junction five and junction three.'
Markings for three regular width lanes have been put down but the speed limit of 50mph has not yet been removed.
Highways Agency spokesman Roger Jones said: 'This is good news for motorists, and we are ahead of plan.
'It has been about trying to manage the traffic flow. We don't desire to delay people more than we have to.'
The climbing lanes are expected to be opened in September, but a date has not yet been fixed. Work had originally been expected to last until October.

The full article contains 359 words and appears in The News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 12 August 2008 10:06 AM
  • Source: The News
  • Location: Portsmouth
 
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Graham Wheatley,

12/08/2008 10:08:30
Julian Hewitt's comments are absolute tosh!

On that basis, the 'Safety' Camera Partnership could get away without EVER releasing figures because there would always be 'works' going on SOMEWHERE.

His contention that releasing information about the number of people caught 'speeding' would influence other drivers to chance it, is equally absurd. If anything it would confirm to us all that drivers were abiding by the limits.

For anyone to argue differently they would have to know a) the number of vehicles passing a particular point, b) the number of vehicles actually exceeding the posted limit as well as c) the number vehicles snapped and ticketed.

If the number of tickets issued is high, then presumably the inference is that there is a high chance of a driver being caught? If the number of tickets is low, then presumably his stance ought to be that drivers are abiding by the limit.

If the number of tickets is zero..... well, then.... maybe someone forgot to plug them in? Perhaps that is what Mr. Hewitt is loathe to reveal?

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adrian gunner,

southsea 12/08/2008 10:11:55
as a regular commuter from southsea to fareham I honestly found the 50 mph restriction actually got me to work quicker, there were no hold ups and as far as I can remember no accidents,now the 70mph we are back to stop start brake lights being slammed on as people change lanes vying for position ,it stikes me we could have saved millions of pounds and kept the 50 mph restriction at least during rush hour ,the benefits would have been saving lives,fuel and time and the horrendous cost to tax payers.
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Pompey_BD,

Middle lane. 12/08/2008 10:15:57
I heard, but don't know how true it is, that if you pass one the first vulture in one lane and the second in a different lane, or if changing lanes when passing, that they cannot use the evidence to convict you of speeding.

Drive safely. Check your mirrors before making any manouevre.

BD
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horses4courses,

12/08/2008 12:04:00
Totally agree with Adrian Gunner. That's one of the reasons why variable speed limits on the M25 are so effective in improving traffic flow & reducing congestion.

I drove along the M27 from Ports to S'oton at a busy time a few weeks ago. Through the roadworks, the traffic flow was fine with most people keeping to 50mph & very few lane changes. Get past Jct 11 & it was mayhem. People accelerating then having to brake & inconsiderate lane changes.

As far as road works on a motorway are concerned, enforcing the 50mph limit is important. With recent M27 works, narrow lanes, an unforgiving concrete barrier on the right & workmen on the left, the last thing you need is people tearing along at 70mph+, when others observing the speed limit are doing 50mph. That sort of behaviour is asking for an accident to happen.
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