Speeding motorists on the variable limit section of the M4 in Newport will soon face prosecution if caught.
The variable speed limit system, which operates between junctions 24 (Coldra) and 28 (Tredegar Park), was installed in 2011, but no-one has yet been prosecuted for flouting the limits.
This will change however in a fortnight’s time on October 10 with motorists caught speeding being prosecuted. In the meantime, advisory notes will be issued to those caught on camera.
Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates said: “Since its launch the scheme has helped improve traffic flow and reduce the number of collisions along this stretch, with the majority of drivers adhering to the limits in place.
“However, a minority of drivers continue to flout the displayed limits and act as if the restrictions do not apply to them.”
GoSafe, Wales’ Road Casualty Reduction Partnership, has responsibility for enforcing the variable speed limit.
Chris Hume, GoSafe Partnership Manager, said: “Where we have to, we will deal with those drivers formally through the prosecution process, but we are trying to ensure that anyone who may have become complacent over the variable limits clearly understands the risk they will be taking and the legal consequences.”
No Ken it hasn’t improved traffic flow and it hasn’t reduced the number of idiots who can’t drive in a straight line without hitting something. I would really like Mr Skates to explain to me why at 2 O’clock in the morning when I am the only vehicle on this stretch of motorway the speed limit is reduced to 40mph, each and every time I have used this M4 section in the early hours of the morning the speed is reduced to either 50mph or 40mph – why? I would really like to know. I would also like to meet the utter fool who operates this variable speed limit, does this person actually drive a car, are they incompetent or simply having a good laugh at our expense, it isn’t used correctly, effectively or with any reason, it is random and hopeless. It will of course be used for one reason, and one reason only, to raise money by catching as many motorists as possible breaking their reduced and ridiculous speed limits, so look forward to even more 40mph reductions, probably even less, perhaps we’ll see the jokers lower it to 20mph to increase their hit rate, I dare say collisions will increase as motorists slam on their brakes to reduce their speed from 70 to 20. This system works on the M25 and M42 as it is used correctly – it does not work on the M4 through Newport.
I agree with the points you raise, the way this system operates does nothing to improve road safety. A complete and utter white elephant.
It would be more effective to close either junction 26, 25A or 25 or maybe close all 3 as the congestion is caused by too many junctions in too short a distance and too many idiot drivers driving down the inside lane at junctions 25A and 25 knowing very well they need to get over but will wait until they are right on the exit before doing so forcing traffic to slow down or even stop dead to let them in, and the situation is made worse by drivers who do not leave a sufficient gap to the vehicle in front and do not allow traffic to flow freely onto the motorway at junctions.
Yes, too many junctions right at the point where a 6 lane motorway becomes a 4 lane at Brynglas tunnels.
I too have often wondered why there’s the need to try to slow me down to 50mph at 2am on an empty motorway. I’m glad I’m not the only one wondering.
Of course there’s only one camera westbound and it’s not sited to help congestion…
This may be a way of causing congestion and a tailback of traffic at certain times so that it adds to the data being collated to to justify aspects of supporting one route or other of the new Newport by pass.