'Managed' Motorways

**royleblue** · 11-08-2013,07:19 PM

Just came across the M62 this afternoon (Sunday). Traffic flowing freely at 70ish until we hit the 'managed' section which was set at 50. Suddenly all the traffic was bunched up, the outer lanes both doing about 50 (the inside lane empty as usual). Can someone explain how this is supposed to keep the traffic flowing? The cars end up too close to the car in front. You can't move to the lane on the left because there is no space!

Also noticed that the indicators don't work on police BMWs either

**Guest 2** · 11-08-2013,07:23 PM

I noticed this down the M6 yesterday except noone seemed to heed to it! I was the only poor sod who stuck to the 50mph and everyone else flew past.

A lot of cars yesterday and today must have an optional extra called indicators which obviously weren't specced when new.

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**HAWKS** · 11-08-2013,08:45 PM

Best to stick to what speed limits are showing.most of them are fitted with speed cameras.those on M62 just past bradford towards leeds do keep traffic moving during peak times.traffic flow is miles better now they are fitted.people slow down to limit set,then speed up between gantries an slam on when they reach the next one.sit in the inside lane with the wagons.they keep a steady speed through them all.no stop start caused by the idiots thinking they can get home quicker by going faster an then slowing right down all the time.
How was your M6 experience Chris.?

**Guest 2** · 13-08-2013,05:52 PM

Going South was okay, nothing major that I haven't seen before.

Price of derv is astonishing in Services, I stopped in Stafford and was charged 151.9p a litre.

Went via the Toll, basically empty at rush hour which I find odd. Still the usual idiots who fly past at 10,000mph then catch up with them at the next standstill. I must've been lucky however as there was only one traffic jam for about 10 minutes around Lancaster and was clear all the way down, even past troublesome Birmingham and Stoke where I had been warned of accidents before.

Cruise control is a godsend and managed 90% of the journey with it on down to planning and seeing what was on front. Managed to average 70.9mpg all the way down which was epic. Still have a smidgen over half a tank left after going Cairnryan-London then London-Northampton-London.

Will see what Friday is like at rush hour in the morning, could be interesting so will leave plenty of time.

**wicked677** · 17-08-2013,04:34 PM

Hate managed motorways, think it's either the m5 or m6... traffic flowing lovely, they put up 50 and then everyone hits the brakes and causes a jam... think they make the roads more dangerous. Wouldn't risk going above the limit either, there are lots of cameras on the gantrys. Think that's definitely part of the reason why they switch them on, it's a money spinner. I was on the road late at night, hardly anything there. Yet they reduced the limit for no reason.

**aldfort** · 18-08-2013,09:12 AM

We have this system on the M4 around Newport in S Wales. It was sold to the Welsh Assembly as an alternative to building a new road and the "cure" for congestion. Having spunked away millions on it the road is no better at rush hour and still horribly congested. The signs advising the speed limit change randomly to anything from 60 to 40 (I have seen 20 on one occasion). Of course now Westminster has stepped in and more or less told the Assembly to get on with the relief road they should have built in the first place.

**Doctle Odd** · 18-08-2013,10:05 AM

We have a similar system in Ireland public/private initiatives or PPI's.Here's how it works. The taxpayer pays almost all the cost of building the road and the private company manages the road ie collects tolls and cuts the grass at the sides. If the road isn't used enough the taxpayer tops up the private company's "deficit". There's sections of dual carriageway with 60 kph (38 mph) speed limits, a cash cow for the government. Neat or what?