Confusing Motorway Signs

[Jay]

I was on the motorway and the illuminated signs said 60 (Slow Traffic Ahead) there was none, the next sign said 40 (Queue Ahead) there was none, The next sign was off, then it was back to 60 (Slow Traffic Ahead) and then 40 (Queue Ahead).

If the sign is off can carry on at the national speed limit or should I wait until it says end?

Also I have noticed a sign saying End and then though "Bloody hell has there been a reduced speed limit applied and I haven't noticed?"

The next day I have looked out for it and it was just a single sign saying "end" for no reason at all.

Its really quite annoying.

[kalniel]

If they're just speeds then they're only recommendations so you don't *have* to slow down (but would be advised to). But I agree it's annoying when they don't have a clear end - I'll give it two signs worth to allow for electrical problems at one set, then assume they're ended.

[PetrolHead]

Yeah it's madness..

Especially the ''Slow Traffic Ahead'' as muggings here always slows down, everybody else blasts past, and then 5 minutes later not a sniff of traffic Rather annoying when they just can't be bothered removing the message. Soon enough I will ignore the message and get stuck in a Jam lol.

[Jay]

By slowing down you start to become a danger on the road as well. Its a pain. I didn't know they where advised speeds though.

[kalniel]

By slowing down you start to become a danger on the road as well. Its a pain. I didn't know they where advised speeds though.

If it's just the speed then they are advised maximum speeds - but if they've got a red ring around them then it's a speed limit and have to be obeyed.

[PetrolHead]

By slowing down you start to become a danger on the road as well. Its a pain. I didn't know they where advised speeds though.

Yeah I always pull into the outside lane, it's just not safe when somone sits in the middle lane doing 60 and people are constantly flying past at 90.

Another thing I hate is when a truck attempts to overtake another truck on a 3 lane motorway, it takes them far to long forcing everybody to slow down it's just dangerous..

Have we got a rant section btw?

[Jay]

Another thing I hate is when a truck attempts to overtake another truck on a 3 lane motorway, it takes them far to long forcing everybody to slow down it's just dangerous..

YES! 1 lorry is going 0.000001mph faster than the other and then starts a 1000 mile overtake.

That was going to be my next rant as well... bloody annoying and causes a moving road block and backs the traffic up.

[GheeTsar]

If they're just speeds then they're only recommendations so you don't *have* to slow down (but would be advised to). But I agree it's annoying when they don't have a clear end - I'll give it two signs worth to allow for electrical problems at one set, then assume they're ended.

Unless you are on the M25 Variable Speed Limit section, where you are well advised to follow the speed stated.

I remember returning home in the very early hours on the motorway when the sign said, "slow, queue ahead". As it was 3am I ignored it, assuming some dopey Highways Agency person hadn't cleared an earlier warning, but no - there was indeed a huge tailback. Getting stuck in traffic jam at 3am is really annoying.

[finlay666]

Unless you are on the M25 Variable Speed Limit section, where you are well advised to follow the speed stated.

I remember returning home in the very early hours on the motorway when the sign said, "slow, queue ahead". As it was 3am I ignored it, assuming some dopey Highways Agency person hadn't cleared an earlier warning, but no - there was indeed a huge tailback. Getting stuck in traffic jam at 3am is really annoying.

Or the one on the M42 (possibly M6 also)

[PetrolHead]

YES! 1 lorry is going 0.000001mph faster than the other and then starts a 1000 mile overtake.

That was going to be my next rant as well... bloody annoying and causes a moving road block and backs the traffic up.

Oh no i'm having flashbacks arrrgh!!!!!1

[Barakka]

Do you know you can view them live on the Highways Agency website.. ?

If you go to the Traffic England website you and select Traffic Map you can zoom in and see info on a specific area/road and one of the options you can select on the right is to view the Roadside Message Signs.

Quite a good site, it's where Google get the Traffic Info from.

My favourite Message boards were always the ones on the M8 between Glasgow and Edinburgh, saying things like "Be a Courteous Driver"

[Jay]

I was once driving in really bad rain and could see the glow of the sign in the distance as it came closer I straigned to see what it said through the dark haze of the rain

"Danger Heavy Rain"

[jimbo90210us]

Unless you are on the M25 Variable Speed Limit section, where you are well advised to follow the speed stated.

I remember returning home in the very early hours on the motorway when the sign said, "slow, queue ahead". As it was 3am I ignored it, assuming some dopey Highways Agency person hadn't cleared an earlier warning, but no - there was indeed a huge tailback. Getting stuck in traffic jam at 3am is really annoying.

I've not had that experience luckily, in fact the opposite. Travelling along the M42 at about 4:30 in the morning I saw lots of slow down congestion signs and speed limits. Absolutely nothing else on the road. I think that the signs were either left up from the traffic jam the night before or getting ready for the morning traffic jam.
Either way when things like this get left up it slowly erodes your willingness to comply with said signage. Possibly leading to a real bit of brown trouser time when the limits are applied for a reason.

[Gerrard]

If it's just the speed then they are advised maximum speeds - but if they've got a red ring around them then it's a speed limit and have to be obeyed.

My mate and I were discussing this on the way back from Southampton yesterday, and I came to the same conclusion. I think putting up the advisory speed limit because there's a queue actually creates them in the first place it seems! I know the ones on the M42 have circles around them and are probably backed up by speed cameras.

Most annoying one was going down the A1(M) at some silly hour in the morning, and there were roadworks and I had to slow down to 40mph. There was 2-3 miles with 3/4 lanes closed. The most annoying thing was there wasn't a single person around at the time and no sign of any work being done on the road!

[badass]

Yeah I always pull into the outside lane, it's just not safe when somone sits in the middle lane doing 60 and people are constantly flying past at 90.

Another thing I hate is when a truck attempts to overtake another truck on a 3 lane motorway, it takes them far to long forcing everybody to slow down it's just dangerous..

Have we got a rant section btw?

That's illegal. Trucks are not allowed on the 3rd lane of a 3 lane motorway.

[kalniel]

That's illegal. Trucks are not allowed on the 3rd lane of a 3 lane motorway.

But they are allowed to overtake on a 3 lane motorway, which is all he said