Safe Speed Forums

I thought I would bring this up, since I seem to recall reading one of Pauls releases regarding Englands roads being the worst improver in Europe. Surprisingly Portugal an incredibly high improvement in safety, still a long way to go as it is still horrendously dangerous to drive there.

However this is a country that I live in for a portion of the year, and have to suffer the driving. They don't have automated revenue collecting cameras, what you will find, as you approach a particularly dangerous stretch of road, the speed limit will be reduced in stages (usually 70 then 50 Kph) With a huge sign with flashing yellow lights saying speed control ahead.

Now the beautiful part, if you exceed the 50 k limit, the traffic lights all go red against you. So simple, the danger from speeding drivers removed instantly, average speeds are reduced and the person who tripped the lights sits at the front of a queue of traffic (turning red with embarassment) with lots of angry people behind him.

One other point, on my last day in Portugal, on my 30 minute drive to the airport I saw 7 GNR cars (traffic police). I have been in England for 2 weeks and travel 130 miles a day and I have yet to see a traffic patrol.

aren't there any bored chavs in Portugal?

Does this traffic light system cut accidents or has there been a corresponding increase in rear-end smashes?

It would be interesting to see what effect this has on driver behaviour with regard to red traffic lights. If lights are introduced purley as a speed control measure and not becuase there is a junction ahead drivers may start losing respect for red lights and jumping them in dangerous locations. If there was a red light in the middle of nowhere not doing anything apart from controlling speed I can imagine many drivers would jump it.

Firstly yes, there are plenty of bored chavs in Portugal, but bless them they tend to chav up things like Renault 4's

I cannot by any means claim to be expert on this, and therefore I am only putting across my perception and opinion now.

I have never seen a rear end smash at one of these lights, the lights themselves are quite a way from the speed sensor so the process is quite sedate, doesn't promote panic braking.

Some of these lights are placed with no corresponding junction, however to jump one would be a really bad idea. The penalty is extremely harsh, and if caught you will be fined on the spot (involves the policeman driving you to a cashpoint to pay there and then!)

Again, only what I have seen, I have never seen anyone jump one of these lights. Logic dictates that it must happen though.

As far as I am aware accidents do reduce after the installation of these devices, I will have to search for figures on this, I am not sure if the DGV make them public, but will endeavour to find out.

Come on - someone with photshop expertise could do something really funny with this!

I came across these radar controlled lights in Spain about 8 - 10 years ago.

They work really well, there is no point speeding as if you do you will be forced to stop. The first time I came across them I really didnt believe that was what they were for and merrily drove towards them over the limit. So I had to stop. The next time I saw them I didnt react in time and so I had to stop. After thay I obeyed the limit through all the towns I drove through.

So if you really want people to obey the limit it seem that this radar/light system really works.

Only one problem, it doesnt raise any money.

So we have a simple choice, force people to obey the speed limit or fine them for exceeding it.

Its a no brainer isnt it.

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Nick

Sounds like a brilliant idea. And if you run the light, then you get a fine.

The only thing that might be a problem is abuse of the system with unreasonably low trip speeds, like 15 mph or something. But it would still be so much fairer than the current cameras.

When I was based in Gutersloh in Germany, the main drag, a dual carriageway, had a speed limit of 70Kph, but also had a sign saying, Grun Welle Bei 60Kph. (Green way 60Kph).
Which meant, if you hit the first lights on green at 60Kph, you would in theory be able to travel the whole length of the D/C at 60Kph without having to stop, and most of the time, it worked tremendously well, it kept the traffic moving, thereby keeping the pollution down by the fact thet no-one was sat there idling their engine.
Also, about a 100 metres before the lights, there was a single light that started flashing if you would not make the traffic lights on green travelling at 70Kph, this also worked well most of the time, and you didn't find many drivers putting their toe down either.

At level crossings there was a sign telling you to switch your engine off if after 30 seconds the gates hadn't opened, this was usually found in built-up areas, to reduce noise as well as pollution.
Even in a truck, if I think I am likely to be kept waiting, I will switch the engine off, particularly in built-up areas

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Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.

So it seems that many countries that genuinely have a need to reduce speeds in certain areas come up with simple low cost solutions that actually work.

I have to concur with an earlier comment, there is no chance of a system like this in the UK, no automatic revenue and the traffic police would have to be reinstated, that would never do!!!

As a slight drift from topic, when driving in Portugal even though it is a well established fact that the roads are dangerous, I find the experience much more enjoyable than in the UK, where I find myself transfixed on my speedo terrified of allowing my car to coast even marginally over the ludicrously low limits.

I am sure that Portugal's MEP chaired the European Trasnport Committee and was the main instigator of speed cams across EU and harmonising of recriprocal points and fines within the EU?

Cannot recall her name - but seem to recall reading about her plans a couple of years ago. Current emcumbant (Latvian - another with home grown dire road safety problems to address before criticising safer and more responsible countries) is also mithering about this. Plus satellite controls!

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Take with a chuckle or a grain of salt
Drive without COAST and it's all your own fault!

A SMILE is a curve that sets everything straight (P Diller).

A Smiley Per post
FINES USfor our COAST!

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon - but driving with a smile and a COAST calm mind.

Now I can't believe a politician would do something like that!!!

Make every country except her own install useless cams, whilst insuring that a system that really worked remained in her own country!!

As promised in a PM I am resurrecting this thread. I have braved the pouring rain today to go and get these photo's of these speed control installations.

I took these with my phone, so the quality is not great, so I have put explanations in:

I have come across these in Portugal too. They have a slight downside though, occasionally you approach them at a steady 50Kph then the guy behind will suddenly overtake triggering the lights, they time the pass so they can get through on amber but you have to stop.

Otherwise I think they are not a bad way of slowing drivers down, don't damage the car like humps, don't increase the danger like chicanes and don't increase fuel consumption (assuming they are not triggered) like both the former. The problem is if we had them here they would just be abused by both the councils and the chavs.

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Driving fast is for a particular time and place, I can do it I just only do it occasionally because I am a gentleman.
- James May

No need. Here's a real one..

http://www.barryboys.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=10577