M1 - so called smart motorway

[sunshineandcake]

Hello,

I would welcome your views on the so called smart motorway known as the M1. I have this evening received a second notice of intended prosecution. Apparently I was doing 68 when the limit was 60.

Last year I received my first 3 points for doing 54 on the M1 again when apparently the limits was 40.

I am going through menopause and have fog brain. With the wretched speed changing so frequently, I can’t keep up with it. Is it just me? Or is anyone else experiencing this?

I am in my 50’s and a careful driver. I feel upset and angry at this fraudulently money making scheme as I see it. My car insurance will go up again with more penalty points.

I see maniacs on the M1 who know where the cameras are and get away with dangerous driving. Why not clamp down on them?

I would welcome your views/experiences of the M1.

You have to keep,up with the speed changing, that’s all there is to it.

I have also been caught twice for speeding, in a short space of time on the same camera. I know exactly how/why it happened and I’m upset and cross at myself for making this mistake. Twice. I’m ashamed to be honest. I’ve also been driving for thirty years without incident.

What I haven’t done is blame the road or the changing speed limit. I know it’s my fault. I haven’t tried to justify it.

I don’t think you should be driving any more as you have said you can’t manage the varying speed limits.

also if you can't see the changing speed limits that means you are likely not to see the massive X when a lane is closed due to a accident or broken down car! stay off the roads

Menopause brian fog isn’t an excuse for speeding, and you know that because you also say you’re a competent driver. The M1 is a pain in the midlands. Just drive at the appropriate speed and assume all the dicks speeding have ghost plates. Yes, you’ve been caught, it’s frustrating and now you’ll drive more cautiously.

Please don't blame the road for the deterioration in your driving skills!

The speed limits don’t change that much. Are you overtaking everyone when you drive?! That should be a sign.

Just keep an eye on the gantries.

If you use satnav, that has a speed limit indicator too.

This

Keep going the way you are and a decision to the contrary will be made for you and you’ll be off the road.

Everything you’ve written points to the fact you aren’t a capable driver.

I’ve driven the road you are talking about a lot and there is no issue with it.

The M1 is long road and I have driven on parts of it, my experience was no different to any other motorways I've driven on

Which bit are you having trouble with? Is there a section where the signs are different to other sections?

OP I know what you mean. I don't drive it often but the last few times, driving near Luton, the speed limit changed at nearly every gantry. I've never seen anything like it before. I also thought I could easily have been caught out and nearly was. I am also a very careful driver (had a black box for many years so I'm very "speed aware").

Tell us you don’t understand smart motorways without telling us you don’t understand smart motorways

Eh? I'm asking why the OP is struggling with reading the speed limit signs as every bit IIve driven on the signs are quite obvious

But obviously I don't know every single mile and maybe theres somewhere they don't work properly

But worry not I'm perfectly aware of what a smart motorway is

The frequent changes in speed limits in a short distance happen on a `regular basis on the M60 near the Trafford Centre, 40 50 40 60 70 etc, you would have thought a constant 40 or 50 would have better to keep traffic moving consistently, rather then the caterpillar effect.

It is easy to keep to the limit as the signs are on the gantry BUT it makes driving such a chore. Usually I just set cruise control to 70 but with the constant changes I spend so much time fearing it’s changing and keeping an eye on that it’s annoying

I've driven the whole length of the M1 and there's no bit of it that is difficult to follow the speed limit.

I'm no fan of smart motorways. I think they're dangerous, actually. But following the limit on the huge whacking great gantries shouldn't be an issue for a competent driver.

I drive along a very long stretch of the M1 frequently and that is just how it is.
On a smart motorway the speed limits are variable to maintain traffic flow, so you have to look at the signs on the overhead gantries to check what the speed limit is at any given point. It’s as simple as that I am afraid. Sorry to sound unsympathetic, but having brain fog isn’t a viable argument.

Just get in the left hand lane behind someone doing the right speed and stay there.

That is what I always do if I see my speed creeping up slowly

You are clearly neither competent nor able if you can't manage to remember or keep to the speed limit.

I drive on motorways a lot, including the M1, and my menopausal brain must be less clouded than yours because I am able to understand and obey the speed limit.

The first time I came across variable speed limits was many years ago on the M25 near Heathrow. I remember thinking at the time what a good idea it was.

In reality I find my drive past Wakefield is much slower than the speed limit because it is so congested. Since the mass exodus back to the office traffic congestion has escalated. I'm glad I'm not trying to get to Leeds as it becomes much worse after the M62.

Could it be very early onset dementia?

All the brain fog "crap". Thus speaks someone who has never experienced it.

Comments like these are what are turning Mumsnet into an unpleasant place. Well done.

You need to see your GP if your "brain fog" is this bad. Thousands of menopausal women drive on the M1 without issue, myself included. And you know they do also go after the people speeding faster than you? What makes you think they are not also getting the speeding tickets they deserve?

If brain fog is a real thing, surely to goodness it precludes driving on motorways??

I agree. It's common sense. DH has age related memory loss and no longer drives at all.

@BlueSkyBeing I was fortunate enough not to suffer from brain fog, but a good friend of mine really struggled and I know it is worse for some women, which is why I suggested the OP see her GP (to which she responded with a laughing emoji).

If you cannot follow speed limits you really should not be driving.