Jl-c wrote: Sun Sep 08, 2019 9:20 pm
Bob4333, I assumed (maybe incorrectly) that the comment was aimed at the original poster, not at you.
No, your assumption is quite correct. See earlier post (21 ish?), we're good. My mistake.
But if anyone's interested I've done my time on the Motorway Awareness Course and it turned out to be not what I expected. I was expecting a fair bit of admonition mixed in with some grisly tales and pix to back it up - but no.
What it turned out to be was mostly an insight into how the Smart Motorway system actually works and more importantly why we as drivers see some of the things we see, perhaps thinking "There's no need for the limit to be 60mph, there's no traffic about". I didn't know that on the M1 by the Meadowhall shopping centre in Sheffield the air quality was so bad they were going to close 4 schools close to the motorway. Smart Motorways installed air sensors and when the pollution gets bad enough the system automatically reduces the speed limit until the air quality improves, then it switches off. Same on the M42 by Birmingham Airport, so when I now drive along an empty stretch showing 50mph I understand why (and try not to breathe).
If we see speed reductions down to 60, 50 or 40 mph it's the system making decisions based on info it's being fed. If you see 30 or 20 someone has taken the decision to override it so there's a good chance something nasty is up. There's also a minimum time lag of 10 secs between a limit coming down and the camera reacting so the plea of "Well it was 70 when I went under the gantry" won't work. The ticket even records how long the variable limit has been set.
There were lots of tips about driving and markers and what to do if you breakdown and I came away thinking it time well spent. It probably could have been done in about 2 hours rather than the three and a half but there you go.
Twenty four people attended, I'd say 75% male, 25% female. One or two I thought might be back again someday but overall most appreciated it and got the message.
I'd recommend taking the option if ever you're in the unfortunate position of having to make a choice.
