Missing / Incomplete Signage on Gatwick Spur M23 Average Speed Camera Trap Options

[simon69]

I received a NIP on the above strip for a trip taken in late January, for doing 52mph in a 40mph zone.

I didn't remember seeing signs detailing the lower speed limit of 40mph from the usual 50 that was in place along the whole of the roadworks on the M23, so I looked online to see if anyone had filmed the journey, and posted it, which they had.

It was taken only a couple days before I took the trip, and in it, although you can see 40mph signs on the roundabout, there are none other until late on in the measuring area, about 700m into the 1062m distance between the two cameras.

The slip road starts at around 8:30. Then there is a 50mph sign and an average speed check sign at around 9mins, although it looks like this applies to the slip road off the roundabout only. Then there is what looks like a knocked over sign at 9:36 which presumably says 40mph and average speed check, as the first camera is just in front. There are then no other signs until 10:30 when there is one 40mph Average Speed Check sign, before the second camera of the measuring distance appears at 11 mins.

I went back recently to check, a month later, and the same sign that was knocked over in this video was down again. With still no other repeater signs in between.

As a two lane dual carriageway, isn't it reasonable to expect signs on both sides, within 350m of each other as per the Traffic Signs Manual?

Is this a little unreasonable of the Sussex Police Force to expect drivers to assume its still 40mph and not 50mph, as it was along the whole motorway stretch? I barely saw the sign on the left near the end due to traffic in that lane and concentrating on not touching the cones to my right. Although I am aware not seeing one sign is not an excuse in itself, what if it was the only sign on the whole road??

Video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKqVzhtcfDw&t=29s

This post has been edited by simon69: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 - 14:31

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[The Rookie]

You entered a clearly signed 40 limit at 8:28, if there are no signs after that to denote a new limit then obviously it stays at a 40 limit, that's how limits work in the UK regardless of junctions etc.

As you don't pass the 50 signs on the sliproad (the exit you don't take), they clearly didn't apply to you, so the limit stayed at 40.

I see no defence I'm afraid.

While I have some sympathy, I think the issue here was you not understanding the signage, not a significant defect with the signage.

For that speed you'll be offered an awareness course (unless you've done the same course in the last 3 years) and it would be foolish to pass that up on the basis of a 10% chance of success (and that's being very generous) in court.

This post has been edited by The Rookie: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 - 15:35

[Logician]

Exactly so, you passed large 40mph limit signs as you entered the roundabout, as with all limits this means that the limit remains at 40mph until you pass a different sign. You would be foolish to give up the chance of a course or a fixed penalty for a very minimal chance that a court would acquit you, when the fine would be income based and the costs guideline is £620 if you lose.