M4 Rolling road protest

[TUFFTEE]

the police have imposed restrictions on the protesters! that they are to stay in the inside lane only! and drive at a speed of no less than 40 Mph!!

It's a Police state or What?          

[muddyweb]

Or maybe just a dose of common sense so that a lot of people aren't inconvenienced..   Protest is fine, clogging up a motorway in the name of "fair play" is just stupid IMHO.

[littlepow]

It is a motorway and the minimal speed limit is 50mph. So they are restricted to one lane with a police escort for safety reasons.

At least we have the right to protest, even if the venues are chosen or restricted!

[thermidorthelobster]

It is a motorway and the minimal speed limit is 50mph.

Officially, I don't think there is any minimum speed limit on a UK motorway, unless otherwise signed in blue?  Discussion here.

If there's a minimum 50 limit then I'm going to get stopped in the 101 all the time!

[muddyweb]

I was always under the impression that it was 30mph to be honest.

[thermidorthelobster]

Protest is fine, clogging up a motorway in the name of "fair play" is just stupid IMHO.

I'd say it was a fairly counterproductive way of protesting.  I'd have thought forming a rolling roadblock around Westminster would have been more effective.

[littlepow]

just checked highway code online, and it doesn't mention anything as yet. I'll keep looking, but I just remember being told that by my driving instructor many moons ago.

[thermidorthelobster]

235: You MUST NOT exceed 70 mph, or the maximum speed limit permitted for your vehicle (see table). If a lower speed limit is in force, either permanently or temporarily, at roadworks for example, you MUST NOT exceed the lower limit. On some motorways, mandatory motorway signals (which display the speed within a red ring) are used to vary the maximum speed limit to improve traffic flow. You MUST NOT exceed this speed limit.
Law RTRA sects 17, 86, 89 & sch 6

I couldn't find anything else about minimum speed limits, so it appears there is no standard minimum speed limit on UK motorways.

[Bob696]

Cars/bikes/trucks must be capable of at least 50mph in order to go onto a motorway. Hence 50cc mopeds are banned even if ridden by someone with a full liscence.

I think the police can make exceptions to this rule if an escort is provided and the times of travel are restricted.

People in the past have been prosecuted for "Dangerous driving" on the motorway due to making "poor progress". It was some years ago that I read that though and I cant remember where, I think it was some bike mag or other

[thermidorthelobster]

Well, we all know the feeling when you're tooling along at 70mph and suddenly come up behind something doing 30mph - bloomin dangerous!  Maybe a 40mph minimum speed limit would be a good idea.

[landyman Ash]

Protest is fine, clogging up a motorway in the name of "fair play" is just stupid IMHO.

I'd say it was a fairly counterproductive way of protesting.  I'd have thought forming a rolling roadblock around Westminster would have been more effective.

I live in Westminster and belive me, if they drove at 1mph they would still find themsleves getting stuck in traffic.....  

Plus its now £8 day light robbery for the Congestion charge!    :x  

[hobbit]

Always thought here was an ADVISORY limit of 40