15 March 2007

Motorists warned of temporary speed limit and safety cameras during M26 Junction 2a roadworks

Motorists are advised that from Saturday 17 March 2025 there will be a temporary 40mph speed limit between Junction 2a of the M26 to the M20 at Junction 3 while the Highways Agency carry out strengthening works that will increase the life and condition of the carriageways.

For the safety of both motorists and the work force the Highways Agency have asked the Kent & Medway Safety Camera Partnership to enforce its 40mph limit with average speed (SPECS) safety cameras.

SPECS (SPEed Check Enforcement System) is a digital safety camera system providing point-to-point speed enforcement based on calculation of average speed.

Motorists are reminded that the temporary 40mph speed limit - which is clearly signed - applies at all times of the day and night, including weekends, whether workmen are on site or not. This is for a number of reasons:

• Enforcing the speed limit during the day but not at night will only confuse motorists, and there may be some evenings when contractors will be working at the roadside with heavy machinery.
• Even if traffic cones or workmen are not on site over night there may still be ramps where the road is unfinished.
• Temporary road surfaces may have low skid resistance - coupled with poor
weather conditions this could prove dangerous.
• There may be no road markings (white lines), hard shoulder or cat’s eyes.
• Drivers may be hesitating if junctions or turnings have been temporarily closed.

Katherine Barrett, Communications Officer, said: "We have been asked by the Highways Agency to enforce the 40mph limit to protect both motorists and the workmen on site. We urge all drivers to respect the temporary speed limit until the works are complete. The roadworks are clearly signed so there should be no excuse for not realising there is a temporary speed limit in place or that safety cameras are operating. The message is clear - slow down or run the risk of getting a speeding fine which is £60 and three points on your driving licence."

For further information about the roadworks, please contact the Highways Agency southeast Press Office on 01306-878442 or 01306-878110.