Talking Travel
Seeing red about the roads and rails? Do you get stuck in a traffic jam every day? Are speeders or slow-drivers winding you up? What's your verdict on the region's train and bus services?
What's your verdict? Email us or have your say here.
Paul Bowman of Pembrokeshire says:
"As a businessman in Pembrokeshire, I am totally frustrated with the fact that I am losing many valuable hours of delivery time per week due to the inadequate road system in our area and the huge delays caused by endless road works throughout our county.
Couple this up with excessive amount of heavy goods vehicles on the road system due to the ferry terminal at Pembroke Dock and the LNG project which between them bring in huge amounts of heavy slow traffic and you have chaos!"
Ian of Lancashire says:
"After 21 years and a clean licence driving throughout the UK and nearly close to 1,000,000 miles I picked up not one but two speeding tickets in one day in South Wales! Both were within a 15 mile radius and both for 10 mph above the 70 mph limit. The road conditions were extremely quiet with very low traffic densities - between 2.00 and 2.30pm. I am an observant driver and can only assume the above offences have been caught by covert mobile units. I have decided that given the number and speed camaras in operation and the obvious voracity attached to their use I will not be conducting any further business or holidays in Wales for the foreseeable future! Revenue does come in a number of forms."
RWJ Brown of Wokingham says:
"
I am appalled at the continued congestion once you enter Wales.
You cross the bridge and then get holdups.
I get from Reading to the bridge in an hour but it takes two hours or more to get to Swansea. The speed camera on the M4 in Port talbot is a major cause for congestion from J38 to J44 on a regular basis. The 50 mph limit is a joke rarely do you get up to 35mph on Fridays."
Anon from Pembrokeshire disucsses school bus passes:
"I go on the bus to school provided by the council. We all have bus passes but for what reason? They are never used. There has been an accident before due to this. Why couldn't students have a bus pass with their seat number fixed on it. It will reduce or even stop the accidents. I never look forward to travelling to and from school!"
Simon from Ammanford has this complaint to make:
"I have the use of a bus pass which I want to use to stop using my car, but the local bus company ain't willing to run a low floor bus in my area as they say it doesn't make money. So I have to use the car. The only reason I want to use a bus and that I have a bus pass is because I am disabled and a user of a powered wheelchair."
Carl from Port Talbot is angered by people's actions:
"I'm sorry but the behaviour of some drivers at the speed camera on the M4 through Port Talbot can only be described as idiotic. The speed limit at this point is 50 mph - not 40, 30 or in some people's cases, 20 mph. When you people slam on your brakes and almost half your speed, it is you who is potentially causing accidents far more dangerous than those which happen as a result of speeding. I'm all for responsible driving but these people who go way below the limit 'just in case' are the ones who should be prosecuted."
Rowan from Pembrey is angered by road tax:
"The goverment are just taxing us for driving on roads of poor quality. Would you buy a broken product? What I'm getting to is why do we pay road tax for something that is below our expectaions? If your not happy with your purchase why should you pay for it? Shops and so forth by law have to give a refund or money back, so why should the government be any different? "And if the roads aren't bad enough we get watched by speed cameras to make sure we stick to a limit where there is no need for a speed camera. I agree with having them outside schools and places of high population but in the middle of no mans land? What about the fuel hike? Enough said!"
Nikki from Swansea says:
"I agree with Jemma from Pembroke that not enough patience is given to learner drivers. However, in reply to speed limits; I was taught to get up to the required speed limit as soon as possible to keep the flow of traffic going. I have been driving for 14 years (and haven't had an accident as yet) and am currently learning to ride a motorbike and have been told to get up to 60mph on a single carriageway, (where the NS applies) straight away and that's even in wet weather. If you have to drive slowly then please have the decency to pull in and make it easier for other drivers to overtake - which isn't illegal!"
Jemma from Pembroke is learning to drive:
"As a learner driver I would just like to say that I am surprised at how impatient some people are, even though they must be able to see the L plates. It is obvious that some people have forgotten how intimidating it can be when you first start driving, please remember this next time you see a learner driver! Also to Nikki from Swansea, I agree with you about indicators, but I was taught that the speed limit is not a target, which means you don't have to go at 60 mph when the national speed limit applies."
Russ from Port Talbot discusses under-taking:
"Today I read that the fourth most annoying habit that drivers report is that of 'under-taking' - speaking as someone who regularly does this, can I suggest that if these people were not hogging the outside and middle lanes then there'd be no need for people like me to resort to things like passing on the inside land in order to keep up the flow of traffic."
Nancy from Florida has some observations on South Wales traffic:
"We were visiting Wales and were in your 'rush hour traffic' coming from the airport to Cardiff early am. I must say we did not see anyone with a cellphone to their ear or drinking coffee or putting on makeup. Your drivers also pass cars and then return to their lane. In the turn abouts, people used them properly and we were given much courtesy where ever we drove. You have no idea what 'bad' drivers are until you have travelled the roads in the USA. We have many 'road rage' cases and people are always yelling or giving you the 'finger'. Enjoy your drivers and the scenery."
Jan from Saundersfoot questions the train service:
"Why do we have such a poor train service in West Wales? It is almost impossible to get a connection on Sunday as there is only one train all day, which means a 100 mile round car journey to Swansea when our teenage children need to get to university etc. We would gladly use the train if we had a train service."
Russ from Port Talbot says:
"I'm all for responsible driving, but this is a plea to those strange people who, when approaching the speed cameras on the M4 at Port Talbot, drop their speed to about 40 mph - what you are doing is dangerous. Do you people know the speed limit is 50 mph and you suddenly breaking to go well under this limit 'just to be sure' is the main cause of all the rear-ending shunts on that stretch of the M4?"
Nikki from Swansea discusses other drivers:
"Do you know what indicators are for? I am sick and tired of sitting there at a roundabout wanting to exit while others are in their own little world thinking about what to have for tea rather than having the courtesy to let others know where they are going. Maybe indicators should be optional extras on new cars - because hardly anyone uses them!"While I am here, the white circular sign with a black diagonal line going through it means: national speed limit applies, which on the A4067 Pontardawe to Swansea road means 60 mph - not 35, 40, 45 mph. Thank you."
Steven of Swansea says:
"I want to complain about inconsiderate parking by motorists. Many pavements are now being obstructed by motorists who use the pavement as a car park forcing pedestrians on to busy roads. The majority of these motorists also have driveways that they fail to use with total disregard for others - who should we report these to local authorities or the police?"
Robert of Port Talbot says:
"The Llandarcy junction eastbound needs some serious thought! The junction has tail backs onto the motorway every day! There must be something that the council can do about this. It puts an extra 20 minutes on travelling time getting home from work and is costing more in petrol. I thought that the council were supposed to be thinking about the environment. All that polluted air on one part of our road network? You can't even open a window if you get warm because the fumes are so bad in the traffic jam!"
Brian of Port Talbot says:
"We have a motorhome and travel extensively on the continent. Immediately when we return to South Wales we recognise the poor posting on the M4, compared with France. For example as soon as you pass over the border into Wales, the sign gives the main towns on the M4. The first is Cardiff, yet the first town we pass is Newport. This method of sign posting is prevalent in Wales. If I was a foreign tourist I would be completely confused. I would suggest to the highway authorities, go to France and see how it is done. Absolutley no confusion there."He also says:
"The environmentalists say new roads are bad for us! I suggest they travel in France where even small villages have 'by-passes'. We have a motorhome and wouldn't dream of holidaying in Wales. Compared with France, Wales has no chance of getting repeat tourists into the area."
Charles of Swansea says:
"Public transport is awful. Expensive, unreliable, and hardly effective. It's impossible not to have a car in Swansea. But then traffic is awful - all those traffic lights - Swansea City Council must have got caught up in the excitement of a traffic light buy 1 get 1 free sale somewhere!"
Mr Lemon discusses the speed cameras on the M4:
"On Saturday 7 August my car was hit from behind by another motorist on the M4 westbound near junction 41. This accident was due to the notorious camera everyone seems to hate. When will someone be killed because of this dangerous camera?"
Tracey from Cardiff has this to say about Swansea bus services:
"The services to Mumbles and Gower, Swansea are fairly infrequent. On Saturday I was at a bus stop and the bus drove straight passed, meaning a long walk up hill and no pavements. Harly encouraging us to use public transport. The same has happened on Cardiff bus services."
Andy Robinson of Solva is angered by the A40:
"The A40, the old London to Fishguard stagecoach route is so called because 40 mph is still the dream. The whole road to St. Clears is one of speed restriction, speed restriction, speed restriction. There is either a petrol tanker or milk tanker or a mobile home with it's satellites five yards behind."
Ray from Port Talbot has this question in relation to the M4:
"I would like to know why the two lane section of the M4 near Cardiff isn't upgraded because this must be costing Welsh business millions of pounds in lost time."
Teifion from Pembroke believes that:
"All caravans should be taxed by half the cost of the car and the money spent on new equipment for the local hospital for the county the car is taxed in."
Robert from Resolven would like to complain about:
"The congestion on the J43 Llandarcy eastbound. It is an absolute nightmare in the morning and afternoon. Is there anything that we can do about it? Extra lanes on the A465 and roundabout would be beneficial."
Paul from Baglan responds to Marcia's email:
"Marcia from Port Talbot has clearly never tried to enter Sunnycroft Roundabout from Sunny Mount, Baglan, if she feels that having the traffic lights working in the morning is unneccessary. Traffic coming along the dual carriageway from Briton Ferry is an unbroken stream travelling at speed - the only (very brief) opportunity we Baglan residents get to enter the roundabout is when the lights change."
Peter from Narberth says:
"In general the roads are fine, but the occassional strange placement of 'roadworks' at peak times is odd. Carmarthen A40 is particularly prone to this silliness."
Marcia from Port Talbot says:
"Having traffic lights working on Sunnycroft roundabout Baglan in the morning is totally uneccessary. Traffic would flow more freely without them."
Robbie from Laugharne discusses speed cameras on the M4 motorway:
"The speed camera at the 50 mph stretch of the westbound M4 at Port Talbot causes a traffic jam at peak hours with all traffic being forced to a standstill, whereas before it's installation the traffic flowed reasonably well. Is it better to cause these stops, which are dangerous, on a road which was designed to keep traffic moving or should this camera be removed?"
Bob from Bryncoch comments on plans to shut a second bridge in Carmarthen:
"Nice to see that the council in Carmarthen have decided that everyone heading West of the town can spend their Easter holiday in a traffic jam. Having done a less heavily used bridge in the town at a quiet time of the year, they follow that by working on a critical artery for West Wales at the time when thousands will be using the road to get to / from holidays in sunny Pembrokeshire. Typical, really..."
To read the BBC News Online article about the closure, click here.
Teifion from Pembroke is angered by the state of the roads in Pembrokeshire:
"A large amount of money is going to be spent on the Bangston to Carew A417 road. This is all for the ferry traffic that doesn't stop in Pembroke or Pembroke Dock, and they don't pay for any local amenities. But the local drivers that pay all the local taxes and live locally have to drive over roads that have ruts and holes in them that are a danger to motorists and pedestrians.
"But what the council say is that they don't have grants from Cardiff for all the roads, so Mill Bridge, Commons Road, Church Terrace and Monkton Road will stay as they are. But when there is a fatal accident, all the blame is passed onto some other party."
John from Llandovery has this to say about traffic problems:
"I think that if you obey the law and adhere to the speed limit then you won't have to worry about speed cameras no matter where they are situated. If the limit were to be increased to 100 mph, there would still be those who would complain about their civil liberties being curtailed. They might think differently if it was one of their relatives who was killed or injured by a car exceeding the speed limit."When you have cars in towns parking on double yellow lines, or on the pavement taking up so much of it that an individual has difficulty in passing, let alone a mother with a baby in a push chair, or a disabled person in a wheelchair. Again I ask, how these drivers would react if it was their relative who had to step off the safety of the pavement onto the road, because they were unable to pass a vehicle parked on the pavement, in a street where vehicles may be exceeding the speed limit? "Except invalid drivers, is it too much to ask people these days to walk 100 yards or so to the nearest car park, or to park their cars in such a way as not to endanger others? "Better still, why don't they read the Highway Code! It could save someone's life."
Martin from Whitland questions the actions of the Police:
"How come it is ok for Police and Local Authorities to put out mobile speed traps and charge drivers, when they do not abide by these laws themselves? I was overtaken by two Police motorcycles who were well above the speed limit on my return from watching the Rally at the weekend. If it is in the name of road safety why do they not do something about the double parking outside schools at pick up and drop off times, and the idiots who seem to be exempt form using their indicators?"
Ray from Port Talbot has a suggestion to ease road congestion:
"To eleviate the traffic congestion it may be worth considering enforcing all lorries over a certain tonnage only travel at night. The reduction in large lorries would free up a lot of the motorways. The lorries in turn although only allowed to travel at night, would have quicker journey times making them more profitable and the drivers would not have to spend so much time away from home etc."
Lee currently living in Bristol has sent us this email:
"Can anyone tell me if travelling into Haverfordwest is any easier? I used to spend an hour on the road to get into town! Traffic works at peak hours!"
Dorian from Port Talbot says:
"I think John is wrong in what he says. I have witnessed many a caravan being overturned because drivers who own them are going too fast. Speeds at 50 / 55 should be outlawed for caravan owners and no I disagree that they should be taxed just because they are owners and going away for a weekend or holiday. If he thinks this then can we say the same for class one drivers, with one or two trailers they are pulling? Or maybe he thinks that tractors should be taxed for pulling a trailer or even cars? If he is a sensible driver than patience is all it takes and while he is stuck behind a vehicle that is pulling a trailer, then sit back and enjoy the drive. Or is he a salesman that needs to get to his next appointment?"
Steve from Ammanford has this to say to Glen:
"I disagree with Glen. Although I am not a caravan user and they cause me as much headache as the next driver when I am stuck behind them. But taxing them is a bit strange. It won't stop them and it certainly will not help us get past them, it will give the government more money - perhaps for some more speed cameras to catch us on a nice bit of straight road as we accelerate past those retched caravans!"
Joan is mad about the speed bumps in Port Talbot:
"With regards to the bumps in Port Talbot, which are breeding at the speed of light. No longer can we drive and enjoy the drive, but we have to encounter these heinous bumps which will rip the exhaust off your car if it's fully laden and also ruin your shocks ... They are driving the innocent motorist bonkers ... ""At the start of the summer there was a huge presence of police vans fitted with cameras and police officers pulling cars over randomly or not, whichever the case may be. The money involved here must be obscene we as taxpayers are paying for this wonderful event. Isn't it about time that some of this money be spent on educating drivers or the setting up of an organised race track for people who feel the need to speed. Here they could be taught properly what excessive speed can do. As a town we could be the front runners in giving consideration to speed and sensible driving. The police in this town have little enough respect from the public as it is, so let's not leave them sleeping in our roads for the idiotic to drive over them at great speed with no regard for life or property."
Russ supports what Mark has to say:
"I agree with Mark totally - the speedbumps in Sandfields simply have to go. The people they are designed to catch either manoeuvre themselves around the bumps so they go over the most level parts, and as for the ramps, they simply carry on at their normal speed - obviously having no effect. What I also agree with is having highly visable speed cameras along the seafront."
Mark from Port Talbot is angry about speed bumps placed in Sandfields:
"The recent speed bumps that have appeared throughout the Sandfields Estate are ridiculous. The local idiots are still speeding and totally disregard these bumps. The only way to combat these morons is to install speed cameras where they can be caught on film, fined and penalised. I'm sure these bumps are not doing our vehicles any good either and the residents where the bumps have been installed are also very angry."
Ianto from Eglwyswrw says:
"And another thing - I challenge Dyfed-Powys Police or South Wales Police for that matter to show that they place the mobile cameras in accident blackspots as opposed to easy money targets. I have never seen a mobile camera outside a school, for example, or in town/village centres. But find a nice long stretch of motorway and you can be done for doing 80 mph in ideal conditions with no traffic around in a capable modern car."
Russ from Port Talbot is unhappy with motorists going too slow:
"I don't think it's the speed cameras on the M4 in Port Talbot which are causing the problems - it's the strange drivers who go about 10 mph under the speed limit 'just to be sure'. These are the people who in my opinion are causing accidents. I once caught up with and confronted a driver who was doing 30 mph past the 50 mph camera and asked him why he was doing it.
"He replied that he didn't care where he goes, if ever he sees a speed camera he always does 30 mph. How can the rest of us normal drivers compete with people who have that kind of mentality?"
Robert of Formby has an interesting comment to make:
"Last year we had a family holiday in South Wales, staying at the Holiday Inn near Newport, where I used to come as a child. When we go on holiday the trip becomes part of it. However it was completely ruined because of all the speed cameras, as I had to drive watching my speedometer instead of driving to the road conditions. This made for a very stressful journey. There were also cameras situated on long, straight roads designated as tourist routes obviously to catch unwary visitors to the area. The police and 'safety nazis' are not doing the tourist industry any favours, as it spoilt our holiday and we cut it short and went home - very slowly! Sadly it is highly unlikely I will bring my wallet back to Wales."
Tony feels very strongly about rural speed limits:
"Can somebody out there tell why it is almost impossible to convince officals in our county council (Pembrokeshire) and police officers for the need to slow down the speed of traffic from 60 mph to 40 mph and 20 mph in villages when you have young children walking to and from school. Often on a narrow stretch of road, that is still the same as it was a century ago. Why does the government spend large amounts of money on advertising the Think Safely campaigns on the tv? Nobody seems to care a hoot!"
Ianto of Eglwyswrw hates caravans:
"Well it's summertime and the driving is easy ... well it would be if the caravan brigade didn't come out in full force. Why do people feel the need to drag a shed on wheels halfway across Wales, slowing traffic wherever they go?"
Mervyn from Swansea is annoyed by traffic calming measures:
"Why is it that traffic calming measures are introduced onto roads such as Carmarthen Road, but the roads which they force the traffic onto (minor roads) do not? Why are traffic calming measure items not repaired quickly but rather left as hazards to motorists? Is it true that the County have to build traffic calming measures to get EEC funding for by-passes? Our roads seem to be all about money today - masquerading as safety measures."
Dave has contacted us from the USA:
"We are starting to get the traffic cams here in the States also. It seems like Orwell's novel 1984 is coming closer to reality. Big brother is definately about, no matter what nation you live in. I'm sure it will put some traffic police out of a job also. Give me a break."
Richard from Cwmtwrch is annoyed about the speed cameras on the M4:
"I travel from Cwmtwrch to Cardiff every day to work at British Airways Maintenance Cardiff and since the speed cameras have been installed in Port Talbot, my journey time has increased considerably. Not because I have to obey the speed limit but because of the jams they cause as people panic and put on the breaks for no reason whatsever! Since these cameras have been installed, I can expect to have to stop and wait for the traffic to get moving a good few times, before I get past the last camera and do the legal 50.
"Whoever decided to put these cameras there knows nothing about traffic control and needs to go on course for basic skills in common sense! He/she clearly has no sense of what normal everyday people have to go through just to get to work!"
Dennis of Neath has mailed us his thoughts on the Pentyla (Port Talbot) junction on the M4:
"As a regular user of the motorway, I believe that the westbound junction should be closed. Many friends and colleagues feel the same way."
Ianto of Eglwyswrw brings up the hot topic of speed cameras once again:
"The new speed cameras in Port Talbot have got to be an example of siting speed cameras for profit rather than to stop accidents. Indeed, I'd guess that they'll cause more accidents this summer as tourists come down who haven't seen them before slam on their brakes to avoid being flashed. Thank goodness there's no fixed cameras up here in North Pembs..."
Traffic congestion upsets M.Thomas of Port Talbot:
"The main road at Briton Ferry between Neath and Baglan is an absolute nightmare. Parking should only be allowed on ONE side of the road as this would ease traffic congestion greatly. I know residents wouldn't support this but that is tough. I don't like speed cameras either."
Glen has contacted us from Neath:
"In reply to John - I don't disagree that speeding causes accidents. However speed cameras cannot distinguish from the speeding boy racer and the sensible motorist who goes slightly over the speed limit in order to allow, for example a motorist to join the motorway or to move out of the way of a HGV. Traffic policemen can make this distinction and use their judgement.
"I'd also suggest that there isn't a politician alive who would support raising speed limits on any road, not even motorways due to the opposition he would get from other MPs. Yet I believe the AA and/or the RAC have suggested in the past that 80 mph is a sensible motorway limit, given the much reduced braking distances achievable in modern day cars compared to those shown in the Highway Code - which are based on cars from many years ago."
John holds a very different view to Nick on this topic:
"Speeding is against the law. Presumably people who object intend to break the law.
"Put yourself in the position of someone who has suffered because of a speeding motorist and perhaps you can come to terms with the view that speeding should be stopped - just like driving under the influence of alcohol.
"We may not agree with speed limits and we may set about changing them through the normal political process but we cannot take it on ourselves to decide on driving over the limit."
Nick of Neath has emailed us after reading a news story on our site:
"Reference to the speed cameras on the M4 motorway near Llangyfelfach this week. Let's be honest they were set up purely as a nice little earner and not for the supposed interest in road safety. It is yet another excuse to fleece the motoring public of hard earned cash. Apart from a slight deviation in carriageway layout, we can still travel in two clearly seperated lanes, which would be the case if the roadworks did not exist. But sticking cameras in place certainly looks good doesn't it?"
If you would like to read the news story click here.
We've heard complaints about caravan users and speed cameras, but now it's motorists who come in for some stick from cycling enthusiast Peter of Port Talbot:
"Motorists in South Wales don't give a care or thought for cyclists, or pedestrians. I'm a member of both the Cyclists Touring Club and the Afan Nedd Easy Riders Cycle Club and I have been involved in some accidents involving stupid motorists who don't even care to stop to see if I am alright and now I have to buy a new wheel because a car has buckled mine."
Glen of Neath pulls no punches in his response to the comments of Chas from Gwent Centre Caravan Club:
"I appreciate that there are 'good' and 'bad' caravan owners in the same way as good and bad drivers, but I also query why exactly people feel the need to drag their caravans tens, or hundreds, of miles to then park them in a caravan park alongside a large number of other caravans and not move them all week?
"If you want flexibility; go camping. If you want a caravan, go to one of the numerous fixed caravan sites littering South West Wales (I defy anyone to tell me that the caravans in Lydstep near Tenby are an improvement on the landscape). Cluttering up the narrow roads of West Wales with towed caravans all summer doesn't exactly do much for the image of caravanners"
Chas of Gwent Centre Caravan Club has some very different views on caravans:
"I presume that Glen of Swansea is referring to all the caravans visiting North Wales, bringing hundreds of young people together in a sporting environment to compete in the five day Welsh National Caravan Rally. I consider this to be a worthwhile and highly organised event which is held in a different part of Wales each year. All the routes to the site are as recommended by the local police and I am sure cause no more chaos than that in Cardiff for a 90 minute foootball match.
"I can sympathise with Glen of Neath when he gets caught behind an inconsiderate caravan owner.
"I think it is only fair to point out that there are two types of people who tow caravans. The first, like myself, go out on rallies or use their caravans throughout the year. These people use their caravans regularly, have them serviced and try to keep to the speed limits. They take great pride in their ability to cause as little inconvenience as possible.
"Unfortunately we also have on our roads people who know little about caravans/nose weights/correct loading etc. and are quite frankly a danger to themselves and other road users. Fortunately they are only seen out during July and August and are as frustating to the regulars as the ordinary motorist. In the same way there are solo road hogs and dangereous drivers but we do not classify all drivers the same.
"I have been a caravan addict for 30 years now. I can reverse competently and always show due consideration to other road users. I can assure you I am not alone in these skills."
Glen of Swansea is totally in support of an earlier rant:
"Today we hear on the news that hundreds of caravans are heading to North Wales for a caravan convention - wouldn't like to be stuck behind that lot! I agree that they should be taxed! I have never seen one pull in to let traffic go past; sometimes tractors or lorries will out of courtesy for other road users."
Glen of Neath is really cross about the way in which he alleges caravan owners behave:
"The bane of any motorists life in the summer - if they're not pootling along the motorways at 50mph causing chaos, they're trundling along normal roads even more slowly.
"Most owners can't even handle them correctly - watch any caravan owner try and reverse with a caravan behind, and witness the number of jack-knifed caravans on the roads of West Wales - two in three days in Cross Hands alone one recent weekend.
"A bit of common sense from the owners wouldn't go amiss - not many will pull over to let traffic pass - despite the miles-long queues that build up behind them on roads in the Gower or Pembrokeshire in the summer.
"Failing that, how about the Government taxing caravans separately from cars? At least when we're stuck behind them we can be assured that they're paying for the privilege of holding us up."
Do you agree with Glen? Are his comments really accurate about caravanners? Tell us!
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