On the way home from work tonight I saw 3 unmarked police cars between J3 and J6. All Senators - 2 green metallic jobs (one light and one dark) and a dark burgundy one who was in the process of writing out a ticket for someone.
Further along the motorway between J9 and J8 southbound, there was a marked car with a handheld camera.
Looks like increased activity so if you use this route regularly, or you're heading down that way soon, watch out.
Cheers
Kav

 

Senators?

They are the ex-top-of-the-range Vauxhalls that stopped being made several years ago aren't they? In their era, they were a great traffic car, but rather sneaky to use these days (with old number plates)

mb

p.s. I've not been that far down the M40 for a while - is the stupid 40mph limit roadworks still in place?

 

wow i was coming home from Power station yesterday 125 most of the way lol

 

Martin - those roadworks were finished a couple of months back.....
..be increasingly vigilant around J9 cos the traffic boys use Bicester nick as a break place mid shift and then use the A34 to get to Abingdon where the new control centre has been built..

125mph?? u werent trying mate

 

Got done outside oxford a couple of months back doing 104. Still not heard anything about it.
Maybe they have forgotten?
Yeah right who am I trying to kid

 

Richard,

i am always careful between Oxford and Thame - fifteen miles with no turn-offs give plod plenty of space to catch up with you (or call for a chopper if you are in a Scooby ). Three years ago i stared down a laser from plod just south of Oxford (parked totally safely on the hard shoulder ) - but luckily he got the Vectra who was overtaking me.

Very dangerous stretch of road, that M40!!!

mb

 

Last Saturday I went to visit the crumblies

on the stretch between J? and the banbury turn off (prodrive HQ) is a bridge that goes across the motorway diagonally.

Something there caused my radar/laser detector to go off. It warned of laser.

I nearly **** myself. However I was doing less than 80 so I guess I will be OK

On the way back on sunday, same place it goes off again.

No sign of plod, no white van on bridge, nothing.

Anyone else had this happen

Just watch out as its a real brown trouser job when it catches you by surprise

 

Dr Nick,

i have NEVER had a laser alert (via a Bel 990) on the M40 (earlier episode was in an open-top MGF sans detector), so treat the warnings as serious!!

mb

 

.if u have a snooper there are several parts on the M40 where u get false alarms.....have a look around u and u'll see some masts with mobile phone antennas etc on em.....thats what gives the false alarms IMHO

 

Man gotta get me one of them lazer thingys

 

Richard,

agreed, for example between Oxford and Silvertone there is a big radar alert (near a water tower). However, no laser (in my experience).

But too many plain clothed cars to take the risk!

mb

p.s. Lasers are the thing to look out for these days!

 

I get loads of 'false' laser alerts from my 990 in the same places, usually under bridges (although never on the M40). Consensus seems to be that there are fog detectors using laser on the bridges which the detector picks up.

Trouble is you have to remember where you get the 'false' alerts!

 

Yesterday between J3 and J4, while overtaking a BMW I spot a police car gaining rapidly in my mirror. Before I can pull in and adjust my speed, the copper is right up behind me. I'm way over the limit, and obviosuly going to get a tug. Suprisingly, he slows down and pulls over the BMW instead.

WEYHEY!

 

Laser Gun on Junction 5 with marked car yesterday, checking northbound on the long downhill section.

I must get a laser diffuser, which one ??

 

The snooper SLD 920 is a solid piece of kit.
It'll jam Plod in plenty of time for the anchors to take effect...

 

I got done at Beaconsfield for doing 117,had only had the scoob an hour and a half,anyway hearing was last month,got a 56 day ban and £400 fine.

ho hum.

 

I spent last two years commuting up and down the M40 (J4 to J15).

Places to be careful are:

Northbound:

1. Approaching J6 (as mentioned above) going dwon the hill through the cutting there is a police ramp just before the junction.

2. Between J11 (Banbury) and J12 (Gaydon) look out for the Welcome to Warwickshire Sign. Appx 1 mile after this there is a ramp just before the next bridge. Long straight. They will see you before you see them.

3. Slip road of J12. As the sliproad winds around onto the Motorway there is a bit of pavement they sit on. This is a very popular position for them.

4. Approaching J13. Slow down at the 1 mile sign. Just behind the 1/2 mile sign there is a well hidden ramp. There is a grass bank which hides their car, but they can just see over in order to get you. Another well frequented position for them.

Southbound

1. Sliproad of J13 again.

Also generally Southbound around Oxford Thames Valley tend not to use the ramps, but will park up on the hard shoulder just around a long bend.

I have noticed that in general that Thames Valley tend not to use the ramps and prefer to sit on bridges and the hard shoulder, whereas Warks police tend to use the ramps.

I have a selecttion of unmarked car numbers that I have picked up over the years if anyone is interested.

Regards
IanF