New Speed Cameras

[Minnie M]

Big brother is amongst us

The new cameras that check average speed between two markers (I think) and issue a summons within minutes No warning and I don't think you even get the 'double flash'

Only good things NO MORE SLEEPING POLICEMEN

[El Salsero Gringo]

Originally Posted by Minnie M

Only good things NO MORE SLEEPING POLICEMEN

I don't think anyone's told Camden Council that, sadly

[Tiggerbabe]

Originally Posted by Minnie M

No warning

Ehrm, think there is a warning Minnie it's usually a big sign or even a few big signs saying "Average Speed Cameras" and then another one telling you what the speed is

They've recently installed them on the road to Perth, and because of roadworks the average speed at the moment is 40 and not 70 - it's playing havoc with my journey allowance time

[Gojive]

I dislike speed cameras.....the old ones that is. They can only take a snapshot of the situation, and not paint the whole picture. For example, I may have been using a burst of speed to get me out of trouble at that moment, just as I was taught to do during my driving lessons a few decades ago.

The concept of average speed cameras however, I'm in full agreement with. I would like to seem them tailored for the prevailing conditions however - such as allowing faster speeds at night/early in the morning, and during poor weather.

Somewhere between the Midlands and here, there's a set of roadworks with average speeds cameras. All three lanes now move at exactly 40MPH! I don't know what impact ('scuse the pun) that's had on accident rates, but I bet it's an improvement

[Rhythm King]

The "standard" GATSO cameras in London are being replaced by a new model. The camera box is a lot smaller (less than 1/4 size) and is mounted atop a very high column, putting it effectively out of the line of sight of drivers.

No doubt the "Road Camera Safety Partnerships" (ie 21st century Highwaymen ) will say that this is to prevent vandalism of the cameras, or such like, but how many of these cameras are actually attacked? I think it is just to try and entrap more motorists and fleece them. If they really wanted to have an effect on the speed of motorists, they'd make the cameras more obvious - not less.

[Dance Demon]

Originally Posted by Tiggerbabe

Ehrm, think there is a warning Minnie it's usually a big sign or even a few big signs saying "Average Speed Cameras" and then another one telling you what the speed is

They've recently installed them on the road to Perth, and because of roadworks the average speed at the moment is 40 and not 70 - it's playing havoc with my journey allowance time

I thought I'd been caught out by these at the weekend. One set was on a stretch where there were no roadworks at all ....anybody got any idea how long it takes to get a summons if you get caught by these blimmin things

[Big Brother]

Mwahahahahahahahahahaha

[Rebecca]

Originally Posted by Dance Demon

..anybody got any idea how long it takes to get a summons if you get caught by these blimmin things

I was caught in Nottingham a few weeks ago (my first time ). They recorded it on Tuesday, the impending prosecution paperwork was with me on the Thursday!

[El Salsero Gringo]

Originally Posted by Gojive

The concept of average speed cameras however, I'm in full agreement with. I would like to seem them tailored for the prevailing conditions however - such as allowing faster speeds at night/early in the morning, and during poor weather.

That's a good idea (I think they have different speed limits on French motorways, according to whether it's wet or dry) - but how would the poor motorist know what the speed limit at any given moment was? Who would get to say what counts as poor weather? It's hard enough trying to stick to the limit when you know what it is!

[Rhythm King]

There are already variable speed limits, enforced by cameras on the western sections of the M25. They are supposed to be controlled automatically, according to congestion, but it's funny how often the limits are set low, when the road is obviously clear for miles

[Missy D]

Originally Posted by Rhythm King

The "standard" GATSO cameras in London

RK for weeks now I have been wondering what 'Gatso' means as it kept coming up on the 'sat nav' thing in my car. There was me thinking it had something to do with train lines

Thank you for putting me out of my misery

[Donna]

You know, I've just had this silly idea. Imagine you see somebody you really don't like, approaching you in their car, and in front of you is the new speed camera. You could always wave something in front of it couldn't you?!

[Heather]

I saw a gadget in Tesco the other day, priced at around £70 - it was a speed camera warning system and was advertised as 'completely legal'. It might be worthwhile investing in one! I had a perfect clean driving licence for 25 years until I started this Ceroc milarkey!!!!
All the travelling to and fro to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow etc put paid to that!!!!



Heather

[Gojive]

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

That's a good idea (I think they have different speed limits on French motorways, according to whether it's wet or dry) - but how would the poor motorist know what the speed limit at any given moment was? Who would get to say what counts as poor weather? It's hard enough trying to stick to the limit when you know what it is!

They do indeed have a two-tier speed limit in France - I'm not sure how they enforce it though. It would work here, but perhaps only with the variable speed limit system employed (as RK says) on the M25.

Although the M25 signs are automated for traffic flow, they're also manually over-ridden by the control room, and officers on the road.

There can of course, be absolutely no substition for common sense on the road in the first place.

[Monika]

Originally Posted by Dance Demon

I thought I'd been caught out by these at the weekend. One set was on a stretch where there were no roadworks at all ....anybody got any idea how long it takes to get a summons if you get caught by these blimmin things

...a letter in your mailbox a week later... or so I've ehm heard
Don't mind focus on anything that can improve safety, but some if this new ones seem to be a way of making money more than focusing on where they can improve safety - personal opinion obviously...

Drive safely

Mon x

[LilyB]

Originally Posted by Dance Demon

....anybody got any idea how long it takes to get a summons if you get caught by these blimmin things

The authorities have 14 days - that's the law in England, not sure about Scotland - to send you a Notice of Intended Prosecution. Only when they have established who the driver is can they issue a summons (in respect of the speeding, that is), and in any event, that has to be within 6 months of the date of the offence.

The NoIP is sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle who is given 28 days to name the driver. If said keeper fails to do so, he/she is liable to prosecution for a seperate offence of Failing to nominate driver, which itself carries penalty points.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by Gojive

They do indeed have a two-tier speed limit in France - I'm not sure how they enforce it though. It would work here, but perhaps only with the variable speed limit system employed (as RK says) on the M25.

I'm not aware of any permanent speed cameras on two-tier roads, although I can't say for sure that there aren't any. I believe that enforcement on those roads is only done by "real policemen" who are presumably able to make a judgement on the weather conditions when they pull you over.

[DavidB]

I heard on the radio that they were going to use the SPECS average speed cameras in residential areas to enforce 20mph limits. They might remove other speed measures such as sleeping policemen in the process.

The fact that they will make money out of cameras and not sleeping policemen has nothing to do with the decision...

They have one SPECS camera in London enforcing a 20mph limit, and it raised over £1 million. Unfortunately they then realised they had positioned one of the cameras outside the 20mph zone. What a shame.

At least the SPECS cameras can't do motorbikes.

[El Salsero Gringo]

Originally Posted by DavidB

They have one SPECS camera in London enforcing a 20mph limit, and it raised over £1 million. Unfortunately they then realised they had positioned one of the cameras outside the 20mph zone. What a shame.

Do you know where that is? There are a couple of suspicious sets of cameras near where I live, at Gospel Oak - one at the start and one at the end of the 20mph limit which is outside a school. Are those the ones?

[Rhythm King]

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

Do you know where that is? There are a couple of suspicious sets of cameras near where I live, at Gospel Oak - one at the start and one at the end of the 20mph limit which is outside a school. Are those the ones?

The ones DavidB are referring to are on Upper Thames Street, where there is a temporary speed limit because of building works. The system has been re-set to make it legal. There are also SPECS cameras enforcing the 20mph limit on Tower Bridge.

R-K