Motorway variable speed cameras

Motorway variable speed cameras

Author
Discussion

johnzo

Original Poster:

526 posts

266 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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Now of course I would never go over 70mph anyway, but ... On motorways (e.g. M1 near Nottingham) where there are overhead variable speed signs and cameras, I regularly see people going through these at 80 or 90 mph when the signs are blank. Why would they not register speeding over the 70mph??? I am sure this has been asked before, but I can't find a thread.

SS2.

14,455 posts

237 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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johnzo said:
Why would they not register speeding over the 70mph???
Because whilst the cameras are approved to enforce the NSL, they operating authorities might not choose to use them for this.

covboy

2,573 posts

173 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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Blakewater

4,303 posts

156 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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Do a 100mph lap of the M25 tonight and report back in a couple of weeks.

johnzo

Original Poster:

526 posts

266 months

Tuesday 4th March 2014
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OK Blake, I did what you said. What happens now?

johnzo

Original Poster:

526 posts

266 months

Tuesday 4th March 2014
quotequote all
OK Blake, I did what you said. What happens now?

Jon1967x

7,175 posts

123 months

Tuesday 4th March 2014
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The ones (gantry cameras to enforce variable speed limits, not average speed) on the M42 by bham airport only seem to trigger when a lower speed limit is in force, but chancing it is another thing

ging84

8,828 posts

145 months

Tuesday 4th March 2014
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Blakewater said:
Do a 100mph lap of the M25 tonight and report back in a couple of weeks.
Can i borrow your car to have a go at this?

Dog Star

16,079 posts

167 months

Tuesday 4th March 2014
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Jon1967x said:
The ones (gantry cameras to enforce variable speed limits, not average speed) on the M42 by bham airport only seem to trigger when a lower speed limit is in force, but chancing it is another thing
However the managed motorway variable gantries on the new M62 Leeds-Brighouse section definitely DO work even if there is no posted limit; I see the cameras on the other carriageway flash regularly, even "out of hours".

I don't exceed an indicated 80 on this section now, and I've had no problens, and that's the approach that I'll be taking with any variable limits in future.

Jon1967x

7,175 posts

123 months

Tuesday 4th March 2014
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Dog Star said:
Jon1967x said:
The ones (gantry cameras to enforce variable speed limits, not average speed) on the M42 by bham airport only seem to trigger when a lower speed limit is in force, but chancing it is another thing
However the managed motorway variable gantries on the new M62 Leeds-Brighouse section definitely DO work even if there is no posted limit; I see the cameras on the other carriageway flash regularly, even "out of hours".

I don't exceed an indicated 80 on this section now, and I've had no problens, and that's the approach that I'll be taking with any variable limits in future.
Agreed and I dont chance it.

It was actually a cause of a heated discussion on the speed awareness course. I thought they were supposed to be there for safety not traffic mgmt. Turning them off at NSL (if true as it seems to be in places) suggests they care less about enforcing a 70 than they do say a 50 whereas the risk of serious injury would be higher

Blakewater

4,303 posts

156 months

Tuesday 4th March 2014
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I went under one on the M62 at 77mph, my digital speedometer seems to be fairly accurate, and a guy who passed me going a fair bit faster didn't trigger a flash. I did see a camera flash on the opposite side but I didn't notice if a lower limit was in force there. I don't like to risk it myself though as going through cameras over the speed limit feels like a fools' game in my opinion.

R32

383 posts

251 months

Wednesday 5th March 2014
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Dog Star said:
Jon1967x said:
The ones (gantry cameras to enforce variable speed limits, not average speed) on the M42 by bham airport only seem to trigger when a lower speed limit is in force, but chancing it is another thing
However the managed motorway variable gantries on the new M62 Leeds-Brighouse section definitely DO work even if there is no posted limit; I see the cameras on the other carriageway flash regularly, even "out of hours".

I don't exceed an indicated 80 on this section now, and I've had no problens, and that's the approach that I'll be taking with any variable limits in future.
I've only ever seen the same camera flash in one lane and it only seems to flash once. I think its just a warning (seen the same on the M25) and nothing would come of it.

Its having the desired effect though as everyone I speak to tells me to be careful on that stretch.

ratboiler

437 posts

190 months

Wednesday 5th March 2014
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I can confirm the M1 cameras work from J10 to J11 as I got a ticket a few weeks ago for speeding 60 in a 50 and just completed the speed awareness course for 4 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

johnzo

Original Poster:

526 posts

266 months

Wednesday 5th March 2014
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Yes, I know that when a variable limit is shown then th cameras are "live" ... It's when they show nothing then will they ping you for over 70? That's the question!

red997

1,304 posts

208 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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anecdotal comments from a couple of years ago;

I was pulled by the BiB on the said M1 nr Nottingham in the managed motorway section;
reason was, the car wasn't shown as insured on their database (I'd just (legally) swapped the private plate over, done my bit & notified the ins co & sent off V5 etc)
From memory the limits were set to 40 (I was being a good boy, and traffic was fairly heavy so I was under the limit) so was surprised to see the fully marked car signalling his intent to stop me.
After the query with the plate was resolved (and me going blank about who my insurance company was...probably due to a BBC camera stuck in through the car window - Police, camera action...), a quick chat about 'nice car, I was looking forward to driving that back to the station (I was in my GT3), the BiB suggested I rejoin the motorway at the flow of traffic speed, but to be wary of the 40 posted limit;
I asked him " are the cameras active at all times?"
the slightly sheepish and considered response I got was "only when there is a limit showing with a red ring around it"
So far he's been accurate


jbsportstech

5,069 posts

178 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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They aren't used to enforce speed limits over 70mph.


They are only active in areas like the ones on the m4 when the speed limit is lower and displayed in a red ring on the avriable signs.

johnzo

Original Poster:

526 posts

266 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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Thanks! I can now happily whizz through Nottingham and if I get stopped by the boys in blue or their cameras I shall tell them that Pistonheads assures me all is OK smile

Pablo68

910 posts

134 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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johnzo said:
Thanks! I can now happily whizz through Nottingham and if I get stopped by the boys in blue or their cameras I shall tell them that Pistonheads assures me all is OK smile
I'm pretty sure that just because they aren't active doesn't mean the NSL law has been temporarily suspended. biggrin

Funkycoldribena

7,379 posts

153 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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They've got these on the M5 at Bristol and it certainly flashed at a couple of cars when there was no restrictions on the other day.

johnzo

Original Poster:

526 posts

266 months

Thursday 6th March 2014
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Maybe they just flash to scare innocent passing motorists?