M1 Speed Cameras near Hemel Hempstead

M1 Speed Cameras near Hemel Hempstead

Author
Discussion

GuitarPlayer63

Original Poster:

198 posts

148 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
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Does anyone know what speed actually triggers these cameras to flash? They're located over every lane on the M1 at J8 (Hemel Hempstead) north and southbound. I've seen them flash many times in front of me on the other carriageway and behind me when I was doing about 65 and nobody else was going any faster beside me which makes no real sense.

I can't work out if there is a predetermined limit they flash at, or if it's simply randomly to get people to pay attention.

scottfraser100

29 posts

159 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
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I have found myself over the posted limit on a few occasions but even though I've been flashed going north I've not got a ticket. My guess is that they are set in excess of 85mph on the sat nav

Stumps690

482 posts

141 months

Saturday 5th April 2014
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I thought they were set to the displayed matrix speed, with the plus 10% margin. Otherwise the whole managed motorway idea would just fail, wouldn't it?

R0G

4,984 posts

154 months

Sunday 6th April 2014
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Simple answer is to stick to the limit and the issue goes away ... yes?

waynedear

2,157 posts

166 months

Sunday 6th April 2014
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R0G said:
Simple answer is to stick to the limit and the issue goes away ... yes?
Pretty much what I do in managed sections and where I know there are cameras.

gruffalo

7,508 posts

225 months

Sunday 6th April 2014
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waynedear said:
R0G said:
Simple answer is to stick to the limit and the issue goes away ... yes?
Pretty much what I do in managed sections and where I know there are cameras.
Trouble I have with this section is that the speed limit is often reduced to 60 or even 50 when the traffic is light and free flowing and the 70 limit should apply.

littleredrooster

5,523 posts

195 months

Sunday 6th April 2014
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gruffalo said:
Trouble I have with this section is that the speed limit is often reduced to 60 or even 50 when the traffic is light and free flowing and the 70 limit should apply.
So that shows the system is working, then. Keeping the traffic free-flowing by adjusting the limits is exactly what it does...

Test driver

348 posts

123 months

Sunday 6th April 2014
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When not lit up displaying a temporary limit the cameras may flash but no action is taken. I've gone through well over a ton without being done.

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 6th April 2014
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littleredrooster said:
gruffalo said:
Trouble I have with this section is that the speed limit is often reduced to 60 or even 50 when the traffic is light and free flowing and the 70 limit should apply.
So that shows the system is working, then. Keeping the traffic free-flowing by adjusting the limits is exactly what it does...
We'll have none of that common sense trying to use optimum traffic flow to smooth everyone's journey rather than stop start traffic with the resultant rear end shunts, (everyones an expert especially on ph biglaugh) dontchaknow smile

normal bloke

166 posts

186 months

Sunday 6th April 2014
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Test driver said:
When not lit up displaying a temporary limit the cameras may flash but no action is taken. I've gone through well over a ton without being done.
Green Light, then!! smile

Trax

1,527 posts

231 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
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littleredrooster said:
gruffalo said:
Trouble I have with this section is that the speed limit is often reduced to 60 or even 50 when the traffic is light and free flowing and the 70 limit should apply.
So that shows the system is working, then. Keeping the traffic free-flowing by adjusting the limits is exactly what it does...
But that is not what happens. Traffic is generally free flowing, until some idiot decides to have a laugh and turn the signs on to a low limit, traffic stops being free flowing, and we usually end up stood still. They dont work, and there is no logical way they can work. The slower people travel, the more congested we are, and the more polution we produce.

I travel through the start of these idiotic things Westbound on the M62, a few mile before the M1. The limits are set at random numbers, with no thought at all. Uaually 40mph for light traffic, whcih means we are stood. A few weeks ago they must have had a work experience kid on the controls from the local school, and the limits were all off. The traffic was as heavy as usual, but free flowing, it was great, I got to work early that day.

covboy

2,573 posts

173 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
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Trax said:
But that is not what happens. Traffic is generally free flowing, until some idiot decides to have a laugh and turn the signs on to a low limit, traffic stops being free flowing, and we usually end up stood still. They dont work, and there is no logical way they can work. The slower people travel, the more congested we are, and the more polution we produce.

I travel through the start of these idiotic things Westbound on the M62, a few mile before the M1. The limits are set at random numbers, with no thought at all. Uaually 40mph for light traffic, whcih means we are stood. A few weeks ago they must have had a work experience kid on the controls from the local school, and the limits were all off. The traffic was as heavy as usual, but free flowing, it was great, I got to work early that day.
Our HA posters will tell you that most of the time, the limits are set automatically according to the traffic flow figures picked up by the road sensors. These can be affecting signs some distance away from the congestion. Also there could be spurious readings thrown up from these I read somewhere typically if someone has stopped over a sensor for any period of time.

littleredrooster

5,523 posts

195 months

Tuesday 8th April 2014
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Trax said:
littleredrooster said:
gruffalo said:
Trouble I have with this section is that the speed limit is often reduced to 60 or even 50 when the traffic is light and free flowing and the 70 limit should apply.
So that shows the system is working, then. Keeping the traffic free-flowing by adjusting the limits is exactly what it does...
But that is not what happens. Traffic is generally free flowing, until some idiot decides to have a laugh and turn the signs on to a low limit,
There is no 'idiot'. It's all controlled by sensors and pooters which are far cleverer than thee or me.
Trax said:
...traffic stops being free flowing, and we usually end up stood still. They dont work, and there is no logical way they can work. The slower people travel, the more congested we are, and the more polution we produce.
Quite the opposite is actually true; maximum capacity on a motorway is reached when the traffic is moving steadily at a speed somewhere between 30 and 40mph surprisingly.

Trax said:
I travel through the start of these idiotic things Westbound on the M62, a few mile before the M1. The limits are set at random numbers, with no thought at all. Uaually 40mph for light traffic, whcih means we are stood. A few weeks ago they must have had a work experience kid on the controls from the local school, and the limits were all off. The traffic was as heavy as usual, but free flowing, it was great, I got to work early that day.
I can but reiterate that there is no (or very limited) ability for a human to intervene - certainly not with individual signs. What you cannot see - and will never be able to see - is what is happening perhaps 5 miles ahead; this is what the system reacts to. I'm sorry you can't appreciate the merits of this, but anyone who has seen it from a wider point of view will tell you that it actually works very well most of the time.

GPSHead

657 posts

240 months

Wednesday 9th April 2014
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R0G said:
Simple answer is to stick to the limit and the issue goes away ... yes?
It took you until Reply #3 to post that? Oh dear, the self-righteous simpletons who now infest PH are slacking off...

This used to be a haven from PC idiots who put sanctimonious emotion above evidence. Why can't they just leave one forum free of their crap? It's not just new blood either: the rot has set in ever since "Flat_in_Fifth" decided that that moniker was too "speedy".

All in all, a great shame.

Steve vRS

4,836 posts

240 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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Holy thread resurrection Batman!

I can confirm that the M1 southbound cameras flash at you when doing an indicated 85mph. I am watching my post box with trepidation!

Steve

Steve vRS

4,836 posts

240 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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Yes, I should add that the variable limits were not in force at the time.

Steve

Steve vRS

4,836 posts

240 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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I am sweating as I have a co. car at the moment. I am swapping that for a private car in April so as well as having zero no claims bonus I may also have to declare an SP50!

Steve

Alfa numeric

3,021 posts

178 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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Steve vRS said:
Holy thread resurrection Batman!

I can confirm that the M1 southbound cameras flash at you when doing an indicated 85mph. I am watching my post box with trepidation!

Steve
Good luck!

Having been on the Speed Awareness Course last weekend I can also confirm that the northbound ones just south of Luton work too. I hadn't noticed that the variable speed limit had changed from 60 to 50 and was zapped at 62.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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R0G said:
Simple answer is to stick to the limit sprint between them at > warp 1, then stand the car on its nose at each gantry, and the issue goes away ... yes?
An alternative view.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 29th January 13:35

Steve vRS

4,836 posts

240 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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hora said:
Whats the safe 'limit' with them turned off. I might be driving down to London this weekend.
IF they are switched on when the variable limit is NOT operational, I can confirm that they flash at 85mph but not at 70mph. Other cars were passing me at what may have been 80mph and they were not flashing either.

Steve