M5 camera flashing under the limit

[KITT]

Last night was heading home south through the contra flow on the M5 and noticed the camera on the other side was flashing at almost every car that went past it. Odd I thought as it's not hard to spot. It's the one catching drivers in the single contraflow lane northbound on the split level.

So this morning heading in to work I pass this camera and it flashes me!! I was doing about 38/39mph as the limit was 40mph. I also saw it flash the car behind me so there must be a fault. Any know what I should do? Will they send a NIP? How the hell am I going to prove my innocence?

[targarama]

If it has been flashing every car since last night it will have long since run out of film so I wouldn't be worried.

[KITT]

Well, phoned up the Avon and Somerset pratnership and eventually got through to an operator who told me that NONE of the M5 contraflow cameras are live at the moment (handy to know although she wouldn't tell me when they would be). The cameras are apparently "collecting data", which I have no idea what that means but strikes me as a strange way of doing it making everyone think they've been caught. She also said they've had a number of calls complaining about this. Rightly so I think and if any of you guys feel like letting them know you can phone the number here:

www.safecam.org.uk/contact_us.aspx

[KITT]

targarama said:

If it has been flashing every car since last night it will have long since run out of film so I wouldn't be worried.

They're Monitron digital ones that are linked via ADSL to their headquarters so never run out of film.

[autismuk]

Did anyone say Denial of Service attack there ?

[_dobbo_]

autismuk said:

Did anyone say Denial of Service attack there ?

Careful, with all these new Terrorism laws they are trying to bring in, you might get yourself 90 days with a comment like that!

[targarama]

KITT said:

targarama said: If it has been flashing every car since last night it will have long since run out of film so I wouldn't be worried. They're Monitron digital ones that are linked via ADSL to their headquarters so never run out of film.

The buggers!

[Piglet]

Allegedy, these cameras are set (or will be by the sounds of things) to 1mph above the limit apparently the logic is that modern speedos are now accurate enough that the tolerences levels have been reduced.

[ewenm]

Piglet said:

Allegedy, these cameras are set (or will be by the sounds of things) to 1mph above the limit apparently the logic is that modern speedos are now accurate enough that the tolerences levels have been reduced.

And obviously we all drive "modern" cars

[_dobbo_]

That's great, my car is 13 years old so doesn't have a "modern" speedo.

[KITT]

Piglet, where did you hear that? I would very much doubt they'd be allowed to set the limits so strickly to be honest as not eveyone's speedo is that accurate. Even their website says:

Avon and Somerset SCP website said:

Will the new system mean the imposition of "zero tolerance"? The police have made it clear they will not be prosecuting people who drive just over the speed limit. They will continue to use their discretion, but will be seeking greater compliance. Better utilisation of cameras will allow them to enforce speed limits to the ACPO guidelines, where existing resource constraints may prevent this.

>> Edited by KITT on Wednesday 30th November 13:54

[outnumbered]

KITT said:

The cameras are apparently "collecting data", which I have no idea what that means

Their back-office operation will only have the ability to process a certain number of "offences" per day.

So they're using the cameras set at a low threshold to work out the lowest trigger speed that will keep their back-office 100% busy, and thus give them maximum ROI.

[Peter Ward]

outnumbered said:

KITT said: The cameras are apparently "collecting data", which I have no idea what that means Their back-office operation will only have the ability to process a certain number of "offences" per day. So they're using the cameras set at a low threshold to work out the lowest trigger speed that will keep their back-office 100% busy, and thus give them maximum ROI.

Better than that! They can determine the threshold daily based on the available throughput of the office and the number of drivers over each speed.

[KITT]

But what use is setting the threshold UNDER the limit

[deeps]

I went past that one this morning too, about 9am - 39mph, it didn't flash me tho. I haven't seen any of them flash yet.

I wonder why they haven't gone live yet? You can bet they want to rake in as much cash as possible, which makes me wonder if they're having problems with the system?

[KITT]

Well this evening it wasn't flashing at all so perhaps they've turned it off again due to all the complaints. I notice the one at the bottom of the Avonmouth bridge was only uncovered yesterday so they could well be having problems.

[just trouble]

outnumbered said:

KITT said: The cameras are apparently "collecting data", which I have no idea what that means Their back-office operation will only have the ability to process a certain number of "offences" per day. So they're using the cameras set at a low threshold to work out the lowest trigger speed that will keep their back-office 100% busy, and thus give them maximum ROI.

Evening fella's.They can process a lot of tickets but what they (Camera Partnerships,Police and Courts)really fear is a driver backlash where enough drivers say the authorities have gone too far.If that happens and enough drivers decide to "Go to Court" the judicial would simply implode and the courts would be swamped and even the most trivial offence would take years to be heard, and thats what the police fear most.Thats why should you have the audacity to challenge your speeding conviction the courts impose a larger fine and more points on your licence as a deterrent. So if we want to hit back thats what we need to do.
JT

>> Edited by just trouble on Thursday 1st December 21:57

[KITT]

FFS it's happened again! This time it's the first one heading southbound after the Avonmouth bridge. Both me and the car next to me doing ~37mph. What I don't understand is why it only went off when I went past. Didn't flash for anyone else

Now I'm paranoid.....

[_dobbo_]

KITT said:

FFS it's happened again! This time it's the first one heading southbound after the Avonmouth bridge. Both me and the car next to me doing ~37mph. What I don't understand is why it only went off when I went past. Didn't flash for anyone else Now I'm paranoid.....

Girlfriends sister got flashed by that one (whilst driving my car I should add) on Sunday... time will tell if an envelope will plop on my doormat.

[deeps]

A vehicle I was a passenger in went through that one today at about 45ish, it was hard to tell exactly what speed as the speedo needle was diving down rapidly from 65! If I pointed and shouted "camera" once I shouted it three times! There was no flash though.
"That's a sneaky bastard" the driver commented. Hehe.