M4 / M5 Gatsos are now live - beware!
Discussion
BFG TERRANO said:
Wing Commander said:
Didn't have to wait that long. 46mph in the 40mph zone so somewhat disproves the 10% +2 theory.
Don't even get a photo for my £100 either! Crap
Still not had mine....? Flashed on November 11th.Don't even get a photo for my £100 either! Crap
Wing Commander said:
I got flashed there doing about 45 or so. It was about 3 weeks ago and so far nothing through. I understand it takes two photos and they count how many white dashes you pass between photos to determine speed.
The gantry cameras and most Bristol cameras like the Monitrons (Small box high up on single pole) are digital capture. There method of "capture" is either by radar or induction loop. I "think" the M5 Managed Motorway ones are radar, those on the M42/M25 "used to be" induction loop but its been a while since Ive been round those parts.Monitrons usually operate off induction loop and can be dual mode at T.L junctions. They can capture Red Light offences and (if set) can capture speeding through the junction as well. A38 (Filton College Junction) is an example of such a dual mode camera. However there are no markings at the junction and therefore unsure how this would stand legally...
The original Gatsos (Large box cranked over pole) are/were being phased out or replace with monitron unless in rural locations where provision of a digital link is unavaliable and film is retained. These are radar based.
All calculate your speed via the capture mode, the white lines provide calibration and "back up" where the calculated speed is disputed.
SPECs is the average speed camera timing point A - B and calculating your average speed...often used on Motorway Works but can also be fixed.
Word on the street is that a new camera has been developed for the motorway network which is a camera head smaller than monitrons, on tall pole positioned hard over in to the verge and can scan all three lanes...not CCTV camers though...
Edited by BristolRich on Thursday 11th December 13:31
Edited by BristolRich on Thursday 11th December 13:33
Edited by BristolRich on Thursday 11th December 13:36
Wing Commander said:
Got flashed going North on the M5 just about to turn off onto the M4.
As per previous posts, it was 60 60 60 60 etc and then a quick single 40 right at the end and I was too busy merging and driving etc. Still my fault, of course, but pretty pointless as I was slowing down and looking at my speedo showed just under 50 I think and I was already on the brakes. Ho hum, let's see if I get my government issued christmas present of a picture of my car.
I've received a NIP for 61 in a 40. This was Southbound on the M5 running down towards the Cribbs junction, all set to 60 except the last gantry which must have been 40 as remember my missus looking over at the speedo as I was going under the penultimate gantry and was doing bang on 60 and the gantry was showing 60. Don't dispute I was doing the speed just don't understand why the last gantry was set at 40mph - motorway wasn't particularly busy, traffic flowing fine and no queues for the Cribbs junction. As per previous posts, it was 60 60 60 60 etc and then a quick single 40 right at the end and I was too busy merging and driving etc. Still my fault, of course, but pretty pointless as I was slowing down and looking at my speedo showed just under 50 I think and I was already on the brakes. Ho hum, let's see if I get my government issued christmas present of a picture of my car.
Out of interest how can they prove the sign was showing 40mph as I went through it, no doubt the computers will state it is the case but is there photographic evidence showing the speed on the gantry with my car going underneath it? This would presumably require a camera set back from the gantry as well as the camera on the gantry itself? There doesn't appear to be any way of asking for this unless you don't accept the fine and points and go to court instead.
I'm not trying to wriggle out of it, don't deny I was doing that speed, I'd just like to understand how the system works and would also like to understand why the random 40 after all the others were set at 60 and the road ahead was clear!!
I would hope they have the exact time the gantry changed to 40 and the exact time you were snapped and I would expect at LEAST a generous gap of between 6 and 7 seconds to safely get your speed down from 60 to 40 after the sign has changed. Any less and I believe a case for appeal is there. 
Onz said:
I've received a NIP for 61 in a 40. This was Southbound on the M5 running down towards the Cribbs junction, all set to 60 except the last gantry which must have been 40 as remember my missus looking over at the speedo as I was going under the penultimate gantry and was doing bang on 60 and the gantry was showing 60. Don't dispute I was doing the speed just don't understand why the last gantry was set at 40mph - motorway wasn't particularly busy, traffic flowing fine and no queues for the Cribbs junction.
Out of interest how can they prove the sign was showing 40mph as I went through it, no doubt the computers will state it is the case but is there photographic evidence showing the speed on the gantry with my car going underneath it? This would presumably require a camera set back from the gantry as well as the camera on the gantry itself? There doesn't appear to be any way of asking for this unless you don't accept the fine and points and go to court instead.
I'm not trying to wriggle out of it, don't deny I was doing that speed, I'd just like to understand how the system works and would also like to understand why the random 40 after all the others were set at 60 and the road ahead was clear!!
I must have got done on the same day / place as you... cars Qing for cribs... 60, 60, 60, 40Out of interest how can they prove the sign was showing 40mph as I went through it, no doubt the computers will state it is the case but is there photographic evidence showing the speed on the gantry with my car going underneath it? This would presumably require a camera set back from the gantry as well as the camera on the gantry itself? There doesn't appear to be any way of asking for this unless you don't accept the fine and points and go to court instead.
I'm not trying to wriggle out of it, don't deny I was doing that speed, I'd just like to understand how the system works and would also like to understand why the random 40 after all the others were set at 60 and the road ahead was clear!!
I was doing 47
It seems to happen quite often along that stretch that they suddenly put a 40 at the end. We went through back before Christmas and the signs were flicking between 40 and 60 all the way through...don't think they could make up their minds what speed to set it at.
Has anyone else also experienced the cameras only flashing once? We can through early hours of New Years Day, the matix signs weren't lit, we were doing 60 and got flashed once by the cameras.
Has anyone else also experienced the cameras only flashing once? We can through early hours of New Years Day, the matix signs weren't lit, we were doing 60 and got flashed once by the cameras.
I'm not sure I understand the logic of when the gantries are on or off.
Early Saturday I went SB on the M5 and the weather was appauling. Busy, low cloud, mist, drizzle spray, poor light and visibility yet the gantries remained switched off. Went NB on the M5 last night and didnt seem overly busy but was set to the 60 60 60 "QUEUE AHEAD" (No Queue) 40 40 60 and to 40 once on the M4.
SB on the M5 I also struggle to see the gantry matrix signs nearest "Asda" on the bend as the angle of them is set so that you have to be head onto them to see them...but whilst approaching them (required to adjust your speed) you are outside of the viewing angle of the LED matrix due to the curve of the road and hence unable to see them clearly.
Early Saturday I went SB on the M5 and the weather was appauling. Busy, low cloud, mist, drizzle spray, poor light and visibility yet the gantries remained switched off. Went NB on the M5 last night and didnt seem overly busy but was set to the 60 60 60 "QUEUE AHEAD" (No Queue) 40 40 60 and to 40 once on the M4.
MudSkipper said:
Has anyone else also experienced the cameras only flashing once? We can through early hours of New Years Day, the matix signs weren't lit, we were doing 60 and got flashed once by the cameras.
Did this to someone adjacent to us last night M5 NB. We were doing an indicated 40 in the 40 and he was crawling past us...SB on the M5 I also struggle to see the gantry matrix signs nearest "Asda" on the bend as the angle of them is set so that you have to be head onto them to see them...but whilst approaching them (required to adjust your speed) you are outside of the viewing angle of the LED matrix due to the curve of the road and hence unable to see them clearly.
BristolRich said:
Went NB on the M5 last night and didnt seem overly busy but was set to the 60 60 60 "QUEUE AHEAD" (No Queue) 40 40 60 and to 40 once on the M4.
If they work then that's exactly what should happen. Without them there would be a queue (hence queue ahead), with them there wasn't one. Dancing the speeds around seems odd but if it works....
Gerradi said:
When its lit up showing "60" you know it will flash above this , when its not lit up will they flash if you go above "70" or just let you go above the national speed limit?
Who will try ...
IIRC some people have been done for >78mph when no limit was displayed on the sign. In other words, they're always live and should be treated as such.Who will try ...
runcoach 100 said:
I can confirm that the Gantry Cameras on the M5 Southbound around the Cribbs Causeway area are active and they are issuing tickets. Received one today, offering speed awareness school for doing 81 mph in a 70mph limit. There were no active limits displayed on the gantries so this is a straightforward ticket for exceeding the national speed limit. Beware if you are passing the area. It was night time so I cannot recall which particular gantry set flashed me but it was in the section between the m4 junction with the M5 and the cribbs causeway area heading southbound on the M5
plus one other for 85.So definitely no piss taking when nothing's displayed.
N Dentressangle said:
IIRC some people have been done for >78mph when no limit was displayed on the sign. In other words, they're always live and should be treated as such.
My Dad got done on the M4 Brizzle cams doing 85. Muppet. He is now well aware they are all 70 cameras when not in use....Nearly got caught out by the drop to 40mph at the Cribbs junction by Asda. It was only because a Mondeo a few cars ahead got flashed that I realised it had dropped to 40mph and slowed down. It kind of makes sense when the traffic is queueing back at that junction, but I thought that was the whole point of opening up the hard shoulder as another lane when it's busy. It also doesn't help that people queue in that line, when they can just stay in lane 1 and exit right the end. The only bit that gets backed up is the lanes on the left that go to the retail bits, not the lanes that go over that junction and down towards the BMW & Porsche garage.
Usually flashes twice, but on another occasion last week, coming back again towards Cribbs, one on the opposite side flashed just once.
Also seen them flash when no limit is displayed and people have gone through in normal moving traffic, at speeds that didn't even look like they were going above the speed limit.
The only way to be safe is to go through the ones with cameras at the indicated speed, and 70mph at all other times.
Before it was known they were giving tickets even when no reduced limit was set, I had assumed they weren't on and had gone through at varying speeds. Never had a ticket, but don't take that risk now, always stick to 70mph through them.
From where I join on the M5 and M4, the patterm seems to be every other gantry has a camera, so quite easy to remember, and also quite easy to see which ones have cameras just looking. I think there's 1 on the M4 between Cribbs and the M32 that isn't that easy to spot if it's dark.
Usually flashes twice, but on another occasion last week, coming back again towards Cribbs, one on the opposite side flashed just once.
Also seen them flash when no limit is displayed and people have gone through in normal moving traffic, at speeds that didn't even look like they were going above the speed limit.
The only way to be safe is to go through the ones with cameras at the indicated speed, and 70mph at all other times.
Before it was known they were giving tickets even when no reduced limit was set, I had assumed they weren't on and had gone through at varying speeds. Never had a ticket, but don't take that risk now, always stick to 70mph through them.
From where I join on the M5 and M4, the patterm seems to be every other gantry has a camera, so quite easy to remember, and also quite easy to see which ones have cameras just looking. I think there's 1 on the M4 between Cribbs and the M32 that isn't that easy to spot if it's dark.
(although a speed awareness course isn't so bad i guess)Gassing Station | South West | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff