Variable speed limits - Policed?

[sday12]

Essex and Kent sides, are the cameras operational for speed detection/prosecution yet?

Weren't working in October:

http://assets.highways.gov.uk/freedom-of-informati...

[AJ3XX]

Not sure what cameras your referring too but for the record folks, my old man just got a ticket through this week for speeding on Dartford Bridge - wait for it .... 58 in a 50 limit !!

Booked on 28th Dec.

Andy

[rijmij99]

10% + 3mph so sounds about right

[bbd1]

You are allowed 10% plus 9 MPH before it goes to court, so 58 MPH will be a speed awareness course (if offered, they normally are) for approx £100 or 3 points and £60 fine.

The Dartford Crossing cameras aren't always on apparently, they probably couldn't process all the offences no doubt!

[rijmij99]

bbd1 said:

You are allowed 10% plus 9 MPH before it goes to court, so 58 MPH will be a speed awareness course (if offered, they normally are) for approx £100 or 3 points and £60 fine.

The Dartford Crossing cameras aren't always on apparently, they probably couldn't process all the offences no doubt!

So you could do 41 in a 30 and not go to court? I think I'd be very lucky to get away with that

[sday12]

Not referring to cameras on bridge, referring to variable gantry limits.

[bbd1]

rijmij99 said:

So you could do 41 in a 30 and not go to court? I think I'd be very lucky to get away with that

I was recently on a speed awareness course and we were told a maximum of 10% + 9MPH, before a court summons, I suppose it depends on your local force.
The actual ACPO guidelines seem rather high!


"Association of Chief Police Officers Guidelines,

Below is a table of the current guidelines given to the ACPO:
Speed Limit, Fixed Penalty, Court Summons,
20 Mph 25 Mph 35 Mph
30 Mph 35 Mph 50 Mph
40 Mph 46 Mph 66 Mph
50 Mph 57 Mph 76 Mph
60 Mph 68 Mph 86 Mph
70 Mph 79 Mph 96 Mph

These guidelines set out the minimum figures at which a Fixed Penalty Notice and a Court Summons would normally be considered appropriate for a speeding offence, if there are no other aggravating circumstances."

Edited by bbd1 on Sunday 5th January 20:59

[Humpy D]

I have certainly seen the cameras flash on the gantries between junctions 3 and 2 anti-clockwise.

Plus a colleague of mine got a fine for doing about 58 in the 50 limit just before the tolls, where it goes to 50 about half a mile from the tolls anti-clockwise.

As a result I never exceed these limits in this area. And am consequently overtaken by 90% of other road users! And no, I don't dawdle at 40mph!!

[sday12]

To clarify


I know the lead up to the dartford Bridge has SPECS and they work.



My question was:

Are the variable gantry limited enforced by cameras installed either side of the bridge?

the answer seems to be no, although they are installed, they are not operational, yet.

[Humpy D]

Well, I wouldn't risk it!!!

[e36er]

I was told a few days ago by a guy in one of the toll booths that the cameras on the bridge work, it seems he was telling the truth. However, I drive at an indicated 60mph and I've not had any problems. I know for a fact that you can drive as quickly as you dare to going through the tunnel...

[sday12]

I know the bridge ones work!

[rgw2012]

bbd1 said:

You are allowed 10% plus 9 MPH before it goes to court, so 58 MPH will be a speed awareness course (if offered, they normally are) for approx £100 or 3 points and £60 fine.

The Dartford Crossing cameras aren't always on apparently, they probably couldn't process all the offences no doubt!

Your information on the fixed penalty fine is incorrect I'm afraid - it is a £100 fine and 3 points for a fixed penalty these days - long gone is the £60 fine. The speed awareness courses generally come in at about the same cost as the fine but with the added benefit of no points!!

[Humpy D]

e36er said:

I was told a few days ago by a guy in one of the toll booths that the cameras on the bridge work, it seems he was telling the truth. However, I drive at an indicated 60mph and I've not had any problems. I know for a fact that you can drive as quickly as you dare to going through the tunnel...

No wonder there are always queues at the tolls if you're chatting to the toll booth operatives!!

[Inverness]

sday12 said:

To clarify


I know the lead up to the dartford Bridge has SPECS and they work.



My question was:

Are the variable gantry limited enforced by cameras installed either side of the bridge?

the answer seems to be no, although they are installed, they are not operational, yet.

Since they have been installed I have seen variable speed limits on them only a hand full of times (I travel on this part of the M25 on a regular basis and at different times and days).

However between Jcn 2 and 3 IIRC only one gantry on each side has cameras fitted to it and between 27 and 30 IIRC there are no more than 4 gantries with cameras.

As on other replies Jcn 2 to the toll booths have specs (none in tunnel) and Jcn 31 to toll booths have specs.

It is my understaning that when no speed limit is shown they only go off at speeds above 88mph however I would not recommend testing this, but would recommend you stay at 80 or below.

HTH

[sday12]

Inverness said:

sday12 said:

To clarify


I know the lead up to the dartford Bridge has SPECS and they work.



My question was:

Are the variable gantry limited enforced by cameras installed either side of the bridge?

the answer seems to be no, although they are installed, they are not operational, yet.

Since they have been installed I have seen variable speed limits on them only a hand full of times (I travel on this part of the M25 on a regular basis and at different times and days).

However between Jcn 2 and 3 IIRC only one gantry on each side has cameras fitted to it and between 27 and 30 IIRC there are no more than 4 gantries with cameras.

As on other replies Jcn 2 to the toll booths have specs (none in tunnel) and Jcn 31 to toll booths have specs.

It is my understaning that when no speed limit is shown they only go off at speeds above 88mph however I would not recommend testing this, but would recommend you stay at 80 or below.

HTH

Thanks for the info.

No, they don't go off over 88, past them many times (with a friend) way over 100.

[Inverness]

sday12 said:

Thanks for the info.

No, they don't go off over 88, past them many times (with a friend) way over 100.

I have seen them flash twice since they went up but always the other side, so perhaps when the speed limit sign was showing on the gantry

[Gandahar]

Inverness said:

sday12 said:

Thanks for the info.

No, they don't go off over 88, past them many times (with a friend) way over 100.

I have seen them flash twice since they went up but always the other side, so perhaps when the speed limit sign was showing on the gantry

Yes they seem to be in operation now when the speed limit is on, I saw this earlier this week

[sday12]

Gandahar said:

Inverness said:

sday12 said:

Thanks for the info.

No, they don't go off over 88, past them many times (with a friend) way over 100.

I have seen them flash twice since they went up but always the other side, so perhaps when the speed limit sign was showing on the gantry

Yes they seem to be in operation now when the speed limit is on, I saw this earlier this week

No, they are not, they would need to tell us they are operational.

[rgw2012]

sday12 said:

No, they are not, they would need to tell us they are operational.

How would they do that then? Once they are approved for operation they will just be used without warning. They only put up signs saying they aren't operational yet (or blanked out speed cameras logo signs), once they have gone they are being used. The police also have the ability to have them switched on even when not enforcing the variable limit so I wouldn't be so sure you are safe to speed through them at any time.