Average speed cameras - what tolerance?

[Nigel_O]

On my daily commute is a three or four mile section of 60mph restricted dual carriageway with recently-installed average speed cameras (A38 south of Lichfield)

I generally trundle through at an indicated 61-62mph, as my SatNav confirms my car speedo to be a couple of mph optimistic.

However, I occasionally get passed by cars doing at least 10mph faster than me. Mostly, they are people who have no understanding of "average" as they brake for the cameras. Some are clearly forgetfull, as I pass them a couple of minutes later while they're doing 30mph in the nearside lane, trying to drive down the average (once came across a guy doing about 15mph, who had earier overtaken me at about 90).

However, it has got me wondering - at what speed do average speed cameras actually report an offence? I assume the old "10% + 2" may apply in order to accomodate the tolerance in OE speedometers, but I wouldn't surprise me if the tolerance is tighter than with "spot" cameras. Either way, I'm not willing to keep edging the speed up in a silly game of "NIP roulette". After all, its not a great distance, unlike the A14 jobbies.

I have to say though, the congestion on this stretch of DC has been notably reduced, so I'd have to (reluctantly) say they've had a positive effect. However, if you're northbound, it has also removed the opportunity to "make good progress" around one of the best bends I know - a perfect-radius gentle affair at the end of a long downhill straight - really sorts the men from the boys......

[covboy]

O/T but a word of warning.

Noticed this morning SPECS cameras being installed on the M6 south around J7/8.
Probably a pre curser to roadworks of some kind?

[andygo]

Its the 20 odd miles of M62 specs cameras that are a pain. Bunched up traffic, people falling asleep with the tediousness of 50 mph, and, oh, the invincibles who just carry on at 80 odd..

[Cyder]

I tend to set the cruise at speed limit + 10% when in roadworks and have never yet received a ticket.

While I appreciate the speedo probably under-reads, in the other car (MG ZR) the speedo accurate to 1mph and I do the same.

[simoid]

If they are switched on and working, it's likely that you can still do up to Speed Limit x 1.1 + 2mph and you'll be fine - perhaps slightly faster if you don't take the shortest route (i.e. a couple of lane changes/stay in the outermost lane of curves?!)

So this would be 68mph, or 72-73 on my speedo.

[Moose1978]

andygo said:

Its the 20 odd miles of M62 specs cameras that are a pain. Bunched up traffic, people falling asleep with the tediousness of 50 mph, and, oh, the invincibles who just carry on at 80 odd..

I have to dribble through these every day at 50mph. Personally, for the sake of 1-2mph I stick to the limit(ish)

They are working as well - http://www.batleynews.co.uk/news/local/more-batley...

Keeerching!

[simoid]

Or at least they were working until the time of writing that article

Spokesman for those who shall not be named said:

It is deeply concerning that so many drivers on the M62 are risking lives by breaking the speed limit. Speeding is criminal offence and a major cause of the deaths and serious injuries which take place on UK roads every single day.

We are calling on all drivers to have a heart behind the wheel and pledge to drive within speed limits at all time, helping to prevent deaths and serious injuries which cause devastation to families and communities.

Lying should be illegal!

[Terminator X]

I stick sat nav on 55mph through a 50 limit, no tickets to date.

TX.

[g3org3y]

Speedo indicated 55mph for the 50 zone. No tickets to date.

[JackJack]

Bit disapointed when I read through this post, I was hoping it was more to do with what tolerance they have against certain things such as fire..

[Mill Wheel]

JackJack said:

Bit disapointed when I read through this post, I was hoping it was more to do with what tolerance they have against certain things such as fire..

Flufnik will be along soon, to say he won't tolerate them at any cost!

[Rude-boy]

SPECS will have a tolerance but I do stick to them almost on the dot.

It is all to easy to slip from an indicated 50 to 56 in a swift car, especially when in 6th and the difference is only a few hundred rpm so you might not even notice the engine note change. I have crept up a few times on the A14 and only noticed when I had to pull out to overtake another whose speed I had previously matched (thought they had slowed down until I checked!)

Same with the road works, it just isn't worth the gamble of an extra 5mph or so. Or to put it another way it would be a fair cop to get 3 points for doing 90 on the motorway but I would feel I had cheated myself out of 3 points to get them for 77mph on the A14!

[R300will]

You can do 62 through a 50mph average with no problems.

Also if you did get nicked for it could you apply the james may logic of well the work force wasn't there at the time and therfore there was no one to protect by going slowly so i sped up to 70mph?

[zip929]

I never cease to be amazed at the amount of people who seem to have exemptions from these things.
You can sit there at 55 and cars pass at 70+. Are they stolen, car not registered in their name or do they really have an exemption!

[finbarcorky]

I know for a fact that in the 50mph on the M25 you'll get done (assuming you don't deviate into other lanes) at 58.
Stay at 57 and you be fine.



(speed awareness course booked. )

[infradig]

zip929 said:

I never cease to be amazed at the amount of people who seem to have exemptions from these things.
You can sit there at 55 and cars pass at 70+. Are they stolen, car not registered in their name or do they really have an exemption!

Or are they all getting nicked? Some may be unregistered or cloned plates etc,but I bet most of them,if not lucky enough to change lanes at the right time or are shielded by a lorry are getting the good news in the post a few days later.

[Nigel_O]

finbarcorky said:

I know for a fact that in the 50mph on the M25 you'll get done (assuming you don't deviate into other lanes) at 58.
Stay at 57 and you be fine.

Looks like the old "10% + 2mph" again....

PS - I thought the old change lanes trick had been proven not to work under the latest cameras.

I've often wondered the same as the comment earlier - are all the cars cruising past me getting nicked, or do their drivers know something I don't? I'm still not sure I want to test the theory though...

While we're on the subject - here's another question...

In most average speed camera zones, there are multiple sets of cameras. The ones on the A38 have three sets - beginning, middle and end. So - if I average 70 through the first section and 50 through the second, I'll average 60 through the entire section (assuming the middle set of cameras is indeed in the middle) - will I get done for the first section? I'm thinking 'yes'

[4rephill]

zip929 said:

I never cease to be amazed at the amount of people who seem to have exemptions from these things.
You can sit there at 55 and cars pass at 70+. Are they stolen, car not registered in their name or do they really have an exemption!

There's one that I occasionally drive through in which I don't have to worry about My speed simply because My exit junction comes long before the second set of cameras so My average speed doesn't matter.

(Unless my exit junction is closed! )

[0000]

I've always gone through them at an indicated 10mph above. Never had anything from them.

[Terminator X]

finbarcorky said:

I know for a fact that in the 50mph on the M25 you'll get done (assuming you don't deviate into other lanes) at 58.
Stay at 57 and you be fine.

(speed awareness course booked. )

What was your speedo reading though, 65mph?

TX.