RE: PH Blog: let's talk about SPECS
Discussion
fozluvscars said:
do you need to go through two camera's to trigger them? i ask as i routinely drive past one camera before pulling off the motorway, and always slow down. i've never had the guts to charge past and see what happens...
Yes, you need to go past at least 2 cameras and it works out your average speed between the two based on ANPR technology (Automatic number plate recognition).Does anybody else get the impression that Chris Harris (author) has not quite grasped this?
73RS said:
Easy. SPECS are front facing, so........ride a motorbike!
There have been instances where bikers have fallen victim to front facing cameras and have been hunted down, prosecuted and subsequently convicted, albeit that these cases tended to be a little more serious than just a handful of mph over the posted limit.. I've blasted through loads of these, especially the one at the top of the M3 at the M25, heading south. Ive literally done 80 straight through it and heard zip, zilch, nada.*
Often there are only two cameras covering 3 lanes, so one lane is not being monitored, but the unmonitored lane seems to alternate at different spots along the route.
At night, they are normally accompanied by a lighting plant, to illuminate number plates (I asume - as they dont flash). No lighting plant or lighting plant turned off, assume camera inoperational.
Also, the cameras need at least two recordings of your position on that stretch, in different places, to judge your speed. So look ahead for an artic, draw to his 5 or 5:30 position at the back of the trailer as you approach then accelerate alongside as you go by the camera. You're completely hidden from view, no second recording, no speed calculation. You can sometimes hop from artic to artic if you time it right.*
* Ive never done any of this stuff mentioned in this post. Ever.
Often there are only two cameras covering 3 lanes, so one lane is not being monitored, but the unmonitored lane seems to alternate at different spots along the route.
At night, they are normally accompanied by a lighting plant, to illuminate number plates (I asume - as they dont flash). No lighting plant or lighting plant turned off, assume camera inoperational.
Also, the cameras need at least two recordings of your position on that stretch, in different places, to judge your speed. So look ahead for an artic, draw to his 5 or 5:30 position at the back of the trailer as you approach then accelerate alongside as you go by the camera. You're completely hidden from view, no second recording, no speed calculation. You can sometimes hop from artic to artic if you time it right.*
* Ive never done any of this stuff mentioned in this post. Ever.
I've toyed with the idea of constructing a device comprising an electromagnet & switch, a large steel washer and a packet of crisps.
First I fit the electromagnet behind the front numberplate, mounting the switch somewhere discreet in the driver's footwell. With the magnet switched on, I eat the crisps then pop the washer into the empty packet and stick it to the numberplate so it is held on by the magnet neatly obscuring the number plate.
Should plod put in an appearance, a quick flick of the switch and "what crisp packet, officer?"
Plus I get to eat the crisps. Win win, I think you'll agree.
First I fit the electromagnet behind the front numberplate, mounting the switch somewhere discreet in the driver's footwell. With the magnet switched on, I eat the crisps then pop the washer into the empty packet and stick it to the numberplate so it is held on by the magnet neatly obscuring the number plate.
Should plod put in an appearance, a quick flick of the switch and "what crisp packet, officer?"
Plus I get to eat the crisps. Win win, I think you'll agree.
miniman said:
I've toyed with the idea of constructing a device comprising an electromagnet & switch, a large steel washer and a packet of crisps.
First I fit the electromagnet behind the front numberplate, mounting the switch somewhere discreet in the driver's footwell. With the magnet switched on, I eat the crisps then pop the washer into the empty packet and stick it to the numberplate so it is held on by the magnet neatly obscuring the number plate.
Should plod put in an appearance, a quick flick of the switch and "what crisp packet, officer?"
Plus I get to eat the crisps. Win win, I think you'll agree.
i'd use walkers sensations as you'll get more plate coverageFirst I fit the electromagnet behind the front numberplate, mounting the switch somewhere discreet in the driver's footwell. With the magnet switched on, I eat the crisps then pop the washer into the empty packet and stick it to the numberplate so it is held on by the magnet neatly obscuring the number plate.
Should plod put in an appearance, a quick flick of the switch and "what crisp packet, officer?"
Plus I get to eat the crisps. Win win, I think you'll agree.
G0ldfysh said:
No front number plate, never stays stuck long enough after the MOT for some reason. ;-)
I use the same approach. I panicked when my Dad pointed out that my tax-disc has my reg no. on it. I remain confident that the resolution of the cameras wouldn't allow them to read that though.Especially now I've positioned the reg no. on it under my windscreen wiper...
jonby said:
I have a pogo gps speed camera unit
through specs areas, it shows your average speed between each camera as well as the speed limit and your current speed
I get great satisfaction, if I've been slowed down by cars in front, to then speed up, over the limit, keeping an eye on my average, maximising my possible speed without triggering the camera. The GPS unit resets average speed at each camera point and actually shows the camera number e.g. 4th of 6, so if you miss a camera through being distracted or blocked from view by na HGV, you can still see the data
Childish but fun
You are 100% correct and they work very well indeed. The Pogo Alert+ clearly shows your average speed throughout the SPECS zone so you can poodle along for miles, check your average speed is say 47mph and floor it ensuring it doesn't read over 55 typically. You'd be surprised how much speed you can "store up" cleary indicated on a Pogo Alert (they are a great scamera alert device of course), then go for it to the amazement of everyone else.through specs areas, it shows your average speed between each camera as well as the speed limit and your current speed
I get great satisfaction, if I've been slowed down by cars in front, to then speed up, over the limit, keeping an eye on my average, maximising my possible speed without triggering the camera. The GPS unit resets average speed at each camera point and actually shows the camera number e.g. 4th of 6, so if you miss a camera through being distracted or blocked from view by na HGV, you can still see the data
Childish but fun
So I'm told anyway.
You can buy them here I've just noticed: http://www.hamradio.co.uk/gadgets/pogo/pogo-alert-...
r129sl said:
The number of people who whizz through with impunity leads me to think that they know for sure the cameras are off.
I was thinking that for a 40mph section of them on the M5 for a while. A few weeks later a sign appeared saying they had caught a shed load of people for speeding. And the number passing me was quite reduced.I just stick the cruise on at 50mph (on the gps) and generally find I'm passing most people except trucks. Who, because they finally can tailgate cars (who are just trying to stick to the limit), decide that they should.
if SPECS cameras do worry you then there is no better speed camera device than the pogo alert plus for warning you of these. The Pogo Alert+ offers extra warnings for SPECS cameras, it will work out your personnel average speed and display this on the screen, so you can drive through the the spec zones with total peace of mind knowing what your actual average speed is you are doing.
please see the screen shots of this:
hope that helps, if you need any more info on these devices please contact me as my profile states.
please see the screen shots of this:
hope that helps, if you need any more info on these devices please contact me as my profile states.
Edited by MADT350 on Tuesday 15th May 14:40
If we assume a world can't exist without speed cameras then SPECs seems like the least invasive and arbitrary.
It recognises that you might have a need to go a little faster than the speed limit to complete a maneuver, without the implication as per GATSO that travelling 5mph faster than the speed limit makes you reckless.
It recognises that you might have a need to go a little faster than the speed limit to complete a maneuver, without the implication as per GATSO that travelling 5mph faster than the speed limit makes you reckless.
Kenzle said:
Si_man306 said:
A good friend of mine (lady) did once not realise that they 'worked at night' and did a solid 80 through the whole thing (M25 road works) and never saw anything through the post- so perhaps they aren't on at night? I won't be testing that though thanks!
Has anyone on here actually been sent a NIP for speeding through a SPECS? I have yet to hear of a single case of anyone ever being caught by these things.Jakdaw said:
MrTickle said:
I think you mean 60mph on your speedo before triggering a 50mpg camera?
They have cameras that can measure fuel economy now? I'm fooked...
thats me fooked too then.... the green party come into power, they will have average economy cameras all over the place! GreenDog said:
I thought the owner of the car became liable in these circumstances.
If the driver's identity couldn't be confirmed, it's likely they would pursue a case of failing to furnish against the recipient(s) of any NIP / s.172 request where the required information was not supplied.SS2. said:
GreenDog said:
I thought the owner of the car became liable in these circumstances.
If the driver's identity couldn't be confirmed, it's likely they would pursue a case of failing to furnish against the recipient(s) of any NIP / s.172 request where the required information was not supplied.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff