Are the M4 Gantry Cameras still in use?
Are the M4 Gantry Cameras still in use?
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geeks

Original Poster:

11,680 posts

169 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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Stupid ahole here!

Had just made it over the Severn Bridge last night on my way to Cardiff, got to the roadworks and the first gantry was lit up showing a 50 limit, began slowing but hadn't slowed enough by the time I went under it and it flashed me (well I assume it was me car behind was up my arse and car in lane 2 was moving as fast as me but also slowing) I think I went under at around 60 or just under. Are the M4 gantry cameras still in use? If so, as its my first offence, at that speed, one would assume I am in the guidelines for a SAC?

So pissed at myself for not braking harder, I do a lot of miles ad am usually hyper-aware of these things (have a friend who works on the roads and tells me about some of the near-misses they have had) but this is just one of those things, should have, would have, could have and all that!

Slagathore

6,225 posts

222 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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Not 100% sure on the section you were on, but at the Cribbs M4/M5 interchange, they got removed all the gantry cameras and just kept the hadecs cameras that stick out on the left side.

Possibly the same on that bit as well?


geeks

Original Poster:

11,680 posts

169 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
quotequote all
It was late dark and raining so not 100% which bit I had made it up to as well but there were no yellow HADECS off to one side, ah well, will just have to wait and see what arrives in the post over the next few weeks and suck it up buttercup!

xjay1337

15,966 posts

148 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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Gantry no, as above, cameras on the left hand side.

I pretty much stick the limits at all times along there.

No need to rush as most of the M4 between J19 and J3 you can sit at 90+ without worrying about cameras. Aside from the stty bit around J10.

Jim AK

4,029 posts

154 months

Monday 22nd January 2018
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Not sure if true but I was told 58mph is SAC time!

ghe13rte

1,860 posts

146 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
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xjay1337 said:
Gantry no, as above, cameras on the left hand side.

I pretty much stick the limits at all times along there.

No need to rush as most of the M4 between J19 and J3 you can sit at 90+ without worrying about cameras. Aside from the stty bit around J10.
Not on the M4 in Wales. Their Gantry cameras are still in use and are not part of the Highways England HADECS2 to 3 upgrade.
So this flash will likely cause a ticket for one of the 2 cars the OP mentions, most probably the front of they are both at the same speed.

Seesure

1,230 posts

269 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
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If it was you that triggered the camera expect a letter within the week, as the Gwent Police were pretty dammed efficient in getting the paperwork out in my experience.

I got my gantries mixed up driving eastbound on the other side of the Brynglas tunnels early last year at almost midnight, when, despite there being hardly any other vehicles around the limit was shown as 50mph.

I was clocked at 62mph and given the option of attending "The National Driver Offender Retraining Scheme"... LOL

So hopefully if it was you that's the worst case scenario you can expect.

geeks

Original Poster:

11,680 posts

169 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
quotequote all
Pretty sure the flash was me, however you always hope it wasn't for you or that the camera is "full" or whatever hehe

anonymous-user

84 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
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ghe13rte said:
Their Gantry cameras are still in use and are not part of the Highways England HADECS2 to 3 upgrade.
biglaugh I had an email querying something to do with service areas in that neck of the woods. Easy answer. 'Ring the Welsh office/Transport for wales'.
Same for Scottish 'issues' ring them biglaugh
Although the TSRGD does cover all the 'home' nations.

Pebbles167

4,586 posts

182 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
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Not sure if they've changed it since, but for what it's worth, I was done by this exact camera at the start of 2017. 59mph in a 50. I took a speed awareness course smile.

xjay1337

15,966 posts

148 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
quotequote all
ghe13rte said:
Not on the M4 in Wales. Their Gantry cameras are still in use and are not part of the Highways England HADECS2 to 3 upgrade.
So this flash will likely cause a ticket for one of the 2 cars the OP mentions, most probably the front of they are both at the same speed.
Doh. Serves me right for not reading. I thought it said heading into wales just before the bridge. Doh

f1rob

317 posts

206 months

Tuesday 23rd January 2018
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VERY active think they went live last summer
Adds half hr to my home bound journey on a fri night since they went on and in the summer traffic was queued back to the tolls
Use to be a loverly bit of rd with hardly any major hold ups

geeks

Original Poster:

11,680 posts

169 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Pretty sure they have been there longer than that! Although you might be referring to the "smart" gantries with the variable limit signs

Seesure

1,230 posts

269 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
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According to Walesonline they went live in September 2016,

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/varia...

A real pain in the backside as the Welsh Highways Agency seem to switch them on for pretty much any excuse...

First drop of rain and the matrix boards tell you that it's poor weather - and the limit is dropped... not that we don't have windows in our cars etc...

I'd rather they tell the MLMs to move over as that whole stretch (Magor through to Miskin and beyond) always seems held to ransom by the sheer ineptitude of drivers being half asleep and failing to move over..

xjay1337

15,966 posts

148 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Seesure said:
According to Walesonline they went live in September 2016,

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/varia...

A real pain in the backside as the Welsh Highways Agency seem to switch them on for pretty much any excuse...

First drop of rain and the matrix boards tell you that it's poor weather - and the limit is dropped... not that we don't have windows in our cars etc...

I'd rather they tell the MLMs to move over as that whole stretch (Magor through to Miskin and beyond) always seems held to ransom by the sheer ineptitude of drivers being half asleep and failing to move over..
Like the signs that say "WARNING - FOG" ..
Oh thanks, as if we didn't know... !

Pebbles167

4,586 posts

182 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
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They display 50 most of the time. Even at about 3am. They are often off going westbound at around 6am weirdly.

surveyor_101

5,069 posts

209 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
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All the motorway around bristol , the cameras are on 24/7

We have had van drivers done dowing 78mph when the national sign is showing at 3am!

geeks

Original Poster:

11,680 posts

169 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
Well just to satisfy any curiosity I can confirm the cameras are indeed working, NIP landed at home today, clocked doing 57MPH at M4 Junction 23a to 24! Wife just sent me a pic of the letter as I am still away working.

Gwent Police do not hang around do they hehe

Pebbles167

4,586 posts

182 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
surveyor_101 said:
All the motorway around bristol , the cameras are on 24/7

We have had van drivers done dowing 78mph when the national sign is showing at 3am!
By 'off' I mean not advertising a lower speed. You are right in the fact that they are always on. I remember when I tried to argue that in the south west section. A lot of people flat out refused to belive it.

geeks said:
Well just to satisfy any curiosity I can confirm the cameras are indeed working, NIP landed at home today, clocked doing 57MPH at M4 Junction 23a to 24! Wife just sent me a pic of the letter as I am still away working.

Gwent Police do not hang around do they hehe
1mph less and you'd likely have been Ok! frown

Seesure

1,230 posts

269 months

Wednesday 24th January 2018
quotequote all
geeks said:
Well just to satisfy any curiosity I can confirm the cameras are indeed working, NIP landed at home today, clocked doing 57MPH at M4 Junction 23a to 24! Wife just sent me a pic of the letter as I am still away working.

Gwent Police do not hang around do they hehe
Very unlucky ! At least you'll have the opportunity to select the National Driver Offenders Rehabilitation Scheme course. ..

The title of the scheme makes it sound as though you've committed a truly heinous crime.... smile