Average speed cameras tolerance

[numtumfutunch]

TL:DR

Did approx 50 miles on the M1 today in the 60mph camera limit and had a decent number of cars overtake me at well over the limit which makes me think they know something I dont

The long version......

Hello people

Following a family medical emergency I had to make a last minute trip from Leeds to London today

As some of you may know theres a big chunk of the M1 under a 60mph temporary limit due to smart motorway roadworks

On both legs of the trip I was overtaken by a significant number of cars travelling at what Id estimate was well over 70mph and in some instances significantly higher

If the average speed cameras work as advertised then each one would surely be in trouble and there can be no reason the drivers wouldnt have known of he enforcement as it was pretty jolly well signed

So either they're stupid or have other reasons to suggest some kind of immunity????

My first thought was cloned plates and at least one fitted this prejudice

On the other hand most didnt - although a shiny Ford on a 20 plate *may* have been a hire car and the driver knew damn well that they wouldnt be chased for fine or points if they lived abroad

But a reasonable number didnt fit either stereotype and so either knew the cameras were switched off, were set to 80mph when the limit was 60 or had some kind of immunity

Thoughts??

[Wills2]

I would say within 10% of your indicated speed vs the posted limit of 60mph is OK, but I'd also say don't worry about what others do just do what you feel is appropriate.

[LukeBrown66]

At times I think some are exiting or have entered via a junction with no camera, so feel able to speed for a small part.

But I also think even now some people dont understand how they work, I usually stick to a couple of mph over to make sure the vigilantes dont hold me up or the people who lane hog even then.

But have never got a ticket

[croyde]

There's a stretch of road on my commute for the past year that's 40 average speed.

I can see 45 on my gps and have not had a ticket. I tend to be the quickest on there but do get the odd car overtaking and then slamming their brakes on when they see the cameras.

Obviously no idea.

More annoying are the 35mph lot that sit in the outside lane and don't use the empty inside lanes.

[spikeyhead]

An indicated 70 would be a real 66 in my Mondeo. That's 10% over the posted limit and probably the most you'll do without a chance of trouble.

[Boosted LS1]

I always add 10% to the speedo reading and have never had a ticket. It seems to match the speed of the other quicker cars that may be using my method or gps.

[Red9zero]

One of our engineers got a ticket for 57 in a 50 average. He had assumed 10% + 2mph was ok.

[Mandat]

I tend keep my average speed between cameras to a maximum of 110% of the prevailing limit, to take advantage of the combined effects of speedo over read & the prosecution threshold.

If the average speed falls below the self imposed threshold, I will have extra head room to make better progress, (if conditions allow), meaning that I could be travelling quite a bit faster than others, whilst still keeping within the average speed limit.

I assume that other drivers who are over the limit are doing a similar assessment, although the number of drivers that I see that still brake at the cameras, means that many drivers still don't understand how the average zones work.

[djohnson]

I set the cruise control at 79 mph on a typical motorway / dual carriageway and at 45/55/65 in 40/50/60 limited average speed camera areas. Clearly this based upon the speedo which over reports slightly. My home and my office are almost 100 miles apart and over the years I’ve done this for many miles, passed countless cameras and never had a ticket (yet!).

[slipknotted]

My dashcam is set up to use it's 2.5" screen to give a speed reading using it's GPS function and I find myself overtaking most people at 50mph (on the dashcam) in the same 50mph roadworks bit of the M1 by Northampton. I normally sit at 53mph though because I'm an impatient git and it means I'm rarely holding anybody up in the third lane. Google maps (or any other appropriate app) also gives a good GPS speed reading if you want one.

In another vein I've been in the car with a mate doing 80mph through the 50 or 60mph average speed limit on the M4 and he's heard nothing of it so I don't know, I think it's very hit or miss with average speed limits but I wouldn't want to test it myself lmao.

[martinbiz]

The tolerance is 10%+2mph where enforcement starts, the same as any normal speed camera. I travel that section regularly on the M1 and set cruise at 68 which is probably a true 65/66 never had any issues

[numtumfutunch]

Red9zero said:

One of our engineers got a ticket for 57 in a 50 average. He had assumed 10% + 2mph was ok.

Interesting, thanks

So the significant number exceeding 70mph at the very least must be triggering

I'm still surprised there are so many

[irocfan]

Red9zero said:

One of our engineers got a ticket for 57 in a 50 average. He had assumed 10% + 2mph was ok.

seems quite unlucky TBF - though my max (for some weird reason) through a 50 is 56. Do they take a speed and then drop (for argument's sake) 4mph off - in other words he was really doing 61?

[Zarco]

Wills2 said:

I would say within 10% of your indicated speed vs the posted limit of 60mph is OK, but I'd also say don't worry about what others do just do what you feel is appropriate.

Well in that case I'll site at 80 as I feel that is appropriate to many 50 zones I pass through

On the M4 I generally set cruise to 56 for the average speed zones. I've never had a problem. I guess that's probably a real 54-55 allowing for the speedo over reading.

There's usually someone quicker than me but not many.

[mybrainhurts]

numtumfutunch said:

Red9zero said:

One of our engineers got a ticket for 57 in a 50 average. He had assumed 10% + 2mph was ok.

Interesting, thanks

So the significant number exceeding 70mph at the very least must be triggering

I'm still surprised there are so many

You were in a 60, he was in a 50

[mybrainhurts]

I'd risk a reasonable bet that a lot of average speed cameras are not wired up. You'll see some with powerful floodlights, but not many. That suggests they need lights at night. That suggests the one without lights are dummies.

[320d is all you need]

I do 54 in a 50 average zone.

To me any time gained is not worth the potential fine by deliberately speeding in such a way.

[Mandat]

numtumfutunch said:

So the significant number exceeding 70mph at the very least must be triggering

I'm still surprised there are so many

Not necessarily. It all depends on what their average speed is at that moment, and how much head room they have before reaching the prosecution threshold.

Although I do agree that there must be a significant number who don't understand how average speed zones work, judging by the number of drivers who brake for the cameras.

[TRfan]

I always thought you were safe doing limit + 10% + 2, but I have recently got a ticket for 35 in a 30,
Thus you are only safe at +10% + 1.

[Fore Left]

TRfan said:

I always thought you were safe doing limit + 10% + 2, but I have recently got a ticket for 35 in a 30,
Thus you are only safe at +10% + 1.

They generally prosecute at 10% + 2 and above. It has always been so.