'This camera is not in use'
'This camera is not in use'
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vxr8mate

Original Poster:

1,689 posts

212 months

Friday 3rd March 2023
quotequote all
On a stretch of road near me there a section has been reduced to 40mph with signs stating average speed cameras are in operation. However, said cameras have signs on them saying This camera is not in use.

Is there a need to put signs up if they are not switched on? If all the cameras have these signs up (which they do) can they be switched on and used to prosecute without taking the signs down first?


Yex GTR

4,608 posts

243 months

Friday 3rd March 2023
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New roadworks south of Chelmsford on A12 have these signs in place. Drover the route yesterday with myself and most others hovering around the lower limit of 50mph, but with quite a few flying past us at well over 70mph.

Are they just put up before the roadworks begin to get regular commuters used to the new limit?

HTP99

24,683 posts

163 months

Friday 3rd March 2023
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A load of average speed cameras went up last year on the A3 around the M25 on both sides, the junction is being made rather alot larger over the next couple of years, there were these "Camera is not in use" signs for some time with an indicated 50 limit, which no one took any notice of, when the lanes were made narrower end of last year/early this year, the signs disappeared and now everyone sticks to the 50 limit.

Aluminati

2,980 posts

81 months

Friday 3rd March 2023
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Yex GTR said:
New roadworks south of Chelmsford on A12 have these signs in place. Drover the route yesterday with myself and most others hovering around the lower limit of 50mph, but with quite a few flying past us at well over 70mph.

Are they just put up before the roadworks begin to get regular commuters used to the new limit?
Been going through them around 60 for a while. Roadworks haven’t started yet, think they got a bit previous with the signage.

Mr Tidy

29,368 posts

150 months

Friday 3rd March 2023
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I've noticed the same thing on the A3 between the M25 and Cobham junctions.

Fixed average speed cameras are being installed with signs saying they are not active, but free-standing 50mph signs while they are doing the work.

soad

34,332 posts

199 months

Saturday 4th March 2023
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Mr Tidy said:
I've noticed the same thing on the A3 between the M25 and Cobham junctions.

Fixed average speed cameras are being installed with signs saying they are not active, but free-standing 50mph signs while they are doing the work.
Similar on a M62. Roadworks remain (for months on end in various sections) but those signs have disappeared…meaning cameras are active now.

trackdemon

13,204 posts

284 months

Saturday 4th March 2023
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If they're not in use why are they there is my thinking. I'm sure the system is hardly free so if not being used why waste our money on them?....

Cloudy147

3,068 posts

206 months

Saturday 4th March 2023
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They are usually installed pre major roadworks, with those signs on them before and after the works. I always thought it was to stop the regular punters suddenly hammering the brakes having spotted a camera, but not spotted a speed limit sign. Effectively it’s just saying “as you were, no need to panic.”

It’s also getting you prepared for the fact that roadworks will be coming soon - and they’ll be there a while!

WonkeyDonkey

2,542 posts

126 months

Saturday 4th March 2023
quotequote all
vxr8mate said:
On a stretch of road near me there a section has been reduced to 40mph with signs stating average speed cameras are in operation. However, said cameras have signs on them saying This camera is not in use.

Is there a need to put signs up if they are not switched on? If all the cameras have these signs up (which they do) can they be switched on and used to prosecute without taking the signs down first?

A5 in Tamworth? It's absolutely ridiculous how long the 40mph zone lasts for. It doesn't go down to one lane until just after Ventura going westbound but the 40 zone starts a good mile or two beforehand!

Panamax

8,170 posts

57 months

Saturday 4th March 2023
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trackdemon said:
If they're not in use why are they there is my thinking.
How are they supposed to erect a system instantaneously when work is about to begin?

Pit Pony

10,795 posts

144 months

Saturday 4th March 2023
quotequote all
WonkeyDonkey said:
vxr8mate said:
On a stretch of road near me there a section has been reduced to 40mph with signs stating average speed cameras are in operation. However, said cameras have signs on them saying This camera is not in use.

Is there a need to put signs up if they are not switched on? If all the cameras have these signs up (which they do) can they be switched on and used to prosecute without taking the signs down first?

A5 in Tamworth? It's absolutely ridiculous how long the 40mph zone lasts for. It doesn't go down to one lane until just after Ventura going westbound but the 40 zone starts a good mile or two beforehand!
A38 between Bassetts Pole and Minworth Round abouts. There Was road works, and the 40 sign started 1000 yards before the road went to one lane. Having points on my licence, I make sure I'm doing the speed limit, so I have to start gently braking the best part of 1100 yards before. Other drivers are surprised by this, and a few times, I tbought I might be rear ended.

The Road works finished 2 weeks ago. Signs still up.

Mr Squarekins

1,501 posts

85 months

Saturday 4th March 2023
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Isn't it average speed cameras from Bassetts Pole to Minworth anyway now, permanently? or does that end just past the Belfry?

trackdemon

13,204 posts

284 months

Sunday 5th March 2023
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Panamax said:
trackdemon said:
If they're not in use why are they there is my thinking.
How are they supposed to erect a system instantaneously when work is about to begin?
rolleyes I thought it'd be obvious that's not what I was referencing, rather I was in line with the several others siting cameras which have been up for months with these signs in place.

nute

895 posts

130 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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Amazing that we apparently have sufficient cash to put these things up everywhere, no doubt at huge cost, but no money to repair the roads.

gt_12345

1,873 posts

58 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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nute said:
Amazing that we apparently have sufficient cash to put these things up everywhere, no doubt at huge cost, but no money to repair the roads.
They don't care about speed, it's a long term plan to harass car owners to stop driving.

Koyaanisqatsi

2,516 posts

53 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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Yex GTR said:
New roadworks south of Chelmsford on A12 have these signs in place. Drover the route yesterday with myself and most others hovering around the lower limit of 50mph, but with quite a few flying past us at well over 70mph.

Are they just put up before the roadworks begin to get regular commuters used to the new limit?
The northbound 'camera not in use' signs have disappeared now though, so take it easy going from Brentwood up to Chelmsford. Heading southbound, the signs are still there.

I always imagine the signs changing to 'camera now in use' and catching a lot of people out. biglaugh

nute

895 posts

130 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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Amazing that we apparently have sufficient cash to put these things up everywhere, no doubt at huge cost, but no money to repair the roads.

trackdemon

13,204 posts

284 months

Monday 6th March 2023
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nute said:
Amazing that we apparently have sufficient cash to put these things up everywhere, no doubt at huge cost, but no money to repair the roads.
You can say that again.

Oh, you did rofl