M42 Gantry Cameras

[Steve-ug212]

So my son-in-law has just received a NIP for doing 82mph on the M42. It states he exceeded the 70mph speed limit. No speed limit was displayed on the gantry and I've always understood that they don't flash in this state. TBH that's a worrying trend if all these cameras can do you for doing over 70 on any motorway. I regularly use the M6 J16 to J21 and ignore the speed limit (within reason) when no speed limits are displayed. Anyone else had this or know anything about it. *** I know speeding over 70 mph is illegal etc and I'm not condoning it before someone kicks off ! ***

[FWIW]

Top lurking

[Steve-ug212]

That's me ! Spend more time on bike forums these days. Long time member though !

[flight147z]

Steve-ug212 said:

So my son-in-law has just received a NIP for doing 82mph on the M42. It states he exceeded the 70mph speed limit. No speed limit was displayed on the gantry and I've always understood that they don't flash in this state. TBH that's a worrying trend if all these cameras can do you for doing over 70 on any motorway. I regularly use the M6 J16 to J21 and ignore the speed limit (within reason) when no speed limits are displayed. Anyone else had this or know anything about it. *** I know speeding over 70 mph is illegal etc and I'm not condoning it before someone kicks off ! ***

I've always assumed they are operational regardless of whether a limit is displayed. I've driven through them at 80 for years without issue, but I am careful not to go quicker than that. I guess with the slight speedo overstatement that is perhaps something like 78mph.

A NIP at 82mph suggests a speedometer reading of around 85mph - perhaps pushing it a little bit in a 70mph limit

[Sheepshanks]

They’ve been rolling out enforcement at 70 for some years at various places - IIRC it’s always been done on the M25 but the trigger was set very high. The M62 smart motorway did it from launch.

[Sheetmaself]

I walked past a sign yesterday, it said no parking. So i shot someone. I mean at the end of the day it didn’t say no shooting did it!

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Sheepshanks said:

They’ve been rolling out enforcement at 70 for some years at various places - IIRC it’s always been done on the M25 but the trigger was set very high. The M62 smart motorway did it from launch.

The good old 'system' and unelected people making lives worse

[normalbloke]

Sheepshanks said:

They’ve been rolling out enforcement at 70 for some years at various places - IIRC it’s always been done on the M25 but the trigger was set very high. The M62 smart motorway did it from launch.

Same as the M27 cameras.

[Sheepshanks]

Steve-ug212 said:

I regularly use the M6 J16 to J21 and ignore the speed limit (within reason) when no speed limits are displayed.

Just noticed that part - I live in Cheshire and the one place I'd be extra careful is in Cheshire. I can drive all over the UK and never see a police car - get into Cheshire and they seem to be everywhere, marked, unmarked, and cunningly hidden mobile speed cameras.

[911Spanker]

Not sure ignoring the speed limits is that smart. Just pay the fine and be done with it

[TheDrownedApe]

I assume that all cameras are turned on all the time now.

Not driven up the M42 from Shirley to the M6 in a while, are they still the ones behind the gantry?

[768]

Certainly didn't use to trigger at that speed when set to NSL.

I'd be surprised if it's changed.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Doesn't matter if a speed limit is displayed or not. The limit is 70mph unless otherwise stated. I work on the basis that all cameras are active and triggered at 80mph unless a lower limit is in force.

To go tanking through at 80+ is asking for a tug really.

[fozzymandeus]

Most smart motorways now enforce the 70mph limit with the gantry cameras. I’ve seen other drivers get flashed at least 10 times on the M4, M6 and M42

[Dave Hedgehog]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Doesn't matter if a speed limit is displayed or not. The limit is 70mph unless otherwise stated. I work on the basis that all cameras are active and triggered at 80mph unless a lower limit is in force.

To go tanking through at 80+ is asking for a tug really.

indeed, there is zero reason for a an overhead camera not to be active just because no speed reduction is displayed, always treat them as live

[fooman]

Speeding past obvious camera = hand them the stick to beat you with

[heebeegeetee]

Steve-ug212 said:

That's me ! Spend more time on bike forums these days. Long time member though !

I presume you mean motorcycling not cycling forums, because as motorists repeatedly point out, cyclists should obey the law. 🙂

[Hungrymc]

TheDrownedApe said:

I assume that all cameras are turned on all the time now.

Not driven up the M42 from Shirley to the M6 in a while, are they still the ones behind the gantry?

Mainly the ones off to the side of the gantry (Hadecs 3?)

I think there are some average speed cameras there as well around the roadworks.

[flight147z]

TheDrownedApe said:

I assume that all cameras are turned on all the time now.

Not driven up the M42 from Shirley to the M6 in a while, are they still the ones behind the gantry?

I think the ones behind are all gone now - not seen any of those for a few years

[outnumbered]

flight147z said:

I think the ones behind are all gone now - not seen any of those for a few years

On the M25, the cameras mounted above the lanes are still there, but AFAIK (according to everything I ever read about them here and elsewhere) they were never actually in use, at least in some sections.

The HADECS3 cameras, 2 yellow boxes to the side of a gantry are live all the time, so keeping under limit+10%+2 is a good idea, unless you have Waze running and trust it to warn you of an upcoming camera when you're over the limit...