Camera vans over the motorway ???

[andyvdg]

Maybe I was being naive, but I didn't think they would put one of these vans over a freeflowing 70mph motorway. I'm all for well placed gatsos - around by me all the gatsos are yellow and well placed at below NSL roads near dangerous junctions. Fair enough.

Well on a recent trip to Wales I saw three vans, one on the M40, two on the M4. Good, dry conditions, medium traffic.

I might get done for the M40 one (I think I was doing between 80 and 85) as I couldn't believe it when I saw it. I've since adjusted my long range scan to include vans on bridges now. Well that'll help safety!

The thing that annoyed me as well driving about South Wales is that they seem to have many more speed camera signs than speed limit signs. I was driving about, keeping to the 40mph speed limit - I always drive to the speed limit on a non-NSL road - wondering if I rememebered the limit correctly. I kid you not I would pass 3 general speed camera signs before I got a speed limit sign again. And btw - very few cameras around at all!

Depressed at the state of affairs in this country....

Andy.

>>> Edited by andyvdg on Wednesday 17th September 09:37

[justme]

According to the 'do-gooders' here, if you're caught breaking the speed limit you deserve to be punished - you knew the rules and flaunted them at your peril.

Even 71mph is a criminal offence, right guys?

I'm looking forward to the days where there will be no police officers employed - just automated NIP systems.

Descretion? Common sense?
Yeah, right....

[206xsi]

By law anything above a 30mph limit must have repeater signs at a certain distance.

Without them the law is unenforcable (I think!) - except motorways!

In a 30 limit the light posts are the repeater signs - get your tape measure out as you drive along to measure the distance between them.

[pdV6]

I believe it should be mandatory for all speed cam signs to include the prevailing limit. After all, supposedly they are there to persuade one to keep to the limit.

Limit signs on or near rear-facing Gatso camers might help to reduce 'panick braking' right next to them (which does happen, no matter what some people say).

[Peter Ward]

pdV6 said:

I believe it should be mandatory for all speed cam signs to include the prevailing limit. After all, supposedly they are there to persuade one to keep to the limit.

Many are like this along the A14. I agree it makes sense -- if you're going to have cameras at all of course.

[andyvdg]

These were more like country roads, but with a 40mph speed limit, so it wasn't easy to work out what the limit was without a sign with a number on it.

I still can't believe they are targetting motorways as a way of reducing death on the roads.

[justme]

Motorways have the highest throughput of vehicles, so manipulating the speed limits there is the best 'bang-per-buck' strategy.

The money collected will then be used to build schools, hospitals, orphanages - that sort of thing.
So they DO save lives, yes.

[Bassfiend]

justme said:

According to the 'do-gooders' here, if you're caught breaking the speed limit you deserve to be punished - you knew the rules and flaunted them at your peril.

Would you be meaning me? (And others like Don etc.)

justme said:

Even 71mph is a criminal offence, right guys?

Well, in the letter of the law it *IS* ... I'm not saying it's right to be but it *IS* an offence and as such is something that puts you on the wrong side of the law. I'm not saying that *I* stick to the speed limits however it's a choice that *I* make and when I have been caught for speeding I've never tried to wheedle my way out of it...

justme said:

I'm looking forward to the days where there will be no police officers employed - just automated NIP systems.

I'm not... (and I did note the sarcasm )

justme said:

Descretion? Common sense? Yeah, right....

Yep ... so *USE* some common sense. If you know what the limit is then be aware of what you risk if you are caught exceeding it.

Phil

[BLUEYES]

andyvdg said:

The thing that annoyed me as well driving about South Wales is that they seem to have many more speed camera signs than speed limit signs...... ....And btw - very few cameras around at all!

It's alright for you, you don't have to live here! Gwent and S.Wales Police are obsessed with screwing the motorist.

Check the difference in car speed on the M4 before and after you cross the Severn Bridge.

85ish in England
70ish in Wales

Anybody else noticed this?

[andyvdg]

What I did notice was that in rural Wales, I came across more drivers than usual driving too fast for the conditions. Everyone was perfectly behaved on the motorway......

[Byff]

pdV6 said:

I believe it should be mandatory for all speed cam signs to include the prevailing limit. After all, supposedly they are there to persuade one to keep to the limit. Limit signs on or near rear-facing Gatso camers might help to reduce 'panick braking' right next to them (which does happen, no matter what some people say).

I came across a van parked up on the side of the road, back doors open and tripod on roadside. I instantly hit the brakes, then realised that I was already under the limit anyway. Turned out to be an APNR van with a few bobbies further up the road.

[Yoda954]

BLUEYES said:

[quote=andyvdg] The thing that annoyed me as well driving about South Check the difference in car speed on the M4 before and after you cross the Severn Bridge. 85ish in England 70ish in Wales Anybody else noticed this?

Nope - that's why I now have 3 points. But hey - I guess they're doing thier job eh?

[Gh0st]

If they wish to replace all traffic bib with laser vans, its fine with me.

Laser jammer and no-one to prosecute you for using it... COOL

[andyvdg]

If I get any points, a jammer is top of my Xmas list. I might even replace the laser with one of the multi-watt jobbies we have here

>> Edited by andyvdg on Thursday 18th September 13:40

[SGirl]

Yes, there was a van over the M40 at High Wycombe yesterday. Oops.

But what are the Gatsos on the M4 into London all about? There are none on the other side of the motorway - so is driving into London more dangerous than driving out, then?

Or could this have something to do with the fact that the speed limits on that stretch have mysteriously dropped from 70 and 50 to 60 and 40....

>> Edited by SGirl on Thursday 18th September 13:19

[bobthebench]

Used to be the case that on the grounds of safety, speed guns were not approved by Home Office for use on Motorways. Probably recognition of emergency stops in lane 3 they cause, and rear end shunts as a result. Blame the introduction of new technology, or Tony and his cronies, but for the last 6 years motorways drivers have been fair game. Coincidence ? (In the words of the Royle family, my ar##.)

As for vans, they do generate hostility. Result Gwent don't upset the locals by targetting the M4 - it's a commuter route from South Wales to England, so screw the tourist/commuter. It's like a community charge, where you charge other communities.

Last rant on this post, these vans are often illegally parked. If you try to challenge or take photos, Gwent will send along a fully marked jam sandwich to interogate you, and bullshit you with crown copyright on the insignia so you can't take photos. (Cue Jim Royle again !) Note the registration if you can, notify Police HQ of illegal parking, and threaten to follow it up with a complaint of dereliction of duty if the officer you report it to fails to take action. Only once we hassle them as much as they hassle us will something be done about them.

[cortinaman]

SGirl said:

But what are the Gatsos on the M4 into London all about? There are none on the other side of the motorway - so is driving into London more dangerous than driving out, then? Or could this have something to do with the fact that the speed limits on that stretch have mysteriously dropped from 70 and 50 to 60 and 40....

the way the m4 has been bastardised between the m25 at heathrow and ealing is disgusting.they lower the limit(which was o.k the way it was,thanks very much) stick a useless bus lane where the outside lane used to be and which now is only frequented by the odd taxi or coach and then there are the scamera's...plain and simple revinue earners,each and every one.

coming out of london was great,foot to the floor from the bottom of the hammersmith flyover out to the m25 and beyond(only keeping an eye open for the rare met police motor and the enevitable t.valley senators)

[streaky]

bobthebench said:

[snip]Last rant on this post, these vans are often illegally parked. If you try to challenge or take photos, Gwent will send along a fully marked jam sandwich to interogate you, and bullshit you with crown copyright on the insignia so you can't take photos. [snip]

In so far as I am aware, there is no restriction in law as to the taking of photograps in a public place, whether the material being photographed be 'Crown Copyright' or not. However, the issue could well arise in the publication of such a photograph ... if the design (for it is such that I believe that would be covered by Copyright) were to be published unmodified.

I imagine (and stand to be corrected by the legal eagles on this Forum) that were the 'design' shown in the published image modified so as to render it unconnected with the original Copyrighted design there would be no problem - eg. digitally altered.

Anyway, the media frequently publish and broadcast photographs of police vehicles.

Seems to me a case of the police exercising an authority they do not have and threatening a member of the public with non-criminal legislation. The police are not the Copyright owner, the Crown is. It is up to the Copyright owner to take such action as they deem proper to protect their Copyright. I very much doubt that Her Majesty would approve of Her police preventing Her sovereign citizens from taking photograps of Her police vehicles.

Streaky

>> Edited by streaky on Sunday 21st September 07:22