M25 Variable Again...

[dazzak]

I've read the info on the M25 Variable speed cameras but most seem to be from a while ago so want to check what is current... This morning I was going clockwise from M23 to Heathrow and on the 1st gantry that has the speed cameras I was doing about 78mph. The gantry was not lit up so there was no "variable" speed limit set. Nothing flashed so is this a good sign? Plus I remembered for all the rest til I turned off @ J16!

I've read varying info on these cameras... So can someone dispell the myths:
> When the gantry signs are not lit are the cameras operational? If so, what speed do they generally "nick" at?
>Are they digital? Or require film?
>Do they flash?
>Do they change their "nick" settings according to the speed showing on the gantry?

Cheers

Darren

[puggit]

I believe they are set but at a high level - but 80mph seems to be a speed that they don't flash at...

[cptsideways]

They seem to go off at around 90+ish when signs set to NSL or off, having been passed by others who were flashed whilst my speedo reads 85mph ish, that would seem to be the case.

I was also told they are digital, check the gantries with the aerials I think that'll confirm the live ones.

[Duncanthemad]

I have seen them go off when not on variable duties...

I once saw two cars travelling in the opposite carriageway set them off.. they were clearly gunning it and obviously having some kind of competition... the winner got two flashes, the loser only got one!

I've been travelling this section for the last 7 months and observing the behaviour of other drivers, I would guess that even an 'indicated' 90 won't set them off...

Even when the variable signs are on, I still think they allow quite a large margain of error...

DtM.

>> Edited by Duncanthemad on Thursday 18th December 08:39

[puggit]

cptsideways said:

I was also told they are digital, check the gantries with the aerials I think that'll confirm the live ones.

That used to be the case when I was commuting on there 4 years ago - but they removed the aerials

[JonRB]

Unless replaced by a difference scheme, the variable speed limits on the M25 that have been there since 1995 are not digital. The only ariel they have is for receiving a time signal from the Rugby Atomic Clock. Apart from that they are entirely self-contained and use film and a PCMCIA flash memory card to record the data.

[mcflurry]

IIRC they are regular scameras with film, and the limit is setup above 95 mph as apparently they used to run out of film in a matter of minutes

My 'friend' recently drove from his house near Bluewater (J2) to nr Heathrow (J13) in 33 mins (60 miles) without so much as a ping

I did hear that they were to update them soon though

[nonegreen]

So how do we trash them ?

[gh0st]

nonegreen said:

So how do we trash them ?

We contribute to the "buy deltaf a cherry picker" fund

[JonRB]

The cameras carry an 800-shot bulk loader of film. 2 photos per offense, plus a test photo each time the speed limit changes, means a nominal maximum of 399 offenses.

The enforcement speed is entirely at the discretion of the operator and is given as speed_limit + 0-99 for each of the speed limits, including NSL.

As far as I am aware the cameras are generally set to quite a high limit for NSL, but I'm afraid I don't know what it is. Sorry!

[JonRB]

nonegreen said:

So how do we trash them ?

Diffcult. They're up on a gantry, encased in double-skinned stainless steel and the apertures are bullet-proof glass. And they're on a motorway which means it's an offense to park on the hard shoulder if you haven't broken down.

I reckon they'd be vulnerable to a paint-ball shot or two, but you're not going to be able to damage them without risk to other road users.

[bigtone]

I'd always wondered about these, as they aren't visible unless you look closely at the front of the gantry as you approach. Isn't legislation in place to ensure they are painted yellow - the SPECS cameras on the M6 all have yellow plates behind them, wven though they are small, but the M25 ones don't have any. I used to see a lot of flashes from them, going back about a year ago, but haven't seen one in ages myself....

Tony

[NugentS]

bigtone said:

I'd always wondered about these, as they aren't visible unless you look closely at the front of the gantry as you approach. Isn't legislation in place to ensure they are painted yellow - the SPECS cameras on the M6 all have yellow plates behind them, wven though they are small, but the M25 ones don't have any. I used to see a lot of flashes from them, going back about a year ago, but haven't seen one in ages myself.... Tony

There don't seem to be many actualy cameras - mostly my radar detector doesn't even let of a sound when I go past them. Its only occaisonally that they do anything...

[Yoda954]

I have been through these at some pretty serious speeds (when they're not lit at midnight or there abouts).....but that was 2 years ago, I don't think I'd want to risk it now though

[Steve-B]

less than 1/2 of the gantries have ANY cameras in them. recently it was my night to get pissed whilst the other half drove us home from Reigate to Uxbridge. to pass the time i pointed my mirror up so i could look at the gantries going home.

clockwise at least, less than 1/2 have anything, even when there's the white tick marks on the road surface