Threshold speed on Motorways?
Discussion
Hi all,
Just wondering what the threshold speed is for motorways? The reason i ask, is that yesterday i drove to Liverpool, from Salisbury, along the M4/5/6 and on about 4 gantries i saw cars parked. None were marked, but one of them had a side window open. I didnt get a look at any of the occupants. It got me thinking - it was a bright, clear sunny day and most traffic was going faster than I was - i didnt go over about 81mph indicated and generally stuck around the 75mph mark. I was just wondering how fast i would need to have been going to get a ticket through? I went under the car with the side window open at about 81mph indicated but then so did most people on the motorway. The reason im asking this question, is if the threshold were that low in good conditions, i think most people on the motorway would be out of a license pretty darn quickly!!
Also, i didnt drop below 70mph (indicated) the whole way, so technically i was speeding the whole time, but if all those cars were unmarked plod cars, and if all took my picture, id get about 4 NIP's through, when in reality it was only one 'offense'!
Dave
Just wondering what the threshold speed is for motorways? The reason i ask, is that yesterday i drove to Liverpool, from Salisbury, along the M4/5/6 and on about 4 gantries i saw cars parked. None were marked, but one of them had a side window open. I didnt get a look at any of the occupants. It got me thinking - it was a bright, clear sunny day and most traffic was going faster than I was - i didnt go over about 81mph indicated and generally stuck around the 75mph mark. I was just wondering how fast i would need to have been going to get a ticket through? I went under the car with the side window open at about 81mph indicated but then so did most people on the motorway. The reason im asking this question, is if the threshold were that low in good conditions, i think most people on the motorway would be out of a license pretty darn quickly!!
Also, i didnt drop below 70mph (indicated) the whole way, so technically i was speeding the whole time, but if all those cars were unmarked plod cars, and if all took my picture, id get about 4 NIP's through, when in reality it was only one 'offense'!
Dave
Unmarked "cars" as opposed to "vans" parked on Motorway bridges are more than likely to be numpties stopped for a bacon buttie and a gawp at the cars, or some kind of traffic survey.
As far as I know, camera vans all use some breed of van since they need the extra space to carry all the necessary equipment.
In answer to your threshold question, differs with forces, but it's usually 10% + X (where X can be 1,2,3 or 4). Since any (un-calibrated) speedo will typically over-read, even an 'indicated' 81 should see you below all but the most stringent thresholds.
DtM.
As far as I know, camera vans all use some breed of van since they need the extra space to carry all the necessary equipment.
In answer to your threshold question, differs with forces, but it's usually 10% + X (where X can be 1,2,3 or 4). Since any (un-calibrated) speedo will typically over-read, even an 'indicated' 81 should see you below all but the most stringent thresholds.
DtM.
Duncanthemad said:
Unmarked "cars" as opposed to "vans" parked on Motorway bridges are more than likely to be numpties stopped for a bacon buttie and a gawp at the cars, or some kind of traffic survey.
As far as I know, camera vans all use some breed of van since they need the extra space to carry all the necessary equipment.
In answer to your threshold question, differs with forces, but it's usually 10% + X (where X can be 1,2,3 or 4). Since any (un-calibrated) speedo will typically over-read, even an 'indicated' 81 should see you below all but the most stringent thresholds.
DtM.
And without wishing to sound childish, the all smell of poo.
Regards,
Gh0st
Mad Dave said:
Also, i didnt drop below 70mph (indicated) the whole way, so technically i was speeding the whole time, but if all those cars were unmarked plod cars, and if all took my picture, id get about 4 NIP's through, when in reality it was only one 'offense'!
Dave
I'm not certain of the exact wording....but it's an offence everytime you get caught. So yes you can lose your licence by driving past a load of speed cameras on the same road.
Mad Dave said:
Hi all,
Just wondering what the threshold speed is for motorways?
Dave
Depends.
Up to 90 mph indicated is fine most of the time, in good weather. You are unlikely to get stopped for less than this.
Unless you visit Lincolnshire, where they are so clever, they have speed cameras on the A1. Here 80 mph indicated is fine.
Interesting theoretical question: Are the authorities in Lincolnshire guilty of wasting taxpayers money in that they have put speed cameras on the safest type of road ?
I think so. I feel a test case coming on.
Mad Dave said:
i saw cars parked. None were marked, but one of them had a side window open. I didnt get a look at any of the occupants.
They were probably just survey vehicles.
I see many times several civvy cars parked on bridges over motorways, usually one car for each lane.
These are usually employed by the local council to do traffic surveys.
It does make people slam on the brakes though, which can be dangerous when you are following someone, and they think they have been scamered.
A friend of mine was sent a NIP for 86 on the M4 , Gwent - S.Wales.
She was leaving Wales , quiet m-way, fine conditions, near the tolls and passed a scamera van on opposite side of a bridge she thinks.
Just one of thousands of fines issued daily for the offence of 'excess speed while driving safely'.
Makes my blood boil.
She was leaving Wales , quiet m-way, fine conditions, near the tolls and passed a scamera van on opposite side of a bridge she thinks.
Just one of thousands of fines issued daily for the offence of 'excess speed while driving safely'.
Makes my blood boil.
deeps said:Probably the most well known Talivan site in the country.
A friend of mine was sent a NIP for 86 on the M4 , Gwent - S.Wales.
She was leaving Wales , quiet m-way, fine conditions, near the tolls and passed a scamera van on opposite side of a bridge she thinks.
Just one of thousands of fines issued daily for the offence of 'excess speed while driving safely'.
Makes my blood boil.
Nothing an RPG wouldn't fix though!
Hi
I've heard that Cumbria Scamera co. dish out 3pts for 78 on the M6 J36-40 where it is safe to do 100 easily.
And our neighbour got done for 83 on M62 by traffpol. I've also heard that some scamvans that 33 in a 30 is enough to secure 3pts.
Thus, if your gunno speed do it properly then you get good value for your pts. I mean you can do 33 or 54 in a 30 for 3pts. The rule is to stay below 25+ the limit.
Baz
I've heard that Cumbria Scamera co. dish out 3pts for 78 on the M6 J36-40 where it is safe to do 100 easily.
And our neighbour got done for 83 on M62 by traffpol. I've also heard that some scamvans that 33 in a 30 is enough to secure 3pts.
Thus, if your gunno speed do it properly then you get good value for your pts. I mean you can do 33 or 54 in a 30 for 3pts. The rule is to stay below 25+ the limit.
Baz
The option of paying a Fixed Penalty Charge is not available to drivers whose vehicles have been photographed travelling at 25mph or more above the posted speed limit. These drivers are summoned to appear before the Court.
from www.safetycameraswestyorkshire.co.uk/penalties.asp
Baz
from www.safetycameraswestyorkshire.co.uk/penalties.asp
Baz
I was on the A603 (I think) between the A4 and the A1M, recently, early in the morning 7.30-8.00 and there was a Scamera van,......in fact it was a Ford Galaxy, so there are vehicles other than vans used and they were on a dual cabbageway, they had the bright hatched markings similar to the vans, and were cleverly positioned on a bridge, with side door open so that it looked like they were getting traffic in one direction going away from them, when in fact they were getting traffic on the other carriageway coming towards them, I went passe in both directions so I got a good look!
Speaking for my own force, rough thresholds for M-ways are as follows:
Unmarked Car: 100 +
Marked Car: Up to 89 - verbal warn. FPN @ 90. Court for 100 +
Vans: Difficult. They are very rarely used on motorway bridges. Usually deployed to Casualty Reduction Sites, e.g. A272, A340, A339, A31 etc.... 3 days ago, we had two, near identical fatal motorcycle accidents on one day. Both riders late 40s, riding 600cc machines, one on the A339, the other the A3057.
Unmarked Car: 100 +
Marked Car: Up to 89 - verbal warn. FPN @ 90. Court for 100 +
Vans: Difficult. They are very rarely used on motorway bridges. Usually deployed to Casualty Reduction Sites, e.g. A272, A340, A339, A31 etc.... 3 days ago, we had two, near identical fatal motorcycle accidents on one day. Both riders late 40s, riding 600cc machines, one on the A339, the other the A3057.
puggit said:
[quote=deeps]A friend of mine was sent a NIP for 86 on the M4 , Gwent - S.Wales.
She was leaving Wales , quiet m-way, fine conditions, near the tolls and passed a scamera van on opposite side of a bridge she thinks.
Probably the most well known Talivan site in the country.
Went that way 2 weeks ago and there on a bridge just before the tolls(about 100 yards infront) was a scameravan. Parked to the far left, catching trafic coming from England. A Nice welcome to Wales..... Toll £4.50 and £60 please.
rodney59 said:
[quote=deeps]A friend of mine was sent a NIP for 86 on the M4 , Gwent - S.Wales.
She was leaving Wales , quiet m-way, fine conditions, near the tolls and passed a scamera van on opposite side of a bridge she thinks.
Probably the most well known Talivan site in the country.
Went that way 2 weeks ago and there on a bridge just before the tolls(about 100 yards infront) was a scameravan. Parked to the far left, catching trafic coming from England. A Nice welcome to Wales..... Toll £4.50 and £60 please.
yep - ive come across that one too - and thought the same thing. are these people deliberately trying to stop people going to wales? i can only assume so. Also - big thanks to those on pistonheads highlighting the scamera dangers in wales. forewarned we were at 70 as soon as we were 'in' - saved me a fine and my unblemished license for sure.
I have to wonder, how long it will be before a very serious pile up is caused by these scamera-pratnerships pointing these things at unsuspecting motorists beneath.
How will they feel when they go home, and know in their hearts that it was their fault that several people are now dead.
I once saw on TV, many of you probably also saw it! It showed an accident happening on a motorway, this was being filmed from the bridge above the motorway BEFORE the accident happened, and I have often wondered what part the camera on the bridge played in it. Did it distact the drivers attention below?
Personnally, I think that parking above motorways on bridges should be BANNED! Now there is a good use for yellow paint!
How will they feel when they go home, and know in their hearts that it was their fault that several people are now dead.
I once saw on TV, many of you probably also saw it! It showed an accident happening on a motorway, this was being filmed from the bridge above the motorway BEFORE the accident happened, and I have often wondered what part the camera on the bridge played in it. Did it distact the drivers attention below?
Personnally, I think that parking above motorways on bridges should be BANNED! Now there is a good use for yellow paint!
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