Average speed cameras - what's the score
Discussion
Every so often I have to drive through the 50mph average speed section on the M3 where there is a long stretch of roadworks. I understand there are similar set-ups elsewhere in the country.
I stick to just below 50mph all the way through, incredibly boring though it is. Everyone else seems to be going a bit faster , but perhaps my speedo is a bit out. Some cars just barrel through though, which I find rather amazing as there are loads of signs and bloody great yellow cameras all over the place. Do these people that speed through know something I don't? Makes me wonder what the average speed threshold is, or whether the cameras are actually doing anything at all other than acting as a deterrent. Anyone know?
I stick to just below 50mph all the way through, incredibly boring though it is. Everyone else seems to be going a bit faster , but perhaps my speedo is a bit out. Some cars just barrel through though, which I find rather amazing as there are loads of signs and bloody great yellow cameras all over the place. Do these people that speed through know something I don't? Makes me wonder what the average speed threshold is, or whether the cameras are actually doing anything at all other than acting as a deterrent. Anyone know?
Your speedo is very likely to be showing a speed a few MPH faster than what you're actually doing.
Further, others may be more willing to play a dangerous game with the variables:
Cameras are not always active
The cameras calculate average speed based on how long it takes you to drive the length of road, and will have tolerances built in.
Me, I'm happy to pootle along using my GPS speed.
Further, others may be more willing to play a dangerous game with the variables:
Cameras are not always active
The cameras calculate average speed based on how long it takes you to drive the length of road, and will have tolerances built in.
Me, I'm happy to pootle along using my GPS speed.
There's a short section on the M60 at Stockport. There is a lady at my work that always blasts past me there, I asked her how fast she goes. She always says 60. After 2 years of doing it, she got a ticket for 62mph. So her speedo would probably have been nearer 65mph.
No idea what the allowance they give on these.
No idea what the allowance they give on these.
I don't think it's MILES out because it shows exactly the same speed as what comes up on one of those flash up speed notification signs I go past all the time (though I accept they may not be entirely accurate either) - but it definitely indicates a few mph higher than my old car using the same measuring stick. So I could be doing 47 or 48 when the speedo indicates 50, which is why I always just sit in the inside lane til it's all over. Then I quickly catch-up! 
Anyway, it's not the GPS 55mph brigade I'm really interested in - you chaps carry on if it's not triggering anything. It's those clearly WAY above..I'd guess travelling at more at than 60. Maybe they are just chancing it, rather than in possession of some secret knowledge?
Anyway, it's not the GPS 55mph brigade I'm really interested in - you chaps carry on if it's not triggering anything. It's those clearly WAY above..I'd guess travelling at more at than 60. Maybe they are just chancing it, rather than in possession of some secret knowledge?
I sometimes drive the A9 from Perth to Inverness, which I believe is the longest stretch of Average Speed Cameras in the UK. (100+ miles)
In the A8 (and many other cars I'm sure), you can reset the average speed after passing each camera. When you get held up by lorries for a bit and your average is down, you can hoon it past slower vehicles until the average speed gets back to 60 before the next camera comes up (can be a few miles). Just reset and start again.
In the A8 (and many other cars I'm sure), you can reset the average speed after passing each camera. When you get held up by lorries for a bit and your average is down, you can hoon it past slower vehicles until the average speed gets back to 60 before the next camera comes up (can be a few miles). Just reset and start again.
Don't forget the truly fast may have exemptions or cannot be prosecuted so don't follow them, plus 10% ish seems safest and lets the lorries do their normal thing.
The actual score is quite complex as its a measure between points that have been determined and programmed into the computer so you could speed past camera 1 but not camera's 2-4 say.
Some cameras are dummies too.
The actual score is quite complex as its a measure between points that have been determined and programmed into the computer so you could speed past camera 1 but not camera's 2-4 say.
Some cameras are dummies too.
HB2K said:
Anyway, it's not the GPS 55mph brigade I'm really interested in - you chaps carry on if it's not triggering anything. It's those clearly WAY above..I'd guess travelling at more at than 60. Maybe they are just chancing it, rather than in possession of some secret knowledge?
Watch them closely when you approach one of the camera stands, I see a lot of them hooning along and then braking when they approach as per a normal GATSO type, idiots.Nors - I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Are you talking about cruise control or the way the cameras work? (I'm utterly ignorant about cruise control, I don't spend enough time on motorways to ever had specced it on a car - though I kind of wish I did have it during these average speed camera sections!)
Driving down the M6 3 weeks ago to London I set the cruise on 53 according to the GPS.
Not had a ticket yet though.
You still get the odd f
kwit wker HGV's 2 feet from your bumper though, so I suppose faster would be possible - I'm not a frequent M6 driver so wasn't prepared to find out.
Not had a ticket yet though.
You still get the odd f
kwit wker HGV's 2 feet from your bumper though, so I suppose faster would be possible - I'm not a frequent M6 driver so wasn't prepared to find out.anonymous said:
[redacted]
That would be spectacularly stupid given the massive signs everywhere, but you may be right. There are morons everywhere. Hopefully I won't have to suffer that section of the M3 again for a while. It actually feels dangerous to be pootling along so slowly with almost nothing happening...Fastra said:
Driving down the M6 3 weeks ago to London I set the cruise on 53 according to the GPS.
Not had a ticket yet though.
You still get the odd fkwit wker HGV's 2 feet from your bumper though, so I suppose faster would be possible - I'm not a frequent M6 driver so wasn't prepared to find out.
These pillocks are mouth breathers aren't they?Not had a ticket yet though.
You still get the odd f
kwit wker HGV's 2 feet from your bumper though, so I suppose faster would be possible - I'm not a frequent M6 driver so wasn't prepared to find out.Sometimes they get so close that they are unable to see your brake lights.
I reckon that if they don't like 50 in a 50, then let's progressively try them at 49,48,47. WUM-ing is not just online.
HB2K said:
Nors - I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Are you talking about cruise control or the way the cameras work? (I'm utterly ignorant about cruise control, I don't spend enough time on motorways to ever had specced it on a car - though I kind of wish I did have it during these average speed camera sections!)
No mate, nothing to do with Cruise Control. I'm just saying that many people just try and sit at 60 all the time and won't go over it, even when sitting in slower traffic for periods.Using the Average Speed on the Car's Trip Computer, you can safely speed (after being in slower traffic) up without breaching the limit between cameras.
There is a large section of continuous average speed cameras in Hollywood, NI. Maybe 8-10 miles or so, going from a 60, to a 50 then to a 40 (or in reverse if you're going the opposite way). I always add 5 to the speed going by the speedo, so I reckon I maybe average +2/3 MPH by GPS. Sometimes I've maybe averaged a bit more, if I'm coming home late at night and going a bit quicker, or if I overtake a string of cars and forget to take notice of my speedo, but haven't had anything through the door, yet... Touch wood!
A friend of a friend is actually in charge of the prosecuting for that area and according to him the cameras let you away with +7 MPH average over the limit, so 47, 57, 67.
I'm along this road maybe 10 or more times a week and there's always a select few doing +10 or +20 over the limit in these areas, which always makes me wonder do they know something I don't? Or are the cameras even active! Though, maybe they all do eventually get a ticket in the post...
A friend of a friend is actually in charge of the prosecuting for that area and according to him the cameras let you away with +7 MPH average over the limit, so 47, 57, 67.
I'm along this road maybe 10 or more times a week and there's always a select few doing +10 or +20 over the limit in these areas, which always makes me wonder do they know something I don't? Or are the cameras even active! Though, maybe they all do eventually get a ticket in the post...
Nors said:
HB2K said:
Nors - I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Are you talking about cruise control or the way the cameras work? (I'm utterly ignorant about cruise control, I don't spend enough time on motorways to ever had specced it on a car - though I kind of wish I did have it during these average speed camera sections!)
No mate, nothing to do with Cruise Control. I'm just saying that many people just try and sit at 60 all the time and won't go over it, even when sitting in slower traffic for periods.Using the Average Speed on the Car's Trip Computer, you can safely speed (after being in slower traffic) up without breaching the limit between cameras.
Must be the average trip speed! I'll have to look at how that all works one day...my current trip is over 8,000 miles and I've no idea how to reset it.HB2K said:
Ah, gotcha. In fact, I think you've explained to me what the mysterious mph reading on my digital dashboard is. Must be the average trip speed! I'll have to look at how that all works one day...my current trip is over 8,000 miles and I've no idea how to reset it.
Usually its a case of holding the menu button on the stalk for a few seconds Must be the average trip speed! I'll have to look at how that all works one day...my current trip is over 8,000 miles and I've no idea how to reset it.Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff