HADEC's flash - M25
Discussion
So after collecting the GF's new car last night we were trekking back from Fleet on the M25 back to Orpington.
After passing the 3rd 4 lanes to 1 lane closure over no more than 6 junctions another was signed, I slow and begin to move over as requested. Passed a 60mph sign and then came to a HADEC's gantry signed 50mph in the outside lane only and all other lanes with move right arrows:
3 cars: Me in lane 2, GF in lane 3, random car behind us in lane 3
The cameras on the gantry then flashed 4 times in quick succession. My speedo was readoing between 55-58 so should be within tolerance, GF thinks hers was saying ~60mph so will likely have an issue (dad got a NIP for 57mph under a gantry saying 50 near J3 this week....).
Already on 6 points (but having never done a course) I'm hoping that I'm ok but have a few questions:
Is a single 50mph sign sufficient to change the limit - especially if not in the lane I was travelling in (other roads require 2 where a limit changes)
The signs aren't particularly clear when lit at night and a 1 hour journey takes 3 due to roadworks....the 5 looks like a 6, isn't black font on white background etc.
Are there lines on the carriageway that can be used to calculate the speed we were travelling at?
Also for the GF:
With the car ownership being updated with the DVLA online I presume that we've got the standard 14 days plus 1 to see whether anything happens - I presume that of not received within this window she's in the clear?
Guess worst case is we have a couples (plus dad) speed awareness course?
After passing the 3rd 4 lanes to 1 lane closure over no more than 6 junctions another was signed, I slow and begin to move over as requested. Passed a 60mph sign and then came to a HADEC's gantry signed 50mph in the outside lane only and all other lanes with move right arrows:
3 cars: Me in lane 2, GF in lane 3, random car behind us in lane 3
The cameras on the gantry then flashed 4 times in quick succession. My speedo was readoing between 55-58 so should be within tolerance, GF thinks hers was saying ~60mph so will likely have an issue (dad got a NIP for 57mph under a gantry saying 50 near J3 this week....).
Already on 6 points (but having never done a course) I'm hoping that I'm ok but have a few questions:
Is a single 50mph sign sufficient to change the limit - especially if not in the lane I was travelling in (other roads require 2 where a limit changes)
The signs aren't particularly clear when lit at night and a 1 hour journey takes 3 due to roadworks....the 5 looks like a 6, isn't black font on white background etc.
Are there lines on the carriageway that can be used to calculate the speed we were travelling at?
Also for the GF:
With the car ownership being updated with the DVLA online I presume that we've got the standard 14 days plus 1 to see whether anything happens - I presume that of not received within this window she's in the clear?
Guess worst case is we have a couples (plus dad) speed awareness course?
Edited by kiethton on Friday 10th November 10:35
kiethton said:
The signs aren't particularly clear when lit at night <SNIP>...the 5 looks like a 6, isn't black font on white background etc.
When it was pointed out to the authorities that many of the various fonts used on LED overhead gantries were non-compliant with the regulations, rather than change the signs to improve clarity, they changed the law so that any approximate font is good enough to count as legal.As long as the magistrate on the Clapham omnibus thinks it is obviously a "60" then that is good enough.
Sometimes they flash and you don't get a ticket.I got flashed on the M25 (north side) doing just under 60 in a 50 limit, but no ticket.
In my case the limit had changed to 60 on a previous gantry and I was doing that, then limit dropped to 50. I didn't spotted it until the last minute, and there was a car behind me so I couldn't hit the brakes too hard.
In my case the limit had changed to 60 on a previous gantry and I was doing that, then limit dropped to 50. I didn't spotted it until the last minute, and there was a car behind me so I couldn't hit the brakes too hard.
98elise said:
I didn't spotted it until the last minute, and there was a car behind me so I couldn't hit the brakes too hard.
Please do:a. it will be the car behind's fault if it collides with you,
b. if enough of these accidents are recorded with you making it clear you were only braking because of the limit sign, then hopefully it will show that there is no overall safety benefit and the 'SMART' motorway schemes will be scrapped.
speedking31 said:
98elise said:
I didn't spotted it until the last minute, and there was a car behind me so I couldn't hit the brakes too hard.
Please do:a. it will be the car behind's fault if it collides with you,
b. if enough of these accidents are recorded with you making it clear you were only braking because of the limit sign, then hopefully it will show that there is no overall safety benefit and the 'SMART' motorway schemes will be scrapped.
98elise said:
Sometimes they flash and you don't get a ticket.I got flashed on the M25 (north side) doing just under 60 in a 50 limit, but no ticket.
And HADECS cameras malfunction. I was flashed at a true GPS 67 in a 70 limit. As an aside, predictive text just changed HADECS camera to HADES camera ....
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