Average speed cameras and vans/HGVs
Discussion
Apologies if covered before.
A1, dual carriageway, average speed cameras near Grantham (hilly, loads of junctions that are not up to motorway standard, so it is a safety issue).
National speed limit, so 70.
Speed limit therefore 70 for cars and car-derived vans, 60 for bigger vans, cars towing trailers, and HGVS.
My question - how sophisticated or crude is the average speed camera system?
Can it tell if a specific vehicle has a 60 or a 70 limit applicable, and hence will it catch say panel vans doing 72?
Or is it simple not triggered for any vehicle until a higher speed, say 78, is reached?
Just intrigued, not been speeding myself.
A1, dual carriageway, average speed cameras near Grantham (hilly, loads of junctions that are not up to motorway standard, so it is a safety issue).
National speed limit, so 70.
Speed limit therefore 70 for cars and car-derived vans, 60 for bigger vans, cars towing trailers, and HGVS.
My question - how sophisticated or crude is the average speed camera system?
Can it tell if a specific vehicle has a 60 or a 70 limit applicable, and hence will it catch say panel vans doing 72?
Or is it simple not triggered for any vehicle until a higher speed, say 78, is reached?
Just intrigued, not been speeding myself.
Neither the marketing material for SPECS nor for Siemens SafeZone suggests that different trigger speeds can be set for different types of vehicle. It's a selling point I'd expect them to mention (e.g. the brochures for Sensys Gatso cameras does mention that they can measure vehicle length)
Jenoptik's VECTOR system does seem to support this. I have no idea whether this feature is used anywhere in the UK. Now that goods vehicle speed limits have been increased, the differentiation would only be of use on NSL single carriageways, or 60mph+ dual carriageways.
If you know of a road meeting those criteria that has a VECTOR installation, we could search this forum and sites like Pepipoo for people seeking help with "Exceeding goods vehicle speed limit" prosecutions
Jenoptik's VECTOR system does seem to support this. I have no idea whether this feature is used anywhere in the UK. Now that goods vehicle speed limits have been increased, the differentiation would only be of use on NSL single carriageways, or 60mph+ dual carriageways.
If you know of a road meeting those criteria that has a VECTOR installation, we could search this forum and sites like Pepipoo for people seeking help with "Exceeding goods vehicle speed limit" prosecutions
I will try to work out what cameras are used at Grantham. Thanks for the insight.
I keep getting overtaken by big vans going around 80-85 mph on the two lane A1 dual carriageway, but at the time I am travelling, between 4.30 and 5.30 AM, it is hardly worth complaining as there is not much traffic so it is not a safety issue. For example, this morning I sat at 70 on cruise control for the entire 45 miles from Newark to Peterborough and only had to brake once.
In the evenings they can almost never get over 65-70 due to the sheer volume of traffic, so again it isn't an issue. The odd lunatic driver in the offside lane would get dealt with for the standard of their driving rather than the speed.
What amazes me is the number of large van drivers (driver's of large vans) who clearly are unaware that they are under a 60 mph speed limit, as they drive through the average speed section at a very studied 71 mph.
I keep getting overtaken by big vans going around 80-85 mph on the two lane A1 dual carriageway, but at the time I am travelling, between 4.30 and 5.30 AM, it is hardly worth complaining as there is not much traffic so it is not a safety issue. For example, this morning I sat at 70 on cruise control for the entire 45 miles from Newark to Peterborough and only had to brake once.
In the evenings they can almost never get over 65-70 due to the sheer volume of traffic, so again it isn't an issue. The odd lunatic driver in the offside lane would get dealt with for the standard of their driving rather than the speed.
What amazes me is the number of large van drivers (driver's of large vans) who clearly are unaware that they are under a 60 mph speed limit, as they drive through the average speed section at a very studied 71 mph.
QBee said:
What amazes me is the number of large van drivers (driver's of large vans) who clearly are unaware that they are under a 60 mph speed limit, as they drive through the average speed section at a very studied 71 mph.
If 10%+2 applies then they can do 68 before getting a ticket. it depends I guess as to whether that 71 is based on satnav or speedo, if the latter then I would expect them to be under the threshold. jurbie said:
QBee said:
What amazes me is the number of large van drivers (driver's of large vans) who clearly are unaware that they are under a 60 mph speed limit, as they drive through the average speed section at a very studied 71 mph.
If 10%+2 applies then they can do 68 before getting a ticket. it depends I guess as to whether that 71 is based on satnav or speedo, if the latter then I would expect them to be under the threshold. I have checked my Saab speedo against satnav and roadside speed readouts. At an indicated 71 I am doing 70.
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