HADEC3 Unfair/ Entrapment flashed

[elliot438]

Early this morning about 1am I was driving up the M5 and there was some temporary roadworks ahead. for about 1/2 mile we was warned "Lane closure slow down 60mph". Right as we come to the HADEC3 location which I am well aware of it decides to say 40mph. I slow down as soon as I see it says 40mph but still got flashed doing pretty much dead on 50mph, I didn't panic hit the brakes either was doing no more than 50mph.

Completely unfair as we was not told to go 40mph until the same spot as the camera. I called the highways number to complain and the lady also mentioned they had a few other complaints about the same spot tonight.

What do you guys think to this? Will I receive a ticket? Should I appeal it?

[TooMany2cvs]

You mean a variable limit section, and the limit changed right as you were on the signs? There's normally a lead time after a change where the new limit won't be enforced.

[eybic]

I'd definitely appeal if you get anything through. How successful it'll be though, I'm not sure. Make sure you keep a note of your phone call to the Highways Agency.

[oldaudi]

Sounds very similar to my recent crime. M32 in Bristol, 60mph all the way down, 60 sign and then about 20 feet later a 40mph sign and you enter a 40mph going way over 40mph by the time you exit you've broken the average 40mph exit camera.

They appear to have moved the signs further apart now but I got caught. 3pts and a fine. You can go to court if youre not happy.

[elliot438]

TooMany2cvs said:

You mean a variable limit section, and the limit changed right as you were on the signs? There's normally a lead time after a change where the new limit won't be enforced.

Yes it was the smart motorway section of the M5 north between J4 and J5. I know there definitely should be time to slow down, the roadworks were right there too so really it should of said 40mph way before.

[hairyben]

TooMany2cvs said:

You mean a variable limit section, and the limit changed right as you were on the signs? There's normally a lead time after a change where the new limit won't be enforced.

yeah right. The same way a parking attendant is supposed to give you five minutes and allow you to move a vehicle, and the appeal process is supposed to reply rather than binning your letter and sending a bigger fine, etc etc etc. Scammers the lot of em.

[paintman]

Just to clarify.
Are you saying that the sign had been displaying a limit of 60 and as you got to it the display suddenly changed to 40 giving you no time to slow before passing it?
Or that the other signs showed 60 & this one showed 40 & you hadn't noticed until you were right on top of it?

[elliot438]

paintman said:

Just to clarify.
Are you saying that the sign had been displaying a limit of 60 and as you got to it the display suddenly changed to 40 giving you no time to slow before passing it?
Or that the other signs showed 60 & this one showed 40 & you hadn't noticed until you were right on top of it?

All the signs prior were saying 60 and this one said 40 where the camera was

[FurtiveFreddy]

You have a 'grace' period of at least 60 seconds when the speed changes, so if it changed as you were just about to pass the gantry you will not be ticketed.

[littleredrooster]

The problem is, of course, that if you want to challenge it, you will lose the chance of it 'just' being 3 points + £100. If taken to court it may still be 3 points but a significantly greater fine + costs + victim surcharge + scamtax for being audacious enough to challenge the system. "And what does the Defendant offer as evidence to prove his case...?"

I sympathise as I was caught under very similar circumstances, in my case by another car in the same frame going much quicker than me. I paid up.

[silentbrown]

elliot438 said:

All the signs prior were saying 60 and this one said 40 where the camera was

So the sign didn't change? Well, that's where the 40 limit starts, then. If you went past the 40 sign doing 50 then sorry, but I think you just need to be looking further ahead.

[98elise]

elliot438 said:

paintman said:

Just to clarify.
Are you saying that the sign had been displaying a limit of 60 and as you got to it the display suddenly changed to 40 giving you no time to slow before passing it?
Or that the other signs showed 60 & this one showed 40 & you hadn't noticed until you were right on top of it?

All the signs prior were saying 60 and this one said 40 where the camera was

Do you mean there was a drop to 60, then 40, but you didn't spot the 40? If so then that's pretty normal for the speed to reduce in steps prior to roadworks or a crash.

If it changed as you went past, then the limit does not kick in for a while.

If you didn't spot the 40 then that's your problem, and I say that as someone who got done recently by a camera.

[V8LM]

elliot438 said:

I called the highways number to complain and the lady also mentioned they had a few other complaints about the same spot tonight.

What do you guys think to this?

You, and a several other people, ignored a bright illuminated sign in the dead of night saying 40 mph.

[anonymous-user]

V8LM said:

You, and a several other people, ignored a bright illuminated sign in the dead of night saying 40 mph.

Read the post.

Then try not to be an identikit PH dick.

[Buggyjam]

I bet you don’t get a ticket for that. As others have said there’s a time delay after they change. Do they do test flashes? Was it a single flash? There used to be a website with all the details on the cameras in use in the UK.

[vonhosen]

Buggyjam said:

I bet you don’t get a ticket for that. As others have said there’s a time delay after they change. Do they do test flashes? Was it a single flash? There used to be a website with all the details on the cameras in use in the UK.

He doesn't seem to be saying the sign changed as he approached.
He seems to be saying the signs on the first gantry were 60, he travelled past these & on the next gantry which was some distance down the road the signs were saying 40. He then went past those signs in excess of 40 & was flashed.

[FurtiveFreddy]

elliot438 said:

...Right as we come to the HADEC3 location which I am well aware of it decides to say 40mph.

That sounds to me more like it changed as he got close to it.

But it's ambiguous and the OP should clarify or we'll all be arguing about what we think happened.

[Buggyjam]

vonhosen said:

He doesn't seem to be saying the sign changed as he approached.
He seems to be saying the signs on the first gantry were 60, he travelled past these & on the next gantry which was some distance down the road the signs were saying 40. He then went past those signs in excess of 40 & was flashed.

I read it that they changed to 40 as he went under. It’s not too clear mmm. If that’s the case then likely a ticket

[Pericoloso]

elliot438 said:

What do you guys think to this? Will I receive a ticket? Should I appeal it?

No one seems to have answered the final query.

This isn't a parking ticket which you can appeal its a potential speeding offence ,which you could go to court to fight.

[elliot438]

Right the gantry didn't change as I approached it im not sure where you are getting this from. The new speed limit was shown on the gantry where the camera was. I saw it was 40 as I got close and began to slow down in what I think was an appropriate manor for motorway driving with another car right behind me. As it flashed I looked down and I was doing bang on 50mph maybe even a bit below. Personally I think it's entrapment as previous signs should of shown 40mph.

Exactly how do these Hadecs work? Do they flash and then the images are processed by a human being to clarify the speed between the multiple flashes?