Essex to Scotland

[Demolay]

Hello all,

I'm heading to Scotland tomorrow (Glasgow-ish) and am driving (M25-M1-M6-A74(M)) all the way.

What scammer activity can I expect north of Preston? I'm relatively confident of being OK up to Cumbria (boo sucks to Steve Callaghan), but I'd like to know if there's anything I should be mindful of.

Cheers in advance.

[BonzoGuinness]

Keep an eye on the M74 junction 13 Abington, just as it changes from A74(M) to M74, there's supposedly a van parked on the bridge over the motorway at the services - it's listed on the website, but I've never seen it, so it might be elsewhere other than the bridge.

Other than that, there's just the usual unmarked 530ds and Octavias going up and down the M74.

www.scottishsafetycameras.com/CamFinderMap.aspx?RegionId=1

[tvrgit]

BonzoGuinness said:

Keep an eye on the M74 junction 13 Abington, just as it changes from A74(M) to M74, there's supposedly a van parked on the bridge over the motorway at the services - it's listed on the website, but I've never seen it, so it might be elsewhere other than the bridge.

Other than that, there's just the usual unmarked 530ds and Octavias going up and down the M74.

www.scottishsafetycameras.com/CamFinderMap.aspx?RegionId=1

Have to say that I've only been on that road 3 times in the last year, and the van has been there on the bridge each time! Be careful because it sees you before you realise where it is.

[justinp1]

It is a shame really as the M6 north of Preston is one of the most open, fun, empty and scenic quick bits of road there is in the UK.

North Wales used to be like that too...

I wonder what the tourist aspect of speed cameras and enforcement is?

[gently bentley]

I,m a bib in Gods country. Yep its there all the time. I think its the only two non drinking bibs in Scotland that work in it too (wierdos)

We have a vicious drink/drive campaighn on just now and a good few unmarked cars out so easy on the speed.

Dumfries and Galloway bibs still hate the English for that stone of destiny theft so be careful as you cross the border.

Remember your passport and phrase book and ditch that daft English money and have a great time. Stay for hogmanay. We all get lethered and love each other its the berries.

Och Aye the nooooooooooo.

Gb (I know crap nickname for a die hard Scot)

[M5Dave]

Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary, that's from the border till just after Johnstonbridge Services, have a nasty habit of using camera vans on the Motorway overbridges, and you can bet they'll be out at this time of year, trying to catch people unfamilier with the area heading north for the festive period (Welcome to Scotland).

Strathclyde Police, that's the rest of the way to Glasgow, seem to have a more sensible approach to speed cameras, and tend only to use them in built up areas or at accident black spots, I've never seen one on the Motorway, although be aware of unmarked cars, I think it's a dark blue new shape 5 series that patrols this area.

[gently bentley]

your right about the car. The lads that work in it are ok though I know them. If they can have a word in your ear that suits them. A wee breath test with a negative is all they seem to want this time of year for their stat driven gaffers. Practice the Scottish accent though. (Kidding)

[Demolay]

gently bentley said:

your right about the car. The lads that work in it are ok though I know them. If they can have a word in your ear that suits them. A wee breath test with a negative is all they seem to want this time of year for their stat driven gaffers. Practice the Scottish accent though. (Kidding)

Thanks for the info, but I am Scottish. Been living down south for a couple of years and heading home for New Year.

"A fat soo's erse is aye weel creashed"

[gently bentley]

Ah. An agent returning home. Hell man batter up the road who gives a toss.

[BonzoGuinness]

tvrgit said:

Have to say that I've only been on that road 3 times in the last year, and the van has been there on the bridge each time! Be careful because it sees you before you realise where it is.

That's rather unlucky . I've been on that road countless times in the last year, usually getting quite a blast on the downhill stretch after Happendon services, and every time I've slowed down for the wee police layby on the bend southbound just before Abington, to come off at the services, and I've never seen the van!

If you're up for a detour, come off at Abington services, and head onto the A73 signposted Lanark. Follow it all the way round to Hyndford Bridge (single track bridge with traffic lights) but keep going straight on - you'll eventually reach the motorway junction at Happendon Services again, but you can keep going until you get to Glespin, then just turn round and come back to the motorway. Great stretch of road that, plenty of overtaking spots, including some funky S-bends with a clear view across each bend and broken lines all the way. It's good fun taking the "racing line" through there on a quiet day.

[puggit]

The Cumbria scammers like to sit on the bridges too. You can certainly expect activity on the M6 as they don't have many other high density roads to rake the ca$h in on!

[andmole]

Be careful on the section between Shap and Penrith, I've seen vans on the bridges several times.

[mojocvh]

andmole said:

Be careful on the section between Shap and Penrith, I've seen vans on the bridges several times.

Sadly wheres there a bridge etc, got my Ticket for a terrible speed there, A74(M)[why the 'kin long name?] heading down south on an 8 hour drive to work. Usual pissed OTF but hey that's life and its more than those cam operaters have that's for sure MoFos!!! (opinion hardened by being passed in 50 ltd roadworks by cumbrian scam van doing about 80+)

Mojo

[drivenmad]

BonzoGuinness said:

tvrgit said:

Have to say that I've only been on that road 3 times in the last year, and the van has been there on the bridge each time! Be careful because it sees you before you realise where it is.

That's rather unlucky . I've been on that road countless times in the last year, usually getting quite a blast on the downhill stretch after Happendon services, and every time I've slowed down for the wee police layby on the bend southbound just before Abington, to come off at the services, and I've never seen the van!

If you're up for a detour, come off at Abington services, and head onto the A73 signposted Lanark. Follow it all the way round to Hyndford Bridge (single track bridge with traffic lights) but keep going straight on - you'll eventually reach the motorway junction at Happendon Services again, but you can keep going until you get to Glespin, then just turn round and come back to the motorway. Great stretch of road that, plenty of overtaking spots, including some funky S-bends with a clear view across each bend and broken lines all the way. It's good fun taking the "racing line" through there on a quiet day.

Be careful on this road I've seen a few near fatals on it...in fact beyond it as well toward biggar

In addition watch out coming from happendon servies either towards Hyndford bridge or opposite way round as you pass rigside ...traffic cops sit down in the hollow at the golf course and clock youas you pass /approach its a 30mph and most are well over it!

Drivenmad

[BonzoGuinness]

drivenmad said:

In addition watch out coming from happendon servies either towards Hyndford bridge or opposite way round as you pass rigside ...traffic cops sit down in the hollow at the golf course and clock youas you pass /approach its a 30mph and most are well over it!

Drivenmad

My memory is sketchy having not driven the road in a couple of months, but all the limits along it are reasonable as far as I can remember, so I don't blame them for catching people belting into a 30 zone. The road through Rigside cuts through a residential area anyway. Every time I've "made progress" on the NSL, only for the people I overtake to catch up to me in the 30 zone doing about 40 where it really isn't suitable (the little Café/takeaway across the road from the houses springs to mind).