SPECS - for real or just marketing and rumour?

[tracer.smart]

Driving up the M1 through two SPECS guarded areas - struck me that most people stick to the limits but a few tear through them. Which got me thinking -

Have any of you or do you know of anyone who has been caught by a SPECS setup or are they just to scare?

(btw am writing this via 3G with the GF at the helm of my p&j as i am spirited up the M4 - great stuff though would rather be driving)

[gingerpaul]

I'm sure I've read on here that if you change lanes between cameras then they don't catch you. Perhaps the people zooming past you have tested the theory and found it works.

[CharlesW]

I suspect the people tearing through know they are not going to get a NIP, because they are driving a vehicle that is neither registered with the DVLA, nor taxed or insured.

Edited by CharlesW on Saturday 17th February 07:44

[lostusernamedamn]

CharlesW said:

I suspect the people tearing through know they are not going to get a NIP, because they are driving a vehicle that is neither registered with the DVLA, nor taxed or insured.

Edited by CharlesW on Saturday 17th February 07:44

Possibly. Just think how progressively more and more tempting that is becoming as the government for ever increases surveillance...

[jasandjules]

lostusernamedamn said:

Possibly. Just think how progressively more and more tempting that is becoming as the government for ever increases surveillance...

Bit of a catch 22 here I think.

Plenty of people who are law abiding with the exception of obeying an arbitrary number posted on a pole, are looking at ways to avoid being nicked......

[marcellus]

I often tsee this in the M1 set too....and always put it down to those that don't know the Specs "story" and understand what an "average" is..look closely at the calibre of those overtaking you and then decide!!

[richburley]

SPECS info

[TripleS]

jasandjules said:

lostusernamedamn said:

Possibly. Just think how progressively more and more tempting that is becoming as the government for ever increases surveillance...

Bit of a catch 22 here I think.

Plenty of people who are law abiding with the exception of obeying an arbitrary number posted on a pole, are looking at ways to avoid being nicked......

My problem is not with the arbitrary numbers on poles, it with the meaning of the white disc with the diagonal black stripe but I know what you mean. To be honest, in the event of getting caught I would be tempted to seek to evade punishment if a suitable loophole/technicality were to be available. I just do not respect the NSL at all. Towns, villages, built-up areas generally, roadworks, other special situations - no problem there at all - it's complete co-operation from me. I think that's a fair compromise.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[cooky]

I was hit with 3 points and £60, for doing 70 in a 60 over a distance of 2.2KM, not on a motorway but on the A616 stocksbridge bypass.

What i don't agree with is not the fact that I was speeding but how the hell can they justify Kilometers as the measured distance, and set the speed in MPH.

At the start of a SPECS contolled area they should sign accordingly, 'Average Speed for the NEXT xx MILES should not excede xxMPH.

[herewego]

cooky said:

I was hit with 3 points and £60, for doing 70 in a 60 over a distance of 2.2KM, not on a motorway but on the A616 stocksbridge bypass.

What i don't agree with is not the fact that I was speeding but how the hell can they justify Kilometers as the measured distance, and set the speed in MPH.

At the start of a SPECS contolled area they should sign accordingly, 'Average Speed for the NEXT xx MILES should not excede xxMPH.

Why is that more helpful than the max speed?

[cooky]

herewego said:

cooky said:

I was hit with 3 points and £60, for doing 70 in a 60 over a distance of 2.2KM, not on a motorway but on the A616 stocksbridge bypass.

What i don't agree with is not the fact that I was speeding but how the hell can they justify Kilometers as the measured distance, and set the speed in MPH.

At the start of a SPECS contolled area they should sign accordingly, 'Average Speed for the NEXT xx MILES should not excede xxMPH.

Why is that more helpful than the max speed?

SPECS is an average speed check between set markers, not a MAX speed limit, so the distances of the markers should be clearly stated.

[herewego]

cooky said:

herewego said:

cooky said:

I was hit with 3 points and £60, for doing 70 in a 60 over a distance of 2.2KM, not on a motorway but on the A616 stocksbridge bypass.

What i don't agree with is not the fact that I was speeding but how the hell can they justify Kilometers as the measured distance, and set the speed in MPH.

At the start of a SPECS contolled area they should sign accordingly, 'Average Speed for the NEXT xx MILES should not excede xxMPH.

Why is that more helpful than the max speed?

SPECS is an average speed check between set markers, not a MAX speed limit, so the distances of the markers should be clearly stated.

Why?

[M5Dave]

cooky said:

herewego said:

cooky said:

I was hit with 3 points and £60, for doing 70 in a 60 over a distance of 2.2KM, not on a motorway but on the A616 stocksbridge bypass.

What i don't agree with is not the fact that I was speeding but how the hell can they justify Kilometers as the measured distance, and set the speed in MPH.

At the start of a SPECS contolled area they should sign accordingly, 'Average Speed for the NEXT xx MILES should not excede xxMPH.

Why is that more helpful than the max speed?

SPECS is an average speed check between set markers, not a MAX speed limit, so the distances of the markers should be clearly stated.

But the maximum speed limit still applies. If you don't go over the maximum over the course of the check, then you can't get done.

[fluffnik]

cooky said:

At the start of a SPECS contolled area they should sign accordingly, 'Average Speed for the NEXT xx MILES should not excede xxMPH.

No.

There should be the chared stump of a SPECS camera, beginning and end; nothing else is acceptable.

[fluffnik]

jasandjules said:

Bit of a catch 22 here I think.

Plenty of people who are law abiding with the exception of obeying an arbitrary number posted on a pole, are looking at ways to avoid being nicked......

No catch.

Simply delete the innappropriate politicians and the self-serving parasites of the SCPs.

...elections in May, play to win.

[Rob-C]

I have been done at 57mph by a SPECS setup. 50mph limit through lane restrictions on the M62.

When I say lane restrictions I mean hard shoulder closed, so no more hazardous than a normal dual carriageway. Out of hours so no workforce in the road either.

In the weeks after I got the fine, I drove through the same restrictions at bang on 50mph.

Imagine how safe I felt in lane 1 doing 50mph in my lightweight 2-seater, with a pissed off foreign artic driver a foot off my arse blaring his horn/lights, another truck directly alongside and no hard shoulder!

[Plotloss]

Remember, SPECS is only type approved for single lane use.

Just change lanes between cameras

[Rob-C]

It's not as simple as that; on a long, multi-camera stretch, the single-lane pairs of cameras are staggered. Unless you are paying a frankly excessive amount of attention to which camera points where, you might well be changing lanes back into a lane where you will be caught.