Unmarked Cammera/ANPR police vans on M11?

[skylarking808]

Driving south on the M11 this week (Thursday PM) from Cambridge to London I noticed two "likely" looking vans on consecutive bridges over the motorway.

They were white, unmarked with the dark glassed side opening doors facing the oncoming traffic
.Noting how much the first van looked like a mobile speed camera van when I passed under the bridge I was really surprised to see another identical vehicle watching traffic at the next bridge also.

Anybody else seen these or have any idea if these were the Police checking ANPR or speeding motorists?

I am more curious than paranoid, but it did get me thinking for a few miles afterwards.

[mybrainhurts]

They do park speed vans on bridges over the M11.

I was once in the middle of a spot of bother when a driver saw it and hit his brakes, even though he was moving at less than 70.

Much avoidance of contact ensued and it was more than a little worrying at the time.

They know this happens, yet they still continue to sit on bridges. I really can't understand why.

[frankenstein12]

They do it due to high traffic flow therefore high numbers of penalties which increases their numbers overall for speed enforcement. Its about meeting targets not revenue or road safety.

[skylarking808]

Well if that is the case they must be raking it in.
Viewed side on the vans were unmarked. Having two on consecutive bridges is just pure greed.

[Lemoncurd]

Not sure what time this was on Thursday, but I clocked them heading back from London after 6pm. It was dark by that point but they were both still at it over the southbound lanes.

You would have had a job on your hands spotting them in the dark before it was too late.

[Salesy]

I saw them too, coming back from Cambridge towards London. Time around 3.30pm, also on the side were blue BMW estates one on each side.

[Dave Finney]

mybrainhurts said:

They do park speed vans on bridges over the M11.

I was once in the middle of a spot of bother when a driver saw it and hit his brakes, even though he was moving at less than 70.

Much avoidance of contact ensued and it was more than a little worrying at the time.

They know this happens, yet they still continue to sit on bridges. I really can't understand why.

That may be 1 of the reasons why there have been more deaths and serious injuries at places where mobile speed cameras operate, but we mustn't let evidence get in the way!

[Zedboy1200]

Lemoncurd said:

It was dark by that point but they were both still at it over the southbound lanes..... You would have had a job on your hands spotting them in the dark before it was too late.

So when do these guys clock off .. or do they cover 24hrs? M11 can be a swift, if dull, non-smart schlep
home in the early hours.

[captainaverage]

Not sure if you were speeding or not but did you ever hear anything from these two vans ? Has anyone else seen them?

[roofer]

mybrainhurts said:

They do park speed vans on bridges over the M11.

I was once in the middle of a spot of bother when a driver saw it and hit his brakes, even though he was moving at less than 70.

Much avoidance of contact ensued and it was more than a little worrying at the time.

They know this happens, yet they still continue to sit on bridges. I really can't understand why.

They'll park them where there is a pound in it. Off topic, how the fk did you get 87k posts ? !!!!!!!