Motorway Speed Cameras

[dgcbev]

Im not one for getting carried away after reading daily mail articles but I am genuinely concerned about the increase in these managed motorway speed limits and I worry they will be everywhere before long.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2916359/Co...

The article claims that this stretch of M25 uses these cameras when there is no congestion and ensures drivers have to stick to 70mph 24/7...and that it is coming to other motorways like M3, M6

The M3 has been at 50mph for months and wonder if they are planning to add those gantrys with cameras, or maybe totally unrelated. Anyway the point still remains.
Britains motorways are overflowing with traffic yet are one of the safest places to drive in Europe, but very few drive under 70mph. I fear that limiting everyone to 70 would not only cause more costs to motorist, but completely clog up our roads. (the most worrying part of the article is the the response given by the highways agency right at the end) If they get away with this for too long people will just accept it and drive slower after a few fines, and then it will be everywhere, might as well put a tracker in the car.

Am I getting worked up over nothing, if not how can we stop it.. its a worrying trend.

[Baz Tench]

I thought this too. It's extremely short-sighted of the government if true.

It will just lead to even more people switching off behind the wheel.

It will be wretched.

[eybic]

I don't disagree with you but the thing you need to remember is that people are limited to 70mph by law, they choose to travel above 70.

[moffat]

I'm pretty sure that they only take pics when there is an actual variable speed limit showing e.g. 50mph. If NSL the camera is not working.

My only evidence is the fact that I have received a ticket from doing 80-90mph through these areas.

[allergictocheese]

70mph has been the speed limit for years. Most here would have passed their tests and gained their licences when 70mph was the limit.

So why the surprise and concern now?

It used to be that Police officers would hide in random places and try to catch you out. Now the cameras are sat on gantries in plain view. Seems a fairer way of going about things.

[parabolica]

Not to hi-jack the thread, but where are these cameras on the south side of the M25? I'm guessing the revised stretch between the M23 and Clackett Lane? Or are they between the M3 and M23?

[Baz Tench]

eybic said:

I don't disagree with you but the thing you need to remember is that people are limited to 70mph by law, they choose to travel above 70.

IMO, it's a ridiculously outdated law though, but my opinion counts for nothing really.

This will be terrible for our motorways.

At least you're paying much more attention to your surroundings if you're pressing on a bit (well, I do anyway).

[crowfield]

£150,000 to install and £25000 a year maintenance????????? How??????

[anonymous-user]

Long running thread here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[eybic]

As I said, I don't disagree with you. I hope I'm not around when all of our roads have average speed cameras or GPS boxes in all cars monitoring speeds.

[Krupp88]

crowfield said:

£150,000 to install and £25000 a year maintenance????????? How??????

Regardless of the true cost the expected return on investment will far out-way these figures.

[GC8]

Baz Tench said:

I thought this too. It's extremely short-sighted of the government if true.

It will just lead to even more people switching off behind the wheel.

It will be wretched.

This is my concern. The more choices you take away, the less the disinterested pay attention.

[kambites]

The M3 has signs up saying they are converting it into a "smart motorway" which probably means yes, they're installing cameras.

Edited by kambites on Monday 19th January 12:27

[kambites]

Krupp88 said:

crowfield said:

£150,000 to install and £25000 a year maintenance????????? How??????

Regardless of the true cost the expected return on investment will far out-way these figures.

I'd be interested to see some actual figures to back up that statement. I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just interested to see the numbers.

[dgcbev]

thats very sad about m3, may have to find another way to london, it used to be very quick

my point of the post is that the article claims that it WILL be for 70mph 24/7 in near future on these new plans, not just when signs say 40-60

[Stevoox]

parabolica said:

Not to hi-jack the thread, but where are these cameras on the south side of the M25? I'm guessing the revised stretch between the M23 and Clackett Lane? Or are they between the M3 and M23?

Around the clackett lane area. I've seen them flash like mad... 11 times in one go when near one gantry, was like a disco!

I don't think they are on every gantry (although each one does have a speed camera sign on) i think there is one either side of Clackett lane (not sure exactly where though)

[panholio]

These smart motorways make no sense to me at all. Spend millions installing these gantries all over the place for them to permanently read 50mph during rush hour. Why not just set the speed limit to 50mph during peak times and 70 the rest.... Or perhaps even 100mph after 10pm as a bit of a deal.

[dgcbev]

there were studies conducted when considering 80mph limits that the reduced journey times would benifit the economy and therefore the government funds far more than any speed camera fines.

[eybic]

djstevec said:

Long running thread here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I'll close this thread, the other one has been going for a while and has a lot more posts.