Caught by SPECS camera

[sam_strachan]

Apologies if this is the wrong thread - I just wanted to rant at no one in particular having just received my first speed camera letter. I'm so annoyed - I would at least have felt it was a fair cop if I'd been doing 90 down the motorway, or driving too fast outside a school.

The offence? 29mph along Upper Thames Street (20 limit) on a quiet bank holiday. They enclosed the pictures, and of course the road is completely empty other than me. Argh!!!


www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-releases/2004/november/press-pn1268.shtml

[streaky]

What? You mean you can't see the hordes of people you killed at that intemperate speed?

Streaky

[MrsMiggins]

www.pepipoo.com

[puggit]

29mph on an empty dual carriageway?!?!?

What on earth were you thinking?!?!?!?!

You should have going faster

Seriously - that sucks, get over to www.pepipoo.com and get some help fighting this injustice.

[llamekcuf]

Scam Manager said:

Research proves that a 1mph reduction in average speed results in a reduction of 6% in the number of collisions, and we will endeavour to mitigate collisions at this site over the next 18 months

...How are they allowed to continue spouting such ste and get away with it!

[timbob]

Scam Manager said:

Research proves that a 1mph reduction in average speed results in a reduction of 6% in the number of collisions, and we will endeavour to mitigate collisions at this site over the next 18 months

Ahh, I see.... So, that must mean that reducing average speed by 17mph would see accidents dropping to zero... Brilliantly flawless plan there...

[streaky]

timbob said:

Scam Manager said: Research proves that a 1mph reduction in average speed results in a reduction of 6% in the number of collisions, and we will endeavour to mitigate collisions at this site over the next 18 months Ahh, I see.... So, that must mean that reducing average speed by 17mph would see accidents dropping to zero... Brilliantly flawless plan there...

The man with the red flag won't be able to maintain 17mph for very long - S

[regmolehusband]

I was under the impression that SPECS doesn't take photos - am I wrong?

"Reg"

[8Pack]

Tell them you were being hassled by two speeding cyclists with cable operated rubber block brakes and skinny tyres.

[nonegreen]

Ask for the pics. You owe it to yourself and all the others. This is a war, it is not about speed or safety or even cars. It is about what sort of moron controls society.

[Streetcop]

would it have been totally unreasonable and impossible to actually stick to 20mph through those roadworks?

I know it's very slow and feels like you've stopped in a modern car. However, would it have been worth it?

[supraman2954]

Streetcop said:

would it have been totally unreasonable and impossible to actually stick to 20mph through those roadworks? I know it's very slow and feels like you've stopped in a modern car. However, would it have been worth it?

impossible? no
Worth it ? no, the workmen weren't present
Unreasonable? yes. Afterall people can run...... RUN faster than that!
difficult? I think so, considering it was a clear dual carriageway. Cruise control won't help; mine won't work when below 25mph.

>> Edited by supraman2954 on Sunday 3rd April 01:48

[streaky]

Streetcop said:

would it have been totally unreasonable and impossible to actually stick to 20mph through those roadworks? I know it's very slow and feels like you've stopped in a modern car. However, would it have been worth it?

Quoting from the TfL Press Release:

"During the 18 months of roadworks, the London Safety Camera Partnership (LSCP) will operate four pairs of digital cameras in the temporary 20mph zone. These cameras will enforce the lower speed limit in order to protect vulnerable road users on the temporary road layout and construction site workers.

[ ... ]

Peter Hendy, TfL’s Managing Director, Surface Transport, said: "In 2003, pedestrians and cyclists accounted for over a quarter of all casualties on London's roads. As Upper Thames Street is exposed to high volumes of both groups, we must ensure their safety is paramount."

Without condoning law-breaking, it does appear that there were (a) no "construction site workers" and (b) no "vulnerable road users (i.e. pedestrians and cyclists)" that needed to be protected.

I do accept the difficulties in switching speed limit restrictions off and on ... but there are plenty of time-related restrictions on our roads, so it's not impossible.

Streaky

[streaky]

sam_strachan said:

Apologies if this is the wrong thread - I just wanted to rant at no one in particular having just received my first speed camera letter. I'm so annoyed - I would at least have felt it was a fair cop if I'd been doing 90 down the motorway, or driving too fast outside a school. The offence? 29mph along Upper Thames Street (20 limit) on a quiet bank holiday. They enclosed the pictures, and of course the road is completely empty other than me. Argh!!! www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-releases/2004/november/press-pn1268.shtml

The TfL Press Release states that: "Message signs will alert drivers if they travel over the speed limit so they can reduce their speed before reaching the zone." Did you see them? - Streaky

[fish]

I drove up the M1 this am. I was spitting dummies at a 1/2 mile section. It had been coned off for works to a bridge which now appeared complete, the cones had been moved to the side of the motorway, ie the verge side of the hard shouder. The speed limit was 40mph. How ridiculous, no workmen no lanes coned off, normal motorway which was fairly empty and a stupid 40mph limit. NOT a single vehicle went through it anywhere near the limit so they were all breaking the limit. All these do is piss people off so they ignore limits some of which could be important and relevent.

Anyhow why am I seeing more 40mph on motorway road works when years ago thye were all 50, cars have improved although admittedlt driver training hasn't.

Totally ridiculous and I was quite pleased to substantially break it. Give me sensible limits and I might stick to them.

I have noticed though than the more stupid limits I see nowadays the faster in general I am driving a minor rebellion from me. No doubt I at some point will get caught, but thats the new Bliar world isn't it.

[puggit]

Fish - not only is that 40 limit pointless, it's downright dangerous for the traffic to slow down to 40mph.

[sam_strachan]

Streetcop said:

would it have been totally unreasonable and impossible to actually stick to 20mph through those roadworks? I know it's very slow and feels like you've stopped in a modern car. However, would it have been worth it?

No it wouldn't have been unreasonable or impossible, and of course, that's a fair point. The simple truth is, though, that I didn't really notice; it was a nice sunny bank holiday and the road was empty and I felt I was travelling at a safe speed in view of me being the only person there. Add to which (to answer Streaky), I do vaguely remember a flashing warning and slowed, but I suppose I was expecting Gatsos, was not aware of SPECS and so thought I was safe.

Again, that doesn't make it right that I was apparently speeding - my original point was simply that I was annoyed - mostly with myself, although I reserve a certain amount of petulant annoyance for the camera in the first place.

Finally, to streetcop - of course it would have been worth slowing to 20, I didn't do it out of some sense of reckless abandon (after all, I was only doing 29). Ah well - I will be wiser next time.

[sam_strachan]

regmolehusband said:

I was under the impression that SPECS doesn't take photos - am I wrong?

Kind of - they don't take a picture of you next a "ruler", but they take a picture on entry to the area and at some other point (and presumably time the difference). They sent through a picture to confirm that it was my car, at that location, with a blow up of my registration plate.

nonegreen said:

Ask for the pics. You owe it to yourself and all the others. This is a war, it is not about speed or safety or even cars. It is about what sort of moron controls society.

bigbrother said:

Q: Can I see the photographs? A: Not as a matter of routine. Prints are made only if the case is brought before a court, when they are made available to the defendant.

I don't think I'll be taking this to court; it would cost money and waste everyone's time and risk me getting a higher fine.

>> Edited by sam_strachan on Sunday 3rd April 18:01

[Imadreamer]

I drove through there last week (Easter Sunday) on my way through London out to the M4 on my way to Bath.

I noticed that the first set of cameras (travelling westbound) are actually pointing at vehicles at least 50 meters before they enter the 20MPH zone, where the limit is 30. This must have some effect on the time you take to travel the measured distance and maybe make the calculations wrong?

[Bryan35]

I didn't think that 20MPH was enforceable in law. May be wrong.
Also didn't think that you could fiddle with an image to make the plate readable.

Perhaps I'm years out of date!