Where have all the M42 cameras gone?
Where have all the M42 cameras gone?
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Discussion

Nigel_O

Original Poster:

3,861 posts

249 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
quotequote all
Over the last few weeks, I've noticed that almost all the gantry-mounted speed cameras on the "Smart" section of the M42 have been removed, most notably between junctions 4 and 7

I originally assumed they were being replaced by something better / clearer / less tolerant, but the gantries are still empty. I reckon over 100 cameras have been removed.

There are a handful of the new HADECS 3 cameras, but these are considerably less numerous that the old gantry-mounted units.

Does anyone know if this is a permanent removal?

NOTE - a couple of the gantries still have a lone camera present, and there are still gantry cameras anywhere north of junction 7, so don't sail though the entire M42 only looking for HADECS 3

Its already interesting to see that traffic isn't slowing down for the gantries with no cameras, but several people are not twigging the HADECS units - I imagine that ticket numbers have risen....

Alex_6n2

336 posts

229 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
quotequote all
HADECS 3 can measure speed over a considerably longer distance than the gantry mounted HADECS 2 equipment can't it?

Might be that they need less camera frequency to cover the same total mileage

captainaverage

596 posts

117 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
quotequote all
Alex_6n2 said:
HADECS 3 can measure speed over a considerably longer distance than the gantry mounted HADECS 2 equipment can't it?

Might be that they need less camera frequency to cover the same total mileage
I doubt the camera can see up ahead by 1 mile

FurtiveFreddy

8,577 posts

267 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
quotequote all
Alex_6n2 said:
HADECS 3 can measure speed over a considerably longer distance than the gantry mounted HADECS 2 equipment can't it?
No it can't.

Money is tight so there won't be as many gantries fitted with HADECS3, but each one covers all lanes.

The previous HADECS cameras weren't installed over every lane anyway. The housings were above each lane but the internals were moved around and usually only one lane would have a live camera above it and not all gantries would have a camera, so the total coverage is probably slightly more than before.

ghe13rte

1,860 posts

146 months

Thursday 8th February 2018
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It’s always amusing to read the crap people are willing to write about these things.

They have been removed as the HADECS3 systems are being used instead.

The next thing will be to remove the check marks from the road. That will most probably be achieved when resurfacing is due.

Wilbert350

9 posts

104 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
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I was travelling this way yesterday, right up from Warwickshire past Birmingham, and used the M42 for the first time in a few months. I too, noticed that nearly all, (N E A R L Y - there are a couple of old grey box HADECS 2 on the gantries at random points, probably the few statistically most profitable), had gone. I started to feel a bit twitchy, wondering where I was being speed-checked from... Even asked the girlfriend to start googling it while I was driving.

I kept on the cruise control at 58mph anyway, as they were set to 60 on the gantries.
I didn't spot one single HADECS 3. Don't even remember them being there. Couldn't tell you if they are grey or yellow.

I did notice small cameras, not even sure if they're new - on the gantries facing cars approaching. Small square, glassy looking cameras with sort of 'wings' either side of the glassy aperture. Or flaps, if you want to call them that.

I've been trying to find out what these are... I only spotted them on two gantries, one gantry had four, and a lonely one on the exit gantry at junction 7 M42 where it swoops round to left under a bridge onto the M6 that goes through Birmingham. This was the only point I sped up as I left the M42... To the same speed as the other damn traffic and the guy who was baiting me in his Cayman, at a reckless 70mph wink

rolleyes

blueg33

46,566 posts

254 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
quotequote all
Wilbert350 said:
I was travelling this way yesterday, right up from Warwickshire past Birmingham, and used the M42 for the first time in a few months. I too, noticed that nearly all, (N E A R L Y - there are a couple of old grey box HADECS 2 on the gantries at random points, probably the few statistically most profitable), had gone. I started to feel a bit twitchy, wondering where I was being speed-checked from... Even asked the girlfriend to start googling it while I was driving.

I kept on the cruise control at 58mph anyway, as they were set to 60 on the gantries.
I didn't spot one single HADECS 3. Don't even remember them being there. Couldn't tell you if they are grey or yellow.

I did notice small cameras, not even sure if they're new - on the gantries facing cars approaching. Small square, glassy looking cameras with sort of 'wings' either side of the glassy aperture. Or flaps, if you want to call them that.

I've been trying to find out what these are... I only spotted them on two gantries, one gantry had four, and a lonely one on the exit gantry at junction 7 M42 where it swoops round to left under a bridge onto the M6 that goes through Birmingham. This was the only point I sped up as I left the M42... To the same speed as the other damn traffic and the guy who was baiting me in his Cayman, at a reckless 70mph wink

rolleyes
The HADECS 3's are easy to see and painted yellow. You may need to visit an optician!

Wilbert350

9 posts

104 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
quotequote all
blueg33 said:
The HADECS 3's are easy to see and painted yellow. You may need to visit an optician!
Cool, I'll do that. Anyone else got any idea what the small forward-facing gantry cameras are?

littleredrooster

6,387 posts

226 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
quotequote all
Wilbert350 said:
Cool, I'll do that. Anyone else got any idea what the small forward-facing gantry cameras are?
Most probably Trafficmaster (or whoever) cameras measuring traffic flow.

Gavia

7,627 posts

121 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
quotequote all
Wilbert350 said:
I was travelling this way yesterday, right up from Warwickshire past Birmingham, and used the M42 for the first time in a few months. I too, noticed that nearly all, (N E A R L Y - there are a couple of old grey box HADECS 2 on the gantries at random points, probably the few statistically most profitable), had gone. I started to feel a bit twitchy, wondering where I was being speed-checked from... Even asked the girlfriend to start googling it while I was driving.

I kept on the cruise control at 58mph anyway, as they were set to 60 on the gantries.
I didn't spot one single HADECS 3. Don't even remember them being there. Couldn't tell you if they are grey or yellow.

I did notice small cameras, not even sure if they're new - on the gantries facing cars approaching. Small square, glassy looking cameras with sort of 'wings' either side of the glassy aperture. Or flaps, if you want to call them that.

I've been trying to find out what these are... I only spotted them on two gantries, one gantry had four, and a lonely one on the exit gantry at junction 7 M42 where it swoops round to left under a bridge onto the M6 that goes through Birmingham. This was the only point I sped up as I left the M42... To the same speed as the other damn traffic and the guy who was baiting me in his Cayman, at a reckless 70mph wink

rolleyes
58 on cruise control when thenlimit is 60. Why?

If the limit is set at 60 then my cruise control is set at 67. May as well use what’s available in terms of speedo inaccuracy and speeding tolerance.

blueg33

46,566 posts

254 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
quotequote all
littleredrooster said:
Wilbert350 said:
Cool, I'll do that. Anyone else got any idea what the small forward-facing gantry cameras are?
Most probably Trafficmaster (or whoever) cameras measuring traffic flow.
They could also be to monitor the live lanes for the smart motorway.

In terms of the HADECS3's the are mounted to the left of the gantry's over the verge circa 4 metres high. You get advance warning as there are small cameras on poles just beforehand that seem to be monitoring the HADECS and hard shoulder.


Wilbert350

9 posts

104 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
quotequote all
I see. As others have pointed out, we will likely see many more HADECS3 popping up at the roadside of the M42 as they're cheaper to deploy than the HADECS2, requiring far fewer to survey the speed of more traffic.

mcdjl

5,760 posts

225 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
quotequote all
blueg33 said:
littleredrooster said:
Wilbert350 said:
Cool, I'll do that. Anyone else got any idea what the small forward-facing gantry cameras are?
Most probably Trafficmaster (or whoever) cameras measuring traffic flow.
They could also be to monitor the live lanes for the smart motorway.

In terms of the HADECS3's the are mounted to the left of the gantry's over the verge circa 4 metres high. You get advance warning as there are small cameras on poles just beforehand that seem to be monitoring the HADECS and hard shoulder.
i heard (forget where) that these were so that they could prove what the speed limit was set to as you passed the camera, ie to stop people arguing that the limit was 70 and it got them at 60 etc.
But yes setting the cruise at 58 seems needlessly annoying. I'll let that poster off so long as they were sat in amongst the lorries in l1.

RemyMartin81D

6,759 posts

235 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
quotequote all
Gavia said:
58 on cruise control when thenlimit is 60. Why?

If the limit is set at 60 then my cruise control is set at 67. May as well use what’s available in terms of speedo inaccuracy and speeding tolerance.
Because it's his legal right?



Eddieslofart

1,328 posts

113 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
quotequote all
blueg33 said:
They could also be to monitor the live lanes for the smart motorway.

In terms of the HADECS3's the are mounted to the left of the gantry's over the verge circa 4 metres high. You get advance warning as there are small cameras on poles just beforehand that seem to be monitoring the HADECS and hard shoulder.
The 3 small cameras take a picture of the speed displayed on the gantry signs, the Hadecs does the car at the same time, stops anyone claiming they were showing different speed etc etc.

blueg33

46,566 posts

254 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
quotequote all
Eddieslofart said:
The 3 small cameras take a picture of the speed displayed on the gantry signs, the Hadecs does the car at the same time, stops anyone claiming they were showing different speed etc etc.
Ha that was so obvious I didn't think of it

covboy

2,593 posts

204 months

Friday 23rd March 2018
quotequote all
Eddieslofart said:
blueg33 said:
They could also be to monitor the live lanes for the smart motorway.

In terms of the HADECS3's the are mounted to the left of the gantry's over the verge circa 4 metres high. You get advance warning as there are small cameras on poles just beforehand that seem to be monitoring the HADECS and hard shoulder.
The 3 small cameras take a picture of the speed displayed on the gantry signs, the Hadecs does the car at the same time, stops anyone claiming they were showing different speed etc etc.
The poster said the cameras were facing the cars approaching though ?