Can average speed cameras work singularly?
Discussion
Does anyone know if average speed cameras can work on their own and not have to be in pairs?
Late last night on route home from dropping the mrs at a party, I drove along a 40mph average speed section of dual carriageway in Coventry - somewhere I typically avoid like the plague despite being only 15 or so miles from home, so not a regular route I would use. Went past 1 or 2 cameras at 40 and then pulled into Tescos to grab a few things.
When I left I gave it a little squirt off the roundabout past two cars in the left lane without even thinking, suddenly saw the reminder sign and glanced down to see I was probably doing somewhere just under 60. Braked quite quickly and looked up to see one of the cameras maybe 30-40m ahead so no doubt within reading distance for the numberplate.
Yes it was silly but it’s happened… If so then it’ll be the first points I’ve had in 13 years. I know I probably won’t get a concrete answer off here but some knowledge/opinions whilst I wait out the next 14 days would be helpful. I did ponder that it would have picked up my reg on the previous two cameras before going into Tescos, but I was in there a good 15mins so I very much doubt it’ll register the whole stretch as like 0.01mph or whatever it would be.
I was in her car as well… not ideal
Late last night on route home from dropping the mrs at a party, I drove along a 40mph average speed section of dual carriageway in Coventry - somewhere I typically avoid like the plague despite being only 15 or so miles from home, so not a regular route I would use. Went past 1 or 2 cameras at 40 and then pulled into Tescos to grab a few things.
When I left I gave it a little squirt off the roundabout past two cars in the left lane without even thinking, suddenly saw the reminder sign and glanced down to see I was probably doing somewhere just under 60. Braked quite quickly and looked up to see one of the cameras maybe 30-40m ahead so no doubt within reading distance for the numberplate.
Yes it was silly but it’s happened… If so then it’ll be the first points I’ve had in 13 years. I know I probably won’t get a concrete answer off here but some knowledge/opinions whilst I wait out the next 14 days would be helpful. I did ponder that it would have picked up my reg on the previous two cameras before going into Tescos, but I was in there a good 15mins so I very much doubt it’ll register the whole stretch as like 0.01mph or whatever it would be.
I was in her car as well… not ideal
giantdefy said:
No they can't as they don't measure you speed, they only record you registration and your time of passing, when you get to the next camera it does the same and then your average speed can be calculated
This....it's the way they work. They aren't equiped to measure speed individually because they don't need to. Edited by 98elise on Sunday 30th January 19:12
I got a ticket from a single average speed camera. I've no idea how it was done and it's confused me ever since. It was just off the M1 at the lutterworth junction, Heading towards lutterworth. There are 2 cameras in the village but I don't think I reached the second camera. There's something odd about the set up as well as the wording on the ticket I received.
Boosted LS1 said:
I got a ticket from a single average speed camera. I've no idea how it was done and it's confused me ever since. It was just off the M1 at the lutterworth junction, Heading towards lutterworth. There are 2 cameras in the village but I don't think I reached the second camera. There's something odd about the set up as well as the wording on the ticket I received.
Can you provide any more information. Unless the camera you passed was just the usual instantaneous speed camera, average speed cameras need to work in pairs for them to calculate your average speed between two points.
It was here:
A 4304 LUTTERWORTH ROAD, WALCOTE WESTBOUND, near South Kilworth Road, to near number 2 average speed camera.
There's a camera at each end of the village one of which is tiny and on top of a tall pole/lamp post. It's very easy to miss and is by a junction.
I'm familiar with how they work but it seemed odd that on that day I got a ticket not that it matters now.
When I researched the cameras there was a lot of information about type approval and at the time I thought it fishy because of the wording on the ticket.. Research just now indicated that they're paired and amongst the top 3 revenue earners in the county.
A 4304 LUTTERWORTH ROAD, WALCOTE WESTBOUND, near South Kilworth Road, to near number 2 average speed camera.
There's a camera at each end of the village one of which is tiny and on top of a tall pole/lamp post. It's very easy to miss and is by a junction.
I'm familiar with how they work but it seemed odd that on that day I got a ticket not that it matters now.
When I researched the cameras there was a lot of information about type approval and at the time I thought it fishy because of the wording on the ticket.. Research just now indicated that they're paired and amongst the top 3 revenue earners in the county.
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Monday 31st January 12:53
LordBretSinclair said:
Boosted LS1 said:
It was here:
......... It's very easy to miss and is by a junction...................
How many more clues do you need?????......... It's very easy to miss and is by a junction...................
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Monday 31st January 18:12
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Monday 31st January 21:57
blueg33 said:
If its the London Road in Coventry (the only bit I know with average cameras) the limit enforced is 30mph. Satnavs etc still report it as 40mph.
No it’s by the Showcase Cinema, leading up to the M6/M69 roundabout and is 100% 40mph. Probably the first time I’ve driven the road in maybe 18 months, I swerve Coventry as best I can usually! Thanks for the replies everyone, made me a feel a little better but will hold my breath slightly for the next 12 days!
Boosted LS1 said:
Nobody likes a smart arse. I saw the first one as I drove into the village but turned off before I left the village. On entering the village from a side road at the other end it's not normal to look up above and slightly behind you at 12 o'clock. Smart arses excepted. Your pics show the pole camera being advertised with yellow paint on the pole. Perhaps you need to do some historical research to see how things were a few years ago.
I think you'll find many people actually do 
There's a stretch of roadworks near me (A55 N Wales) that have 6 or 8 average speed cameras on. Am I right in thinking they operate in pairs rather than calculate your average over the whole stretch?
Seems wasteful to me as there's no entry/exits for the most part so surely if they're in pairs they could just have one at the start and one at the end?
Seems wasteful to me as there's no entry/exits for the most part so surely if they're in pairs they could just have one at the start and one at the end?
Darkslider said:
There's a stretch of roadworks near me (A55 N Wales) that have 6 or 8 average speed cameras on. Am I right in thinking they operate in pairs rather than calculate your average over the whole stretch?
Seems wasteful to me as there's no entry/exits for the most part so surely if they're in pairs they could just have one at the start and one at the end?
By definition, the cameras need to work in pairs, since they are measuring your speed between two fixed points.Seems wasteful to me as there's no entry/exits for the most part so surely if they're in pairs they could just have one at the start and one at the end?
However, it is not necessarily the case the the paired cameras are consecutive, one after each other, although it doesn't make any difference anyway. As long as your average speed between any 2 sets of cameras is below the prosecution threshold, your total average speed cannot be any higher.
BertBert said:
Boosted LS1 said:
Nobody likes a smart arse. I saw the first one as I drove into the village but turned off before I left the village. On entering the village from a side road at the other end it's not normal to look up above and slightly behind you at 12 o'clock. Smart arses excepted. Your pics show the pole camera being advertised with yellow paint on the pole. Perhaps you need to do some historical research to see how things were a few years ago.
I think you'll find many people actually do 
Edited by Boosted LS1 on Tuesday 1st February 09:03
giantdefy said:
No they can't as they don't measure you speed, they only record you registration and your time of passing, when you get to the next camera it does the same and then your average speed can be calculated
Unfortunately a large percentage of the population still hasn't grasped this concept, and brakes heavily before passing something that will only register their presence - not their speed.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff