A14 overhead cameras near Huntingdon

[LegacyLad]

On A14 today near Huntingdon and there are some new(ish) cameras overhead looking like average speed cameras on the 'bend' round Huntingdon , maybe 2 miles apart.

Has anyone else seen these and are they avg speed cameras as they're not the same as anything I've seen before ?

[niva441]

They are part of the new SPECS cameras that are going to stretch from the A1 to M11, not sure when they go live.

[tank slapper]

The last thing that road needs is people to be watching their speedos the whole time. Be interesting to see if the accident rate goes up.

[p490kvp]

Hmmm maybe time to ditch the front number plate if this continues.. Hey anyone know if their is any truth in the way that SPECS expects the number plate to be formated? I heard that it can't read the square type?

[outnumbered]

Is this a particularly dangerous piece of road ?

[egomeister]

niva441 said:

They are part of the new SPECS cameras that are going to stretch from the A1 to M11, not sure when they go live.

AS long as they are not live now it's ok - otherwise i may be due a nasty letter!

[pesty]

Anybody know what the cameras are on the A1 just north of the M62? they look very susspicious to me.

Are there many types of new cameras coming out?

[gilbertd]

The ones at Huntingdon are, as has already been suggested, SPECS cameras that are not yet live. They are probably the biggest waste of money ever, it is virtually impossible to exceed the limit, or even achieve it, most of the time. There have been lots of accidents, mostly caused by loss of concentration in the endless tailbacks behind elephant races. Rear enders happen with monotonous regularity. This is made worse by the liberal sprinkling of Truvelos which cause those, already travelling below the limit, to hit the brakes.

As a road safety measure they will achieve nothing, as a revenue raising measure they achieve little. The only time they will catch anyone out will be in the middle of the night, the only time it is possible to exceed the limit. The fact that no accidents happen at that time seems to have nothing to do with it.

[niva441]

It was a bit of a surprise to see them when I left early Monday morning. When I came back on Friday I noticed the were still covered. I'll probably start using the bck roads when they are operational as it will be easier to make time.

[Pickled Piper]

gilbertd said:

The ones at Huntingdon are, as has already been suggested, SPECS cameras that are not yet live. They are probably the biggest waste of money ever, it is virtually impossible to exceed the limit, or even achieve it, most of the time. There have been lots of accidents, mostly caused by loss of concentration in the endless tailbacks behind elephant races. Rear enders happen with monotonous regularity. This is made worse by the liberal sprinkling of Truvelos which cause those, already travelling below the limit, to hit the brakes.

As a road safety measure they will achieve nothing, as a revenue raising measure they achieve little. The only time they will catch anyone out will be in the middle of the night, the only time it is possible to exceed the limit. The fact that no accidents happen at that time seems to have nothing to do with it.

yes, yes, yes and yes.

pp

[LegacyLad]

gilbertd said:

The ones at Huntingdon are, as has already been suggested, SPECS cameras that are not yet live. They are probably the biggest waste of money ever, it is virtually impossible to exceed the limit, or even achieve it, most of the time. There have been lots of accidents, mostly caused by loss of concentration in the endless tailbacks behind elephant races. Rear enders happen with monotonous regularity. This is made worse by the liberal sprinkling of Truvelos which cause those, already travelling below the limit, to hit the brakes.

As a road safety measure they will achieve nothing, as a revenue raising measure they achieve little. The only time they will catch anyone out will be in the middle of the night, the only time it is possible to exceed the limit. The fact that no accidents happen at that time seems to have nothing to do with it.

Ohh so true.

[Scraggles]

when i see the specs cameras, tend to stick it a little bit below the speed limit and engage cruise control, seems to work so far

[BliarOut]

outnumbered said:

Is this a particularly dangerous piece of road ?

More so since the scameras went up. As soon as they were introduced bunching increased noticeably.

[Flat in Fifth]

As I regularly do the Midlands > Shotley Point & return run and this section is an utter pain in the arris, anyone got any demon diversions?

Down the A1 to St Meots area and cut across A428 to Cambridge > Bury etc?

What about Northampton > Bedford > St Neots, etc ??

Or are the X-country routes just as much a pain but in another way.

Note: I need to just get A>B with as little effort/time as possible. Whilst it might be good fun to hoon across the country on back roads, in practice on this run, the passengers just don't appreciate it.

[rude-boy]

Flat in Fifth said:

anyone got any demon diversions?

Not sure if this will work for you but i intend on getting off at Godmanchester and going via Papworth Everard (sp).

Not good with names but if i said (heading east) get off at Godmanchester, turn right at the round about, through PE, left at the next RB (unless you are on you way to St Neots in which case you want to go right there) then left at the next (there is a BP garage there). That will take you onto the 'feeder' to the A14 where after about 3 miles you will rejoin the main A14 towards Bury.

I think it might take you about 5 mins (tops) more if driving at 'normal persons speed' than going along the road to hell but a) it's more fun, and b) there is only one Truvelo and that is in the opposite direction.

[vonhosen]

rude-boy said:

Flat in Fifth said:

anyone got any demon diversions?

Not sure if this will work for you but i intend on getting off at Godmanchester and going via Papworth Everard (sp).

(Yes correct spelling)
A1198

rude-boy said:

I think it might take you about 5 mins (tops) more if driving at 'normal persons speed' than going along the road to hell but a) it's more fun, and b) there is only one Truvelo and that is in the opposite direction.

Are Truvelos the only concern ?

Edited by vonhosen on Monday 12th March 11:25

[FunkyGibbon]

rude-boy said:

Flat in Fifth said:

anyone got any demon diversions?

Not sure if this will work for you but i intend on getting off at Godmanchester and going via Papworth Everard (sp).

Not good with names but if i said (heading east) get off at Godmanchester, turn right at the round about, through PE, left at the next RB (unless you are on you way to St Neots in which case you want to go right there) then left at the next (there is a BP garage there). That will take you onto the 'feeder' to the A14 where after about 3 miles you will rejoin the main A14 towards Bury.

I think it might take you about 5 mins (tops) more if driving at 'normal persons speed' than going along the road to hell but a) it's more fun, and b) there is only one Truvelo and that is in the opposite direction.

yep - this is the route we take when coming back to Cambs. Much nicer, less traffic and as you say no speed cameras to worry about.

Another alternative if coming from the M6 is to get off the A14 at Catworth and go through Kimbolton to St Neots and then along the A428, or some of the more twiddly back roads if the weather is nice, the roof is down and you're not in a huge hurry.

[Flat in Fifth]

vonhosen said:

rude-boy said:

Flat in Fifth said:

anyone got any demon diversions?

Not sure if this will work for you but i intend on getting off at Godmanchester and going via Papworth Everard (sp).

(Yes correct spelling)
A1198

rude-boy said:

I think it might take you about 5 mins (tops) more if driving at 'normal persons speed' than going along the road to hell but a) it's more fun, and b) there is only one Truvelo and that is in the opposite direction.

Are Truvelos the only concern ?

Truvelos not a concern for me as I behave myself but any accurate local knowledge would definitely be appreciated.

OK see what you all mean about the Godmanchester > Papworth Everard diversion. For me this doesn't avoid the worst part which is the A14/A1 junction to the A14/A604 jn.

Then again flying solo on next outward trip I was wondering about leaving A14 west of A1 at jn with B660 > Kimbolton> B645 Great Staunton > Hail Weston through St Neots onto A428 and so on.
edited to add:- yes that last option is exactly what funkygibbon suggested having looked again at the map.

Thanks for comments to all.

Edited by Flat in Fifth on Monday 12th March 11:49

[vonhosen]

Flat in Fifth said:

vonhosen said:

rude-boy said:

Flat in Fifth said:

anyone got any demon diversions?

Not sure if this will work for you but i intend on getting off at Godmanchester and going via Papworth Everard (sp).

(Yes correct spelling)
A1198

rude-boy said:

I think it might take you about 5 mins (tops) more if driving at 'normal persons speed' than going along the road to hell but a) it's more fun, and b) there is only one Truvelo and that is in the opposite direction.

Are Truvelos the only concern ?

Truvelos not a concern for me as I behave myself but any accurate local knowledge would definitely be appreciated.

OK see what you all mean about the Godmanchester > Papworth Everard diversion. For me this doesn't avoid the worst part which is the A14/A1 junction to the A14/A604 jn.

Then again flying solo on next outward trip I was wondering about leaving A14 west of A1 at jn with B660 > Kimbolton> B645 Great Staunton > Hail Weston through St Neots onto A428 and so on.

Thanks for comments to all.

You never been on the B660/645 before ?

Edited by vonhosen on Monday 12th March 11:48

[Flat in Fifth]

vonhosen said:

Flat in Fifth said:

vonhosen said:

rude-boy said:

Flat in Fifth said:

anyone got any demon diversions?

Not sure if this will work for you but i intend on getting off at Godmanchester and going via Papworth Everard (sp).

(Yes correct spelling)
A1198

rude-boy said:

I think it might take you about 5 mins (tops) more if driving at 'normal persons speed' than going along the road to hell but a) it's more fun, and b) there is only one Truvelo and that is in the opposite direction.

Are Truvelos the only concern ?

Truvelos not a concern for me as I behave myself but any accurate local knowledge would definitely be appreciated.

OK see what you all mean about the Godmanchester > Papworth Everard diversion. For me this doesn't avoid the worst part which is the A14/A1 junction to the A14/A604 jn.

Then again flying solo on next outward trip I was wondering about leaving A14 west of A1 at jn with B660 > Kimbolton> B645 Great Staunton > Hail Weston through St Neots onto A428 and so on.

Thanks for comments to all.

You never been on the B660/645 before ?

nope, not my parish. why do you ask?