What Are These Cameras On The M4???
Discussion
Travelled down from Cardiff to Southampton yesterday via M4 and Newbury Bypass. I noticed on the motorway a number of CCTV cameras either on gantries or posts on the roadside, all of them had 'little black boxes' (like radar housings) next to them. Are these speed cameras?
Looking at the new generation SPECS speed traps, these didn't have the 'four barrel' radar nor the road markings... so what are they for?
I bloody hope they're not speed traps, did an average of 95 all the way down, only took just over 2 hours!
Looking at the new generation SPECS speed traps, these didn't have the 'four barrel' radar nor the road markings... so what are they for?
I bloody hope they're not speed traps, did an average of 95 all the way down, only took just over 2 hours!
Email from Sharon said:
FYI - if you go on the M4 west you'll have seen the new small message boards
- as I understand this is where these new speed cameras are...
A new speed trap system has been installed on the M4 between Reading and Swindon.
Cameras have been inset into small pillars placed periodically along the motorway and these will measure the average speed between them. They are linked directly to DVLA.
We supplied the number plate recognition cameras for the contract so feel fairly certain it's real......!!!!!
The system came into effect on 14th July - so beware!!
Rgds
Roger
Got this email a while ago but wasn't sure if it was genuine. I've since heard other rumours apparently confirming this.
craigw said:
hopefully only westbound then, I went slow on the way there!
Hmmm, I read it as someone London based talking about the M4 and hence it might be both directions
I don't generally travel on the M4 past Swindon, but I'm still interested in knowing. Answers on a postcard please.....
Nacnud said:
FYI - if you go on the M4 west you'll have seen the new small message boards
- as I understand this is where these new speed cameras are...
A new speed trap system has been installed on the M4 between Reading and Swindon.
Cameras have been inset into small pillars placed periodically along the motorway and these will measure the average speed between them. They are linked directly to DVLA.
We supplied the number plate recognition cameras for the contract so feel fairly certain it's real......!!!!!
The system came into effect on 14th July - so beware!!
Rgds
Roger
Got this email a while ago but wasn't sure if it was genuine. I've since heard other rumours apparently confirming this.
It's complete bollocks.
Care to name the sender of your original email?
There's some smart arse with a ".gov.uk" email address spreading the rumour, and I'd like to catch him at it.
By all means send me details by email. ( psmith@safespeed.org.uk ) If I get enough info I'll publish it to the Safe Speed web site.
Best Regards,
Paul Smith
Safe Speed
www.safespeed.org.uk
PetrolTed said:
I had a good look at these yesterday. They look like CCTV cameras to me.
Yeap, the boards are the latest generation "motorway information boards" and they are there to direct the traffic in case of a major issue - which seems to affect the M4 frequently. But the cameras are CCTV ones - its a convenient location for them to be located to observe the motorway and analyise the traffic flow - nothing more and nothing less....
Otherwise they would have to put up signs, which there arent any and the other one is that you cant put speed cameras on motorways unless you have special dispensation - they got it for the M25 variable limit and you can use them for motorway roadworks, but other than that you dont get fixed speed cameras (OK, so someone mention the M4 just before the elevated section - yes, but this is a reduced speed section of motorway and falls into the roadworks category - hence no special need for legislation).
Oh, and while I remember they had to pass an amendment to the law to put up the M25 cameras - otherwise they would be illegal... to be honest it needs to be left to the BiB to run a on-the-spot call.... 75MPH in rush hour is madness but at the weekend off-peak its perfectly legal.... they just dont work on the motorway network....
Edited to add : Speed cameras dont work "." and definatley not on the motorways..
>> Edited by pbrettle on Tuesday 26th August 18:52
Perhaps I was being a little paranoid- got flashed by the worst Gatso in the whole of Wales a couple of weeks ago (hidden between two bridges coming into Newport from Cwnbran, about fifty yards into a 30 zone from a 50 limit dual carriageway). Got my doobery through the post and got my neighbour to fill it out for me, sending it back unsigned today!
Saw this today;
"
The SPECS speed enforcement system is now live on the M4 between
Junction 12 - Theale, and J14 - Hungerford, just east of Membury Service
station. It was switched on officially, by a transport minister, for a
'6-month trial period' on Tues 7 October 2003.
It is likely to be set at 78mph real road speed! No human intervention
is required in issuing speeding tickets, so very large numbers can be
issued automatically.
The cameras are mounted on the overhead information signs, (pairs of
tiny cameras). They DO NOT FLASH, so you won't know you are likely to
'cop' a ticket at the time.
"
Paul, did you find any more on this? The fact that the transport minister is not named makes me more suspicious, but I've seen this email quite a few times now!
Lucky I never drive there
"
The SPECS speed enforcement system is now live on the M4 between
Junction 12 - Theale, and J14 - Hungerford, just east of Membury Service
station. It was switched on officially, by a transport minister, for a
'6-month trial period' on Tues 7 October 2003.
It is likely to be set at 78mph real road speed! No human intervention
is required in issuing speeding tickets, so very large numbers can be
issued automatically.
The cameras are mounted on the overhead information signs, (pairs of
tiny cameras). They DO NOT FLASH, so you won't know you are likely to
'cop' a ticket at the time.
"
Paul, did you find any more on this? The fact that the transport minister is not named makes me more suspicious, but I've seen this email quite a few times now!
Lucky I never drive there
Seconding Paul, this is complete and utter cr4p. The "black boxes" look more like encased 'squarials' for transmitting radio signals (I don't think the display boards are wired other than for power - but i could be wrong). They certainly don't look anything like SPECS. The cameras are straight CCTV, monitoring traffic conditions. These have been up for several months and have been operational for many weeks. My Origin B2 (updated weekly) doesn't show anything.
Tell the sender of the e-mail that this is cr4p and suggest in the strongest terms that they tell the person who sent them the e-mail and that they should spread the message back up the line. These urban myths and hoaxes take on a life of their own (more's the pity) and this is the only way of trying to squash them.
Streaky
Tell the sender of the e-mail that this is cr4p and suggest in the strongest terms that they tell the person who sent them the e-mail and that they should spread the message back up the line. These urban myths and hoaxes take on a life of their own (more's the pity) and this is the only way of trying to squash them.
Streaky
If these things were speed cameras I would have lost my licence ten times over by now....average cruising speed on that part of the M4 during the week when its the professionals driving is about 95mph.
Slows to 85mph at the weekend...
Slows to 69.99999999999 when Trafpol does a length..
Slows to 85mph at the weekend...
Slows to 69.99999999999 when Trafpol does a length..
Don said:
If these things were speed cameras I would have lost my licence ten times over by now....average cruising speed on that part of the M4 during the week when its the professionals driving is about 95mph.
Slows to 85mph at the weekend...
Slows to 69.99999999999 when Trafpol does a length..
www.thamesvalley.police.uk/
you don't get a much more reliable source than that!
The information gantries do not contain specs cameras.
Don said:
If these things were speed cameras I would have lost my licence ten times over by now....average cruising speed on that part of the M4 during the week when its the professionals driving is about 95mph.
Slows to 85mph at the weekend...
Slows to 69.99999999999 when Trafpol does a length..
Agreed, I commute form Juntion 15 (swindon) to 8/9 (maidenhead) most days. If these were real, or even live I think I may have posted about how I 'lost my licence in less than a week' some time ago.
I also recieved a number of emails on this subject about 2 months ago. The source was supposed to be someone who worked for the company that made the cameras.
Anyway I thought cameras had to be signed and marked (yellow background, like specs). The ones on the M4 have nothing.
trooper1212 said:And look at the emphasis they put on the statement too!
www.thamesvalley.police.uk/
you don't get a much more reliable source than that!
The information gantries do not contain specs cameras.
TVP website said:What the Hell?!?!?!
The signs have two CCTV cameras. One which monitors the sign itself to make sure its working and displaying the right message
You need a camera to make sure its displaying the right message?!?!?! Has the information technology age skipped the M4 corridor (quite the opposite!).
And if the signs are to alleviate congestion what are they doing at jc 12-14. Stop me if I'm wrong, and I live around here, but the congestion is worse below jc12?!?!
Time to leave the UK!
john_p said:
Saw this today;
"
The SPECS speed enforcement system is now live on the M4 between
Junction 12 - Theale, and J14 - Hungerford, just east of Membury Service
station. It was switched on officially, by a transport minister, for a
'6-month trial period' on Tues 7 October 2003.
It is likely to be set at 78mph real road speed! No human intervention
is required in issuing speeding tickets, so very large numbers can be
issued automatically.
The cameras are mounted on the overhead information signs, (pairs of
tiny cameras). They DO NOT FLASH, so you won't know you are likely to
'cop' a ticket at the time.
This sounds like the same "Trial System" they are using on the M42 since July.
It is ia new SPECS type system that is on trial by the government.
If the trials are successful, it is expected to see this system on all motorways in England.
You will not get a ticket in the trial period as they are just collecting data ONLY.
I use the M42 everyday and not received a ticket yet, but when the trial ends and goes live it will be a big revenue maker.
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