A80 Average speed cameras to go live at end of month
A80 Average speed cameras to go live at end of month
Author
Discussion

munroman

Original Poster:

1,902 posts

207 months

Monday 19th October 2009
quotequote all
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_we...

Speed cameras used in A80 upgrade


Fourteen cameras will record the average speed of motorists
Average-speed cameras have been installed on a section of the A80 between Glasgow and Stirling while upgrade work is carried out.
Fourteen cameras on the stretch of road between Mollinsburn and Haggs will go live at the end of the month.
Motorists face a fine and points on their licence if they break the 40mph speed limit.
The reduced limit has been put in place to ensure the safety of drivers and road workers during the £320m upgrade.
'Safety tools'
Work on the M80 Stepps to Haggs scheme began in January and is expected to be completed by 2011.
The project includes almost five miles of new two-lane motorway and hard shoulders between Stepps and Mollinsburn, 1.6 miles of three-lane motorway between Mollinsburn and Auchenkilns, and almost 4.5 miles of two-lane motorway between Auchenkilns and Haggs.
Transport Scotland said the cameras, backed by Strathclyde Safety Camera Partnership, would generate a safe and steady traffic flow by recording the average speed of vehicles.
Project manager Carson McCartney said: "Average-speed cameras are proven safety tools that will significantly improve safety for both road users and the workforce during this busy work period.
"These cameras are enforceable and will promote safety vigilance at all times."

Phew! Nothing to do with money raising, operating even when no workers are around to protect. Glad we're in safe hands!

G20RG B

2,748 posts

254 months

Monday 19th October 2009
quotequote all
Anybody know how many injuries have been directly linked to speeding traffic since the roadworks began back in January of this year!

I travel along this stretch virtually every day and I haven't seen any that i can remember and there is a lot of traffic on this stretch. I must be missing all the accidents if it is felt necessery to add all theses cameras.

Of course one injurie is to much but it would be intresting to know the accident /injurie count on this stretch that has forced cameras to be deployed.

munroman

Original Poster:

1,902 posts

207 months

Monday 19th October 2009
quotequote all
I travel this road a lot and it seems better than before the roadworks, there used to be some sort of tailback causing incident at least once a week.

Maybe people are paying more attention as the lanes are narrower, switch about a bit, etc.

What's the betting that once drivers are fixated on the speedo versus what's going on around them we will sadly start to get accidents?

And will the SPECS cameras get taken down after construction, or will it be 'cheaper' to keep them operating?

Craigie

1,232 posts

202 months

Monday 19th October 2009
quotequote all
I remember a year or so ago there was roadworks on M8 at the M77 area and there were SPECS cameras all over the place with this same publicity.
I never heard of a single person who got done by them. I believe the dummy cameras are very cheap and due to the height of them are quite convincing in their appearance.

Mind you, I won't be taking the chance to check them....

On a similar note, anyone know of anyone being done by the M77 SPECS cameras?

a11y_m

1,861 posts

245 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
I'm actually slightly in favour of these average speed cameras on this stretch, but only because I think the current setup of police patrols stopping the very occasional speeding car, while ignoring the other 99.9% of speeders, is completely cack. In that respect it's fairer.

You can tell I'm still hacked off with my wife being stopped at 12.30am in the morning wink

I'm just going to avoid the M/A80 wherever possible as you'll just see folk spending too much time watching their speedo's and not watching where they're going. The B-road alternative is more fun anyway but not so much during the winter...

emicen

9,126 posts

241 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Craigie said:
I remember a year or so ago there was roadworks on M8 at the M77 area and there were SPECS cameras all over the place with this same publicity.
I never heard of a single person who got done by them. I believe the dummy cameras are very cheap and due to the height of them are quite convincing in their appearance.

Mind you, I won't be taking the chance to check them....

On a similar note, anyone know of anyone being done by the M77 SPECS cameras?
Havent heard of anyone I work with down here being done. I have noticed some cars that absolutely we it through them, but you never know if they pulled out around symington and are immune to one set.

However, riddle me this, theyre original specs which have to work in pairs. So how can 3 be used on the stretch from Dutchouse to Symington. They all have red glowing IR beacons on the side, which would suggest theyre real and not fake, but one pole must have duds.

Equally the ones installed from dutchouse going towards Ayr. They recently installed a set at the top of the first dual carriageway. There was already a pair between the end of runway roundabout and the large one with lights at Bannatynes. So whats that meant to link to as well? Surely they have more sense than to have specs active through roundabouts?!

993AL

1,939 posts

241 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
emicen said:
However, riddle me this, theyre original specs which have to work in pairs. So how can 3 be used on the stretch from Dutchouse to Symington. They all have red glowing IR beacons on the side, which would suggest theyre real and not fake, but one pole must have duds.
Wont an average speed be taken between camera 1 & 2 and then another between camera 2 & 3?

TimR69

2,140 posts

250 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
993AL said:
emicen said:
However, riddle me this, theyre original specs which have to work in pairs. So how can 3 be used on the stretch from Dutchouse to Symington. They all have red glowing IR beacons on the side, which would suggest theyre real and not fake, but one pole must have duds.
Wont an average speed be taken between camera 1 & 2 and then another between camera 2 & 3?
Ignorance and care seems to be the best option.

They had SPECS cameras on the A90 East of Perth when they were doing major work there and everyone stuck to the limit. I've never seen anything like it.

Of course what you then got was everyone bunching into the fast lane as the end of limit approached ready to make a mad dash back up to 80 or 90.

If you hung back a bit in the left lane it was like watching a pace car restart in F1 or Indycars smile

emicen

9,126 posts

241 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Should also say, regarding the specs on the A77 Symington to Dutchouse, followed a Police 5 series through them at considerably more than the 50 limit (10% + 2 and then some).

They swapped lanes between each pair...

matchmaker

8,964 posts

223 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
My son was talking to one of the guys working on the roadworks - apparently there is a lot of concern at the speed some vehicles are passing them.

BMR

953 posts

201 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
matchmaker said:
My son was talking to one of the guys working on the roadworks - apparently there is a lot of concern at the speed some vehicles are passing them.
I would agree with this. I travel the road quite a bit on my jaunts to Knockhill although I won't kid on I'm always doing 40.

munroman

Original Poster:

1,902 posts

207 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
BMR said:
matchmaker said:
My son was talking to one of the guys working on the roadworks - apparently there is a lot of concern at the speed some vehicles are passing them.
I would agree with this. I travel the road quite a bit on my jaunts to Knockhill although I won't kid on I'm always doing 40.
I have no problem with traffic being slowed down when the workers are about, however the default mode is for speed limits to apply at all times, even when the reason given for them does not apply.

Has anyone ever worked out how much extra time is consumed by these limits encroaching, in the North of Glasgow roads which were 60 mph NSL have been cut down to 40 mph, 30 mph limits have crept further out, and some, like at Milngavie to Strathblane, introduced due to work on the water plant, magically have not been reinstated to the original limits, even though all the work is long finished.

Nett result, traffic now crawls along in snakes behind the tractors, there is more traffic because it take longer to get a given distance, and more of peoples time is wasted. All of this is in the context of minimal RTA's to justify changing speed limits.
What chance the M80 being a 40mph motorway with SPECS?


Safety Innit!

737flf

71 posts

210 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
Here's a Pic from today's Evening Times.

Note the lack of any workmen. (As has been the case any time I have driven there in the last six months)!!

Note the cones all stacked at the side of the road. (As has been the case any time I have driven there in the last six months)!!

Note the total lack of congestion or tailbacks. (As has been the case any time I have driven there in the last six months)!!

Let's see if they publish any pics of the prevailing situation in a months time, yeah! right!![

matchmaker

8,964 posts

223 months

Tuesday 20th October 2009
quotequote all
737flf said:
Here's a Pic from today's Evening Times.

Note the lack of any workmen. (As has been the case any time I have driven there in the last six months)!! Plenty working today - even some about at 1045pm!

Note the cones all stacked at the side of the road. (As has been the case any time I have driven there in the last six months)!! Plenty of coned off sections tonight - including a couple of single lane stretches

Note the total lack of congestion or tailbacks. (As has been the case any time I have driven there in the last six months)!! Lucky you! Tailbacks from before Haggs to Old Inns earlier this evening. I've seen even longer tailbacks there.

Let's see if they publish any pics of the prevailing situation in a months time, yeah! right!![

breagh

152 posts

219 months

Sunday 25th October 2009
quotequote all
Great. Just what we need. s.

"The project includes almost five miles of new two-lane motorway and hard shoulders between Stepps and Mollinsburn, 1.6 miles of three-lane motorway between Mollinsburn and Auchenkilns, and almost 4.5 miles of two-lane motorway between Auchenkilns and Haggs."

So, apart from a whole 1.6 miles of three lane motorway, the chances are this 'upgrade' will hardly have any positive effect on the flow of traffic anyway. What bks.

Edited by breagh on Sunday 25th October 12:06

S2red

2,548 posts

214 months

Sunday 25th October 2009
quotequote all
Lifted from another form by someone who should know

Yes they will be switched on, but really do you want to take the chance despite the postal strike.

They do work and night as they are infrared and during the day they give a nice picture of who is driving.

They dont work with motorbikes as they take the front plate numbers

Dont know if switching lanes works the SCP does not let out all the secrets

BTW anyone spot the article in this morning papaers where someone from Aberdeenshire was caught allegedly at 123mph at Auchenkilns

poprock

1,987 posts

224 months

Monday 26th October 2009
quotequote all
I was just about to cross-post that as well.

matchmaker

8,964 posts

223 months

Monday 26th October 2009
quotequote all
S2red said:
BTW anyone spot the article in this morning papaers where someone from Aberdeenshire was caught allegedly at 123mph at Auchenkilns
Saw that - 123mph in a 40mph. Also accused of racing. Hope for his sake he runs a charity biggrin

munroman

Original Poster:

1,902 posts

207 months

Tuesday 27th October 2009
quotequote all
I drove through these last night from the Stirling side.

What I saw.

After the usual jostling for position when the M9 and M876 merge, traffic was flowing freely at just under 40 (GPS), all the way to the bridge at Condorrat, where it slowed to 35, started to get congested, and brake lights started appearing, as well as lane swapping.

I can only assume that people were slowing down towards the end of the section, unsure of their average speed, and hedging their bets by slowing down and lane swapping.

How this contributes to road safety needs to be explained to me, I think people are looking at the speedo and not at road conditions.

I noticed that they are mounted very high up, I would be hard to throw a pizza up so far!

As for the 123mph guy, I am sure if he works for a Charidee, or says he will sell up and be a good boy he will be ok, its the former law abiding citizens they are really after. And they wonder why respect for authority is decreasing....

reddybear

79 posts

215 months

Wednesday 28th October 2009
quotequote all
what average speed merits a speeding fine with these cameras 42mph 43 mph or no tolerance at all,I am told by a reliable source glasgows fixed speed cameras ie moodiesburn traffic lights on the a80 are set to go of at 34mph ,4 miles an hour over limit ,your thoughts please i travel this road evey day its a nightmare just now