Monday 7th December 2009

Average Speed Cameras Hit The Suburbs

New generation of Specs camera will monitor 20mph residential zones

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Specs cameras to monitor speed in 20mph streets

Wirelessly linked average speed cameras will come into service in the New Year to help police new 20mph residential zones.

The Home Office has approved the new Specs3 cameras and the first units will be installed in residential areas next month. Unlike the current generation of Specs cameras, the new cameras can measure average speeds over a wide area. The current system can only measure from point to point and can therefore only be used on a stretch of road with no entry and exit points.

The plan is to place cameras - London congestion charge-style - on the entrances and exits to residential areas.

The plan's advocates say that the new system will help to 'calm' traffic in a way that conventional traffic calming measures such as speed humps and width restrictions fail to do.

Critics say that stopping at junctions, traffic lights or roundabouts will mean that motorists will still be able to exceed 20mph for short periods without pushing their average speed above 20mph.

Currently there are more than 2,000 20mph zones across the UK, but Portsmouth was the first to introduce a universal limit of 20mph for residential areas last year. Now, Islington and seven other London boroughs as well as York and Norwich have plans to do the same.

The new-gen Specs won't be everywhere, though. So far only Camden, Southwark and Waltham Forest have signed up, although Portsmouth and Norwich are considering the Specs3 system.

That could all change should the Tories win the next election. As we reported back in October, the Tories have pledged to axe many speed cameras schemes, including average speed camera plans.

[26jcd]

I know who I'll be voting for at the next election...

[Oddball RS]

Wa*nkers

[pwrmotorsport]

We've had these cameras in NI for over a year now on a relatively dangerous 5 mile part of the A1 - they haven't caught that many motorists speeding (from memory, 1 driver in the first 6 months) but it could be argued that they are therefore working, irrespective of how much it has cost to install them.

I do find, however, that I'm now looking at the speedo considerably more than before, to the detriment of my attention to the road ahead!

[wab172uk]

Nothing an Air rifle can't fix.

[johnaachen]

Don't see a problem with this if it reduces the number of accidents in these areas.

Although the noise generated by drivers driving in 2nd gear at 3000RPM to stick to 20mph might annoy residents!

[GhostDriver]

And Im guessing they'll turn em off at 4am, when everyone is in bed and there are no cars about??!
Oh hold on a minute, you still should drive at 20mph.
Stupid me, wasnt thinking about the children and fluffy bunnies, apologies

[Mr Whippy]

What ugly things to put up!

No doubt they will also be urban CCTV as well.

I guess it won't be long until chavs see them as trophy kills.

I wonder how much they will cost too!?

Waste of time and money. Why not just get Plod arresting crap drivers instead? Oh I remember, it costs money to do a proper job, so best to let bad dangerous drivers carry on being dangerous, just at slower speeds

Dave

[cs02rm0]

This just seems so wrong to me.

[vinnie83]

Mr Whippy said:

I guess it won't be long until chavs see them as trophy kills.

Good for something then these chavs!

[Ollieb7]

Sorry occefur - i didn't see that child as i was watching my speedo...

Men with hair driers off the easy target safe roads and onto these zones on a regular basis - i think that should do it!

[Adrian W]

exactly which bit of Gordon Brown's £12 billion public spending cuts is this?

[sneijder]

They tried SPECS cameras on a main route here in Norway.

They were destroyed before the day was through.

[Dazed & Confused]

Deciding who to vote for is getting easier and easier.

What's refreshing is that this time voting for a different party might actually make a difference.

I did say, might, though.

[threespires]

"Men with hair driers off the easy target safe roads and onto these zones on a regular basis - i think that should do it! "

Spot on Ollieb7 whilst an upslanted widemaster within the oval zone as well including daily.

[RICYP]

To be honest if they are in a 20mph zone then its not a big problem, could have a working time on them but then that still will be a 30mph limit.
BUT! when the B******ds put them on national speed limit roads such as Northamptonshire Etc. i say Burn em, Burm THEM ALL!

Edited by RICYP on Monday 7th December 13:00

[tbutcher]

This policy is an absolute disgrace. How do we get the government to target dangerous drivers rather than people trying to get to work each day? I have been caught for speeding 3 times in recent years but have never caused and accident in over 20 years of driving. However I have been hit a number of times all by people doing anything but concentrating on the road in front of them, after they have finished hitting me they are free to move on to the next person. On my drive to work every day I see people on the phone, reading maps and swerving all over the road, it is not difficult to find these idiots.

What is it going to take for the UK public to stand up fight like they do in Europe? People power turned over the poll tax and this backdoor tax is just as bad.

[dazsmith69]

So instead of looking for that child running out between parked cars, your going to end up constantly checking your speedo. the people that think of these things, and the guys that sign them off must have no common sense whatsoever.

[Vipers]

dazsmith69 said:

So instead of looking for that child running out between parked cars, your going to end up constantly checking your speedo. the people that think of these things, and the guys that sign them off must have no common sense whatsoever.

I have to agree, watching your speedo v fine will be paramount. Luckly, my Volvo sits in cruise at 20 mph, but many either don't go down that far, or don't have it.

I think modern cars should just have a button you can push to limit it to 20 or 30 on purpose to help us all stick to these limits without keep looking up and down all the time.

I seem to recall I hired a Merc once with this feature.

[Scottie - NW]

Well if they are going to put average speed cameras up in 20 mph zones that makes more sense than on National speed limit roads.

Where I live there are lots of idiots driving too fast on these 20 xones near schools etc, you now the sort, do 40 in a 60, then do 35 in a 20.

Whilst there can be plenty of opportunity to drive safely at hgiher speeds in a NSL limit, these are fewer and less clear cut than in 20 zones. I'd be happy to have cameras in 20 zones, just as long as we concentrate the 20 limits where they are most needed.

[posterboy]

Why do people think Cameron will not go back on his words?