definte answer into how the m42 gantry cameras work?

[paultownsend]

so i reguarly use the stretch of road from the a38, past bassets pole, belfery golf club onto m42 and get off at the airport/sollihul junction.

i always obey the vsl signs, and my pogo drive is always flashing alerting me to waych my speed.

i understand they are laser based gatso units.

but for the fisrt time on saturday evening, around 20:00, the signs were blank, meaning nsl, and cars were blatting past me at some serious speeds. my pogo was also quieter than usual.

iv reads many internet articles, from '06 to present stating that the cameras only operate when the vsl is being enforced, and are off when not. but these are old posts. and i also underatnd that very few gantries have active cameras. after speaking to a lot of sollihul locals, there seems to be too much here'say into how they operate, and what licences the cameras have. some say there just all set to 80mph!
yet for the total stretch, cars were going past each gantry at speed.

any definative answers?

Paul

Edited by paultownsend on Tuesday 29th June 14:34

[Oli L]

As far as i know when there off so are the cameras, My brother came back though them a while ago with the signs off at a certain high speed and they never flashed and he hasnt received anything through the post.

[eltax91]

Will try and dig it out, but I saw something about a change in legislation for the new M1 gantries. It seemed to suggest that when off, those on the M42 are not enforcing. They can ONLY enforce the VSL. The piece was referencing it when showing that the legislation had been changed between deployment of gantries on M42 and M1, specifically to allow the NSL speed limit to be enforceable by gantries when the VSL was not in operation.

[ds666]

I'm interested in the answer to this too . I have seen a camera on the m42 flash ( once ) on the opposite carrigeway when the reduced speedlimits was being displayed ....

[FlipFlopGriff]

Do virtually the whole M42 each way daily so I've seen a few flash in each direction so they do work, although can't tell you which ones specifically. Easy to spot which gantries have cameras as tyhey are on both sides and you can see them on the opposite carraigeway - box with a white square box in the corner above each lane. Best idea is stick to the limit shown. When the show NSL the cameras are still active. When there is no display they are not active. May change though.
FFG