Have you been 'caught' by average speed cameras

[theboyfold]

I'm not normally one to believe what others say a lot of time, however something has come up a few times of late. My wife, came back from her speed awareness course the other week and told me that the average speed cameras don't issue points, just fines. This was something that was mentioned by the person holding the course who was a either an ex or serving BiB.

Now, I would have put this down to her mishearing it, as she's got no reason to lie about something like that, but I've now heard this from 2 other people, one who heard it on a course.

So has anybody here been caught on these cameras? I'm starting to think they don't issue points as the amount of people I see flying through them defies belief at times.

[Marf]

theboyfold said:

My wife, came back from her speed awareness course the other week and told me that the average speed cameras don't issue points, just fines.

Sounds iffy to me, I wouldn't like to test the theory!

[edo]

Thats bks.

[Greenwich Ross]

Either way, I believe 99.99% of drivers are very resigned to the fact that ASC's work so stick ridgidly to the limits. It's easy to because everyone around you is doing exactly the same speed...

[A205GTI]

Not True, I got 3 points and a £60.00 fine for doing average of 70mph in a 50mph roadworks Avg speed camera on the M4. However if you switch lanes between cameras or use the inside lane I believe it does not register your avg speed.

Also they cannot send you any evidence but will supply if you go to court unlike Fixed cameras.

Edited by A205GTI on Friday 9th July 09:31

[Greenwich Ross]

A205GTI said:

However if you switch lanes between cameras or use the inside lane I believe it does not register your avg speed.

Used to be the case; isn't now.

[Blues]

I got caught a few years ago, when they were relatively new. Driving at night, 48 mph in a temporary 40 mph zone on the motorway. SP50, 3 points and £60. I was not happy

[8400rpm]

I have to drive the A14 every day to and from work, 70mph average limit. Now I've become human cruise control. Rigidly 70mph without even watching the speedo.

I'm kind of glad this thread popped up, because some people spread myths about "Never heard anyone being caught, it's all bks."

Sorry to hear of those done, but at least I can say with confidence, yes they do catch people.

You can see how many cameras are on the poles and which lanes they're aimed at. 3 lanes, usually the inside is camera-less. Probably because it's dominated by trucks that can't go all that fast anyway. I have seen some people absolutely caning it through the cameras before. One tt I used to know boasted about doing it..."...I just find a lorry to hide behind when coming to the cameras."

[pilchardthecat]

Are there any average speed camera areas which don't have millions of signs everywhere that say "LOOK OUT THERE ARE AVERAGE SPEED CAMERAS HERE!"?

It's like Simon Cowell, only more direct - it's a tax on idiots

[Dunclane]

I also religiously stick to whatever speed is indicated on the M42 / M6 variable speed signs, some people don't give a toss though and just fly through at 70-80mph getting up your arse when overtaking someone doing 45!!

[Elskeggso]

No fines or points for me.

[theboyfold]

Interesting to hear that people have been caught, I've always thought that would be the case. I was doubtful when the OH told me what she'd heard, so I dismissed it. However to hear it from another couple of people was odd.

Strange to hear that duff info (if indeed the OH did hear her correctly) is being given out on these courses...

[Alfa numeric]

It's the only time my cruise control gets used. I've heard about the swapping lanes thing, I've never done it though because the risk doesn't seem worth the extra few seconds you'd save.

God I sound like my Grandad...

[off_again]

Not been caught, but I am still surprised how many people accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake for the cameras in an average speed zone! And not just a little, but typically its a motorway down to 50 and the belt through at 65+ and brake to 50 for the cameras....

Maths has never been my strong point, but maybe this is sufficient to bring the average down sufficiently to not get caught, but it does seem like playing with fire. I mean, no one wants to throw money at the government, do they?

[SJobson]

Dunclane said:

I also religiously stick to whatever speed is indicated on the M42 / M6 variable speed signs, some people don't give a toss though and just fly through at 70-80mph getting up your arse when overtaking someone doing 45!!

That section is bloody irritating - they're not average speed cameras and the variable limits seem to be turned on in a very trigger happy manner. And as soon as they are, it's like the average speed camera sections of roadworks; everyone moving at exactly the same speed across all lanes and not moving over, no matter how much space there is.

FWIW, there are only a few cameras on the M42 and they're visible on the gantry on the opposite carriageway.

[alfa pint]

Never been caught and I'm the one cruising slowly by at just below 60 watching everyone else be too scared to break 50mph.

[Targarama]

SJobson said:

Dunclane said:

I also religiously stick to whatever speed is indicated on the M42 / M6 variable speed signs, some people don't give a toss though and just fly through at 70-80mph getting up your arse when overtaking someone doing 45!!

That section is bloody irritating - they're not average speed cameras and the variable limits seem to be turned on in a very trigger happy manner. And as soon as they are, it's like the average speed camera sections of roadworks; everyone moving at exactly the same speed across all lanes and not moving over, no matter how much space there is.

FWIW, there are only a few cameras on the M42 and they're visible on the gantry on the opposite carriageway.

I think you are describing these cameras working as intended. They use sensors to detect traffic speeds, so if there is a slow truck it may set off a lower limit for a while, not ideal but you can see why they did it instead of a man looking at every camera. They want traffic to flow and not bunch up. Even if it is 5mph slower than you can theoretically drive at the overall time taken to drive along that section will be shorter, less tiring and less pollution/consumption than doing 55, slowing to 35, back to 65 and so on.

[SJobson]

Targarama said:

SJobson said:

Dunclane said:

I also religiously stick to whatever speed is indicated on the M42 / M6 variable speed signs, some people don't give a toss though and just fly through at 70-80mph getting up your arse when overtaking someone doing 45!!

That section is bloody irritating - they're not average speed cameras and the variable limits seem to be turned on in a very trigger happy manner. And as soon as they are, it's like the average speed camera sections of roadworks; everyone moving at exactly the same speed across all lanes and not moving over, no matter how much space there is.

FWIW, there are only a few cameras on the M42 and they're visible on the gantry on the opposite carriageway.

I think you are describing these cameras working as intended. They use sensors to detect traffic speeds, so if there is a slow truck it may set off a lower limit for a while, not ideal but you can see why they did it instead of a man looking at every camera. They want traffic to flow and not bunch up. Even if it is 5mph slower than you can theoretically drive at the overall time taken to drive along that section will be shorter, less tiring and less pollution/consumption than doing 55, slowing to 35, back to 65 and so on.

I'd agree, *if* they weren't regularly set to 50 or 60 in the middle of the day when there's no traffic in two of the lanes, and people trundling along at 60 in the outside lane without pulling over. A bit of manual control over speed limits would be sensible; the M25 variable speed section works, so why is the M42 so poor?

[theboyfold]

SJobson said:

the M25 variable speed section works, so why is the M42 so poor?

No it doesn't, I drive round that every morning, bouncing between 40 and 60 for no good reason!

[GT Kodiak]

off_again said:

Not been caught, but I am still surprised how many people accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake for the cameras in an average speed zone! And not just a little, but typically its a motorway down to 50 and the belt through at 65+ and brake to 50 for the cameras....

Maths has never been my strong point, but maybe this is sufficient to bring the average down sufficiently to not get caught, but it does seem like playing with fire. I mean, no one wants to throw money at the government, do they?

Surely they work more like a checkpoint, so they register the time you went through camera 1 and the time you reach camera 2 and the speed required to rech it in that ammount of time.

So braking for the actual cameras becomes irrelevant?

At least, if they worked like that it'd make sense to me. Like the euro toll booth speed checks.