[JOHNBMWM5]

Here we go another rip-off.


https://www.petrolprices.com/variabl...7654107ef33cca

[....,,,,..,,..]

As we have had enforced variable speed limits in various places within the UK for a while, I can only assume the author commutes along that stretch.

[JOHNBMWM5]

Originally Posted by Brigand

As we have had enforced variable speed limits in various places within the UK for a while, I can only assume the author commutes along that stretch.

Nope never use it, BUT this will escalate IMO. M6 having it fitted now.
Average Speed cameras are coming to many Motorways soon 24 /7 .

[SkyJawa]

No point fitting it to the M6, you can't get above 40mph anyway!

[mpawood]

M6, M42, M1, M25 all have this already. The individual speed cameras above the lanes aren't what will catch you, it's the new hadecs 3 on the side of the motorway that's trickier to spot http://www.speedcamerasuk.com/hadecs-3.htm

Annoyingly they are creating lots of disruption in road works just to fit these. A 25 mile stretch of M25 was reduced to two lanes for ages just for some of these to be put up.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by JOHNBMWM5

Nope never use it, BUT this will escalate IMO. M6 having it fitted now.
Average Speed cameras are coming to many Motorways soon 24 /7 .

I meant the author of the article

I think the A14 has had average speed cameras since 2008 or so.


On a slight devils advocate approach, how about we fine people caught speeding / traffic offences the total cost that the police, CPS etc involved in the end to end process?

That way it can be seen to only be covering costs incurred by various bodies in prosecuting someone breaking the law(s).

[Watsey]

Variable speed limit cameras are well known; people know what to do.

Same with average speed cameras, especially in roadworks.

People are not as clear about Hadecs. On the M25 tend to be mounted on the same gantries as those with variable speed cameras. From what I've read, Hadecs is a fixed point system rather than an average speed monitoring system like SPECS, and their technology appears to be more advanced, i.e. the ability to monitor up to 5 lanes of traffic on smart motorways where the number of live lanes can vary.

[creepy coupe]

It's not a problem for me. My DB5 has rotating number plates.

[Ice Man]

Originally Posted by Watsey

Variable speed limit cameras are well known; people know what to do.

.

I am not sure they do know what to do, the amount of times i have seen cars travelling above the speed limit between average speed camera points and brake when they get to the camera amazes me,

[Jaghave]

Someone should invent a laser to automatically point itself at cameras

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Brigand

As we have had enforced variable speed limits in various places within the UK for a while, I can only assume the author commutes along that stretch.

To be honest where the technology is in place (e.g. on stretches of the M62 between Leeds and Manchester) I always thought that failing to respect a variable speed limit ran the risk of an endorsement (so nothing new there as far as I'm aware?).

However, what has never been quite so clear (at least to me!) is whether you run the risk of a prosecution if no variable speed limit was showing but you were doing (say) 80mph. In theory the camera could record you and per the guidelines you'd be in endorsement or speed awareness course territory for doing 80mph on a motorway. If the authorities ever start using these cameras like that it would be a real revenue earner.....

[AlfaM]

Just use a GPS speed camera detector, so you know which ones you can ignore. I have a Cheetah C550 set on dark whisper mode and +10% - it doesn't bother you unless there's a fixed camera there AND you are 10% above the speed limit.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Random75

Just use a GPS speed camera detector, so you know which ones you can ignore. I have a Cheetah C550 set on dark whisper mode and +10% - it doesn't bother you unless there's a fixed camera there AND you are 10% above the speed limit.

So you're saying on a "smart motorway" with variable speed limits you aim to never exceed 77mph (i.e. in effect you assume the cameras are working by reference to the normal 70mph speed limit unless a variable limit's showing?). I can see that's the prudent approach but I'd be forever getting overtaken and boxed-in if I stuck to less than 80mph when there was no variable limit showing!

[notused]

Originally Posted by JNW1

However, what has never been quite so clear (at least to me!) is whether you run the risk of a prosecution if no variable speed limit was showing but you were doing (say) 80mph. In theory the camera could record you and per the guidelines you'd be in endorsement or speed awareness course territory for doing 80mph on a motorway. If the authorities ever start using these cameras like that it would be a real revenue earner.....

No one has been prosecuted by a camera for speeding on a motorway when the national speed limit applied. Would love to hear if you think I'm wrong.

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by RWDpetrol

No one has been prosecuted by a camera for speeding on a motorway when the national speed limit applied. Would love to hear if you think I'm wrong.

There was a thread on here only this year where the poster was saying he had been done by hadecs cameras on a motorway near Bristol...

My understanding is that the camera systems do now operate also when the national speed limit applies, not just when they are showing lower limits..

Also, the camera vans operate on motorways in some areas...

[notused]

Originally Posted by DaveA

There was a thread on here only this year where the poster was saying he had been done by hadecs cameras on a motorway near Bristol...

My understanding is that the camera systems do now operate also when the national speed limit applies, not just when they are showing lower limits..

Also, the camera vans operate on motorways in some areas...

I bet this guy was done when a lower temporary limit applied.

Yes, the cameras do operate but they don't use to prosecute - I have been flashed by hadecs3 and gantry cameras (both during NSL) but no ticket.

All articles I have read talking about new cameras etc over several years never clearly state whether they will be used during NSL.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by RWDpetrol

I bet this guy was done when a lower temporary limit applied.

Yes, the cameras do operate but they don't use to prosecute - I have been flashed by hadecs3 and gantry cameras (both during NSL) but no ticket.

All articles I have read talking about new cameras etc over several years never clearly state whether they will be used during NSL.

The number of people doing well over 80mph on smart motorways when there's no variable limit showing suggests you're probably right about the cameras not being used to enforce the NSL! However, if the authorities were so inclined I see nothing to stop them using the cameras in that way; give everyone a few weeks notice that exceeding the NSL on a smart motorway will result in a NITP and then watch the money roll-in....

[AlfaM]

Originally Posted by JNW1

So you're saying on a "smart motorway" with variable speed limits you aim to never exceed 77mph (i.e. in effect you assume the cameras are working by reference to the normal 70mph speed limit unless a variable limit's showing?). I can see that's the prudent approach but I'd be forever getting overtaken and boxed-in if I stuck to less than 80mph when there was no variable limit showing!

No it goes off whenever you pass a variable speed camera (gantry or hadecs), so I just slow down for that specific gantry when showing a limit. If it's not showing anything I just motor on. If the gantry is showing a limit, but there isn't a camera on it, I just ignore the limit sign.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Random75

No it goes off whenever you pass a variable speed camera (gantry or hadecs), so I just slow down for that specific gantry when showing a limit. If it's not showing anything I just motor on. If the gantry is showing a limit, but there isn't a camera on it, I just ignore it.

Ah, so you're assuming the same as RWDPetrol (i.e. the cameras on smart motorways aren't used to enforce the NSL?). As I say, probably a fair assumption although I'm sure I remember seeing an article in one of the Yorkshire newspapers which suggested the cameras on the M62 were in use at all times and not just when a temporary limit was in force. The inference was they could be used to enforce the NSL but that might just have been a scare tactic....

ETA: Article below might be the one I was thinking of!

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-...ameras-6152759

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by JOHNBMWM5

Here we go another rip-off.


https://www.petrolprices.com/variabl...7654107ef33cca

The section in the article has had the Variable Speed Limit (Managed Motorways) on since 2011. It's a shitty piece of Motorway that varies between 3 and 2 lanes, has numerous dodgy on/off junctions, passes right through an urban area (of Newport) and a longish 2 lane tunnel which is infamous for people banging into each other.

The Variable speed limits were introduced to A) reduce road noise and B) try to reduce the very regular crashes which close the motorway there with the only way round them being through Newport. Up until now the variable speed limits have not been enforced, effectively giving 5 years of "grace" period to get used to it. But that is now being changed so they are being enforced, and that is the only change, so frankly I don't see what the whinge is.

[Pablo68]

Originally Posted by RWDpetrol

No one has been prosecuted by a camera for speeding on a motorway when the national speed limit applied. Would love to hear if you think I'm wrong.

I know you are wrong, because I was prosecuted for 79 in a 70 (NSL) by a camera van on the overpass over the M4 at Bridgend at couple of years ago. Luckily that was my only ever one so I took a driver improvement course.

[JNW1]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

The section in the article has had the Variable Speed Limit (Managed Motorways) on since 2011. It's a shitty piece of Motorway that varies between 3 and 2 lanes, has numerous dodgy on/off junctions, passes right through an urban area (of Newport) and a longish 2 lane tunnel which is infamous for people banging into each other.

The Variable speed limits were introduced to A) reduce road noise and B) try to reduce the very regular crashes which close the motorway there with the only way round them being through Newport. Up until now the variable speed limits have not been enforced, effectively giving 5 years of "grace" period to get used to it. But that is now being changed so they are being enforced, and that is the only change, so frankly I don't see what the whinge is.

In theory I think there's merit in the variable speed limit idea but the problem on a lot of these smart motorways seems to be that variable limits are often shown for no apparent reason!

For example, on several occasions I've driven through the ones on the M62 when a 50mph or 60mph limit has been flashing despite the fact the traffic was relatively light and there were no obvious accidents or problems; anyone know who activates and sets these variable limits and on what basis?!