I've just been informed that the speed cameras on top of the gantries on the M42 (J4 to J7) will be going live as of April 1st. Here's what's been e-mailed to me:

 

"We have been informed that as of the 1st April 2006, the new digital automated tracking system between junctions 3 & 7b on the M42 is scheduled to go live. There are 276 digital cameras which have been set to 2mph tolerance.

 

You will not see any flash - the first you will know that you have been caught is when you receive the £60 fine!"

 

The system is part of the digital traffic management system so if the speed sign reads 60mph the cameras will be primed for 60mph and not 70mph.

 

You have been warned!

 

Dan

Christ, 2mph tollerance is way of out order. Cars vary so much. Put a larger set of rims on one and it'll change the speed, let alone the millions of cars that don't read accurately after about 50.

thanks danny, dont use that road much but will be coming down there for the meet at the boat

1st of april?????????

Personally, I think will be the cause of accidents. Everyone is going to be so struck on looking at their speedo gauge trying to keep dead on or below 60, that they’re not going to be looking at the road.

1st of april?????????

 

ops....maybe I fell for that one............... :rofl:

ops....maybe I fell for that one............... :rofl:

 

 

Yes, I thought so as well until it was confirmed by the Warwickshire Traffic management Group who monitor the systems.

 

The cameras have been undergoing testing over the past 6 months and WILL GO LIVE on April 1st.

 

THIS IS NO APRIL 1st JOKE! I promise you that.

 

I have personally seen the cameras and flash boxes in action whilst sitting in traffic (obviously on the opposite side). They are there and they will be used so don't let the activation date fool you.

 

As for the 2mph tolerance - I thought that handheld radar/laser equipment is calibrated to 7mph tolerance (ie 10% at 70mph) so it would appear the police are narrowing the margin of error. As long as they can produce factual evidence that their equipment is accurate to within a certain parameter then the drivers have little or no room for argueing.

 

Dan

....As for the 2mph tolerance - I thought that handheld radar/laser equipment is calibrated to 7mph tolerance (ie 10% at 70mph) so it would appear the police are narrowing the margin of error. As long as they can produce factual evidence that their equipment is accurate to within a certain parameter then the drivers have little or no room for argueing.

 

Dan

So, are all the car manufacturers going to certify their speedos as 100% accurate now?

 

Somehow, I don't think so.

So, are all the car manufacturers going to certify their speedos as 100% accurate now?

 

Somehow, I don't think so.

 

I don't think so either Graham.

 

I can't remember where I read it (possibly AutoExpress magazine) but it would appear that Honda will be brining out a car in the next few years which will feature a GPS based speedo. IIRC the speedo gets its primary reading from GPS and compares it to a wheel sensor. This means that if you're out of GPS signal the speedo still functions. Seems like the way forward but God knows when it'll become mainstream ...

 

Dan

Yes, I thought so as well until it was confirmed by the Warwickshire Traffic management Group who monitor the systems.

 

The cameras have been undergoing testing over the past 6 months and WILL GO LIVE on April 1st.

 

THIS IS NO APRIL 1st JOKE! I promise you that.

 

I have personally seen the cameras and flash boxes in action whilst sitting in traffic (obviously on the opposite side). They are there and they will be used so don't let the activation date fool you.

Dan

 

you sure? They shouldn't have flash boxes!

 

On a serious note, it is possible to enforce zero tolerance on speed (North Wales did it for a while. Not sure of any challenges to it, as there's obviously an argument about speedos being built with a fairly large % error.

 

As for different sized wheels making a difference - tough shit! You modify your car from standard, you take responsibility for having speedo recalibrated.

 

God, this country sucks!

This Country Is Going To The Dogs

This sucks, think i might just bugger off abroad :D

I read in a paper a few months ago how the police were using these new radar guns, one copper sat on one bridge then radio'd down to the one in the car. He copped a scoobie doing a supposed 135mph, the bloke argued the fact the car couldnt go this fast :x: as it had a limiter on. Anyway he took them to court to argue the fact and when they tested his car he was telling the truth, then they tested there equipment and it was well out :xxx:

So much for there technological advances :xxx:

I've just sent a copy of the first post to the safespeed.org.uk discussion group and got this reply

 

The bit about cameras is true but they are not speed cameras. Every vehicle has a speed reading taken every 100m and every 500m it is tagged to the number plate. The camera’s read the number plate. The purpose is to track usage through that section of the motorway to understand better how people use it. It is one of several advance management techniques being trialled over the next couple of years.

 

 

 

One of the other techniques is variable speed limits enforced by gatso, these are placed every 800m or so on gantries in a similar fashion to the M25 except they are digital and therefore no wet film.

I've just sent a copy of the first post to the safespeed.org.uk discussion group and got this reply

 

The last paragraph in the response above is exactly what's been put up ...

 

Besides, if a vehicle's speed is tagged to its number plate and progress tracked, how is that different from SPECCS?

The last paragraph in the response above is exactly what's been put up ...

 

Besides, if a vehicle's speed is tagged to its number plate and progress tracked, how is that different from SPECCS?

SPECCS doesn't read number plates, it just monitors the vehicle (apparently).

 

The Number-plate Recognition cameras attached to some bridges and in the back of "Safety" vans read the plate and link in to the DVLA (or something) to check for tax etc.

 

Of course these are just software packages so could be rewritten to all work together.

But why then use a Gatso?

...may be of interest - I've a Road Pilot GPS camera detection system fitted to my 97 NA and the (converted) speedo agrees exactly with the GPS speed reading right through all speeds. But wheels are standard Nissan issue...

 

Thanks for the info re the M42.

 

cheerz

 

Jack

UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

Just heard on the radio coming to work this morning, between junction 3 and 7 there are 100 speed cameras. FFS WTF do they think they are playing at? I swear i will never use this POS motorway again even though it is about 5 miles away from me. :rant: :rant: :headvswal

SPECCS doesn't read number plates, it just monitors the vehicle (apparently).

 

The Number-plate Recognition cameras attached to some bridges and in the back of "Safety" vans read the plate and link in to the DVLA (or something) to check for tax etc.

 

Of course these are just software packages so could be rewritten to all work together.

But why then use a Gatso?

 

specs does take photos m8 TWICE

takes a photo of your car entering a certain point, then another as you leave it, computer then calculates the time it took you between the two points and if over the speed limit, the computer issues a speeding ticket :rant:

unless thats not what you meant?

specs can issue some stupid amount of tickets per hour, i have a road angel nav' and the micro road pilot and when in the specs areas it sounds like a nuclear war zone in me car ;)

A great way to increase rat-running through local towns and villages to avoid the chance of a ticket...what will they think of next?

Woe betide the day when they link all speed cameras together and monitor numberplates throughout the uk working out average speed between each camera. So you wallop it on the 511 to leicester then go past a camera at glenfield at the right speed and it'll still work out you were doing double figures between markfield and glenfield etc. barstools :(

Woe betide the day when they link all speed cameras together and monitor numberplates throughout the uk working out average speed between each camera. So you wallop it on the 511 to leicester then go past a camera at glenfield at the right speed and it'll still work out you were doing double figures between markfield and glenfield etc. barstools :(

Don't go giving them ideas :mac1: :headvswal :slap: