Important info re: M25 Speed Cameras

[robert.saunders]

Can't believe traffic police have unmarked cars. How unsporting

 

[BTB 500]

I can't believe the speeds that some people do through the SPECS section on the M3. I love watching some of them brake for each camera

 

[A-AvantGarde]

I can't believe the speeds that some people do through the SPECS section on the M3. I love watching some of them brake for each camera

I thought it was just me that found that behaviour found amusing - it's truly stupid the way some people drive.

 

[hawk20]

I can't believe the speeds that some people do through the SPECS section on the M3. I love watching some of them brake for each camera

You worry me. Didn't know they had those yet on the M3. How can you tell it is specs not ordinary kind as I've not seen one yet (not knowingly anyway!).

 

[crockers]

Specs cameras...............................

 

[hawk20]

Thanks crockers. Looks expensive. We don't have them round here. Any special notices to warn drivers or just the normal?

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Call me a geek, but have you ever noticed the Motorola logo on the frame on SPECS camera's ?

All you need to do with specs camera's is keep changing lanes

 

[Martin]

Thanks crockers. Looks expensive. We don't have them round here. Any special notices to warn drivers or just the normal?

The special notices say "Average Speed Cameras"
ie. slowing down just where the cameras are does not help as it is over a measured distance of road between cameras, at the start and finish of say a set of roadworks, unlike Gatsos, etc.

Has anyone actually tested the changing lanes theory out?

 

[whitenemesis]

Call me a geek, but have you ever noticed the Motorola logo on the frame on SPECS camera's ?

All you need to do with specs camera's is keep changing lanes

Considering this quote;-

"SPECS average speed cameras are fitted either at the roadside or in the central reservation (as pictured below) a set distance apart to create a speed controlled zone, or where appropriate, groups of cameras can be linked to create a speed controlled network.

As vehicles pass between the entry and exit camera points their number plates are digitally recorded, whether speeding or not. Then, by ANPR recognition, the images on the video of matching number plates are paired up, and because each image carries a date and time stamp, the computer can then work out your average speed between the cameras. There is no film used for SPECS.

SPECS are commonly used to enforce speed limits on dual carriageways and motorways. This is because one SPECS gantry can monitor up to four lanes of traffic at any one time"

I would think it matters not which lane you pass the cameras in. They will have logged you entering the controlled zone and timed your exit. They don't need to track you through lane position.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

'Apparantley' SPECS can't keep track of vehicles switching lanes as the systems in use in the UK are the 'cheaper' version. Something to do with the number of cameras they use and the way they process and analyse the data.

 

[whitenemesis]

But surely they just use ANPR, log the plate and place it in a database. Then as you pass the next camera in the network, it logs the plate places it in the database. The database is swepted and matches have their time stamps compared against what it should take to pass between cameras.

It dosen't have to be in real time, less processing power required compared with positional logging?

 

[BTB 500]

I've also heard the story about changing lanes .. wouldn't want to stake my licence on it though

Yup I've noticed the logo on the gantries too!

They're where the M3 meets the M25, I think just on the M25 on to M3 side now.

 

[andy_k]

story here it's quite old news now so it may or may not still apply

Andy

 

[hawk20]

'Apparantley' SPECS can't keep track of vehicles switching lanes as the systems in use in the UK are the 'cheaper' version. Something to do with the number of cameras they use and the way they process and analyse the data.

Do you have a link to an authorative article or source on that point?

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Do you have a link to an authorative article or source on that point?

No, not really just hearsay from the news / press coverage at the time. That's why I wrote 'apparently'. Anyway, found this: http://www.abd.org.uk/specs.htm

Not sure on the credibility of ABD, they claim that SPECS only has home office approval for monitoring single lanes at a time, I've also seen this claim from other sources.

Now, looking at current SPECS sites that I've seen recently they now appear to have a camera for each lane so they have probably resolved the issue reported in the Evening Standard article posted by Andy K above.

Where SPECS gantries have a dedicated camera for each lane, it looks like the lane changing story may well now be an urban myth. I still wouldn't want to try out the original theory.

 

[Silestanix]

**Get ready to be flamed**

I tried the lane changing trick on the M25 when the A10 roadworks were being done; I tried it 3 times in one week at about 1am on my way back from deliveries, roads were pretty much empty so I stuck to 60mph instead of 40 and changed lanes...nothing ever came through the post. This was about a year back though so I don't know if it's still the same...but from my experience, changing lanes works.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Im sure I remember reading it was down to legal requirments re: the viaibles in distance on bends, eg one side is shorter than the other (im no doubt talking rubbish)

 

[ibrar]

**Get ready to be flamed**

I tried the lane changing trick on the M25 when the A10 roadworks were being done; I tried it 3 times in one week at about 1am on my way back from deliveries, roads were pretty much empty so I stuck to 60mph instead of 40 and changed lanes...nothing ever came through the post. This was about a year back though so I don't know if it's still the same...but from my experience, changing lanes works.

Tomorrow is always the day

 

[Mactech]

All sounds very complicated avoiding detection! Isn't it just easier to stick to the speed limit? (If indeed you can ever get to it in this in the traffic!)
If you need to be somewhere earlier the solution is simple...leave earlier.

Currently putting hard hat on!

 

[PXW]

I've certainly read that SPECS only works per lane (so switching does work). The problem is when there are multiple sets of cameras - you never know which camera is paired with which....

The M25/M3 set is quite nasty - you are almost a mile past the roadworks before you reach the closing cameras and the NSL sign