M25 Speed cameras

[thebook]

Update

As of the 2 March 2010 - I have yet to hear anything, I know you are supposed to be informed within 14 days, but as the car is a lease car I would not be contacted direct, hence the delay in updating.

So far, and I am tempting fate I know, but I have had no contact and can only assume there is no intention to prosecute me. Which is nice!

 

[st13phil]

So far, and I am tempting fate I know, but I have had no contact and can only assume there is no intention to prosecute me. Which is nice!

You may be lucky, but you're still a long way from a time out on this.

 

[thebook]

You may be lucky, but you're still a long way from a time out on this.

I thought they had to send notice within 14 days? Is this not the case?

 

[tippandy]

I thought they had to send notice within 14 days? Is this not the case?

If as you say you would not be contacted direct then the fourteen days would be for the registered keeper , they would then have to reply with the drivers details within a set period of time , used to be 28 days i think,then the penalty notice would come to you.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

Yesterday I travelled the west side of the M25 for the first time in years and have just come across them.

The traffic was light to medium and then all of a sudden the gantries with 60mph for no explicable reason at all. No one paid any attention including myself and carried merrily on their way at 70-80mph (I was in the middle lane doing around 70-75mph). Then came another 60mph, same reaction, then it went down to 50mph, still no idea why but got spooked so dropped down to 60mph. The next sign went back to 60mph so I just accelerated back to normal speeds before clocking the hidden cameras and instinctively slamming on the breaks nearly causing a pile up as unsuspecting motorists behind me did the same or swerved.

So can I expect to suddenly lose my licence because of these 'safety' measure? In 13 years of motoring I have never come across anything so ridiculous, I now spend more time looking for hidden cameras and watching I don't creep over the speed limit than actually looking where Im going.

 

[eihtur]

So can I expect to suddenly lose my licence because of these 'safety' measure?

Don't know about the speeding, but for nearly causing a pile up...probably.

 

[BTB 500]

There's quite a generous 'grace period' after the limit changes, to allow traffic speed to drop before the cameras are activated. Several minutes, IIRC.

But once that's expired going through at 80 when a 60 limit is in place will certainly get you a ticket. Of course not all the gantries have cameras - TomTom (for example) only warns of the ones that do.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

Don't know about the speeding, but for nearly causing a pile up...probably.

Didnt do anything illegal as far as I know. Reducing speed, isnt that what these are for? If thats what happens as a result of the new cameras throwing poeple into confusion and panic when the spot them then what is the point of them?

There was no justification for the variable speed limit to be in force at that time and all they are achieving are more dangerous situations through those in the know heavily breaking in front of unsuspecting drivers. When more drivers clock onto whats going on its going to cause more congestion as cars start breaking and backing up traffic rather than just letting them get on with it. More people are going to be straining upwards trying to see if they can spot a camera rather than looking ahead.

What in all seriousness is the point of them? You cant see them and the camera signs are often present when there are no cameras so hold no credibility. I thought the point of the old ones being yellow was to make people slow down as they could see them, not try and catch them out, having no effect on speed and just issuing fines left right and centre.

 

[bernie driscoll]

D
What in all seriousness is the point of them?

It's a PFI - jobs for the boys.

They are no benefit to the motorist.

 

[eihtur]

It's a PFI - jobs for the boys.

They are no benefit to the motorist.

There is a point in heavy traffic, because they serve to control traffic. On an otherwise empty motorway they are a nuisance and come into to disrepute.

 

[bernie driscoll]

There is a point in heavy traffic, because they serve to control traffic. On an otherwise empty motorway they are a nuisance and come into to disrepute.

In heavy traffic on uncontrolled motorways, does everyone crash at the first sign of a tailback?

 

[eihtur]

In heavy traffic on uncontrolled motorways, does everyone crash at the first sign of a tailback?

Speed limit reduction in busy times is supposed to reduce the number of tailbacks. So, its not about crashing, but about speeding up actual flow. Instead of stop start, the flow should be smoothed.

Try it yourself, instead of keeping up with the car in front, which means stopping starting stopping...keep you speed constant...those behind you will be grateful.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

The motorway yesterday was certainly not heavy at all. A 50mph speed limit was a nonsense. Can they still hand out penalties for this? It boarders on entrapment.

The majority of drivers cant cope with keeping to the inside lanes when not overtaking and has a far bigger impact on congestion as all to many times motorways become dual carriageways. Maybe they should invest time and money in keeping motorists over the left...or is that not as lucrative?

 

[eihtur]

The majority of drivers cant cope with keeping to the inside lanes when not overtaking and has a far bigger impact on congestion as all to many times motorways become dual carriageways. Maybe they should invest time and money in keeping motorists over the left...or is that not as lucrative?

A dual carriageway can have more than 2 lanes on each side...but I know what you mean.

Motorists are like sheep...they do not like to think for themselves...merely follow the car in front.

 

[John]

The motorway yesterday was certainly not heavy at all. A 50mph speed limit was a nonsense. Can they still hand out penalties for this? It boarders on entrapment.

I understood they put earlier gantries 'on' to slow the pace of traffic so it doesn't end up creating a jam.

I once saw a camera, on a 'live' gantry, flash in the outside lane for an oncoming car (during the daytime after 1998).

My guess is you would have seen the flash if you were going to be 'done'.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

I thought they were IR cameras and although they can still show a flash it is very much subdued, as it was bright sunlight I wouldn't expect to see it.

 

[MB-BTurbo]

I've just realised that the M1 southbound has them as well when I drove down 2 weeks ago and was travelling 'rapidly' due to a previous hold up with rubber neckers looking at a police escorted ambulance travelling at 20mph. So far nothing has come through the post but there was enough of them to accumulate more points than 12 over the single journey

 

[John]

The day I saw that one flash was a sunny day. Whether or not the driver being flashed would notice - tricky to say...

 

[davidjpowell]

I've just realised that the M1 southbound has them as well when I drove down 2 weeks ago and was travelling 'rapidly' due to a previous hold up with rubber neckers looking at a police escorted ambulance travelling at 20mph. So far nothing has come through the post but there was enough of them to accumulate more points than 12 over the single journey

I think, but am reluctant to rely, that most of the variable camera's do not operate when the speed limits are off. I'm pretty confident of this up to 90. Not brave enough to do anything faster.

 

[StevenN]

M1 26-25 is my daily commute.
I would be interested to hear if anyone has ever been clocked by the cameras on this stretch.
Even when they are supposed it be active I have yet to see a single flash.