M4 J14-J18......Speed Crackdown

[WLeg]

10% + 2mph.

Is that Indicated 10% or "true" (GPS) speed or is the 10% because your speedo is wrong ?

 

[Benzowner]

IN the face of this shameless revenue raising, It's time to lose the front number plate for good I think

Motorcyclists have not had a front number plate for years, but we still get caught, they clock you head on and then swing the camers around to get your number plate and provide you with two photographs

 

[Satch]

10% + 2mph.

Is that Indicated 10% or "true" (GPS) speed or is the 10% because your speedo is wrong ?

Most speedos are inaccurate and show a faster speed than actual to protect makers against lawsuits from motorist who have a reasonable expectation that they can rely on the speedo to keep them from exceeding limits.

The test however is actual speed.

At a steady 79mph per Road Angel my indicated speed is around 82/3mph.

So sticking to an indicated 80mph will keep me within ACPO guidelines, but your experience may vary!

 

[peterchurch]

Motorcyclists have not had a front number plate for years, but we still get caught, they clock you head on and then swing the camers around to get your number plate and provide you with two photographs

I would think that being bridge mounted these buggers won't be able to do that as they will have to pick the camera up and run accross the bridge
This would also allow any other motorist a free one as the camera would miss them...
I was told that if you enter a bridge in the outside lane and exit in the middle they can't prosicute you, as the camera is focused on a single lane...

Wouldn't it be nice to get the instruction manuals for this kit

 

[Satch]

According to The Times the cameras can pick you off up to 1km away in clear conditions. I do wonder about that as it implies a degree of accuacy of one Milliradian for a target about two metres wide.

However, any warning signs only have to be 100m from the vans.

 

[Shude]

An argument like sorry Office I reverse into my drive at home and drive into my car space at the office and I dont go round the front of my car so I have no idea when I lost would be enoughto work

You are obliged to inspect your vehicle for functioning headlamps, tail lamps and licence plates etc before driving it. If you are driving with anything missing or faulty then they can technically bust you for it on the spot.

 

[peterchurch]

You are obliged to inspect your vehicle for functioning headlamps, tail lamps and licence plates etc before driving it. If you are driving with anything missing or faulty then they can technically bust you for it on the spot.

They can bust you and generate the paperwork for a fine (yippeeee) but most of the time they will say (tut, sod it )
It took over six weeks of driving past the _same_ city checkpoint before the chap finally said enoughs, enough Even then, I got a warning. As it was, I had been waiting for the car to go in for a service to fix it got a little bit of paper that had to go into my local station when it was sorted no fine

My mate was missing his front plate for most of last year... So you work out the law of averages (front bumber got cracked and it took a long time to fix it to his standard )

 

[Rory]

Motorcyclists have not had a front number plate for years, but we still get caught, they clock you head on and then swing the camers around to get your number plate and provide you with two photographs

That sounds very dodgy to me - how can they say for certain that it's the same person/bike on both photo's? Best plan surely is to ride in a swarm and all wear similar clothing.

 

[peterchurch]

I used it yesterday and I am not impressed at all. Everyone was doing dead on 70 and tailgating In large packs I also saw lots of undertaking by white vans as well... The next accident that is caused on there will be big and will involve far more cars than normal ...

 

[PJH]

Protest April 30th

 

[Satch]

Protest April 30th

Made the BBC now. A mass protest by oppressed motorists in the pre Election period? Bet Tony is cursing the plonkers in the Wiltshire Scamera Partnership

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wiltshire/4468845.stm

 

[anarchy-inc]

M4 Cameras

 

[peterchurch]

Haven't seen any since it started anyway I think its a con to reduce the speed of the traffic overall. on its own merits its working _BUT_ I have seen far more dangerous driving since it has been introduced...

 

[BenzComander]

Scott may be able to confirm this? I heard a story that when cameras were introduced in OZ there was systematic civil disobedience and they were pulled down

Not sure if the mild mannered British would go down this route but we all have an opportunity for change in a week or so's time.

Problem is, do any of the other parties have a different policy to cameras on our roads?

I feel a better solution to traffic speed is this. Raise the maximum speed limit on motorways to 85mph. Then tell the motorist at what speed they can travel using signs similar to the ones on the M25. This speed would be determined by traffic density and prevailing conditions. If the signs say 70 then we will all know that if you travel above that speed you will be prosecuted. This would suit all the cars with cruise, set at 70 and everybody’s happy! This would also do away with the uncertainty of what speed we can get away with and leave drivers to concentrate on driving rather than scoping for cameras.

 

[nickg]

I went up to Cardiff and back over the last couple of days. Slowed to 70(ish) around 14-18 but didn't see a single van/camera/police car.
70 is so slow!!! I nearly nodded off. Only thing that kept me awake was constantly checking for cameras.....

 

[peterchurch]

Scott may be able to confirm this? I heard a story that when cameras were introduced in OZ there was systematic civil disobedience and they were pulled down

Not sure if the mild mannered British would go down this route but we all have an opportunity for change in a week or so's time.

Problem is, do any of the other parties have a different policy to cameras on our roads?

I feel a better solution to traffic speed is this. Raise the maximum speed limit on motorways to 85mph. Then tell the motorist at what speed they can travel using signs similar to the ones on the M25. This speed would be determined by traffic density and prevailing conditions. If the signs say 70 then we will all know that if you travel above that speed you will be prosecuted. This would suit all the cars with cruise, set at 70 and everybody’s happy! This would also do away with the uncertainty of what speed we can get away with and leave drivers to concentrate on driving rather than scoping for cameras.

Out in the sticks the cameras get bullied quite a bit We have had 3 burned out in our vilage, and when I used to go to Cheltenham there was a group out there that used to pull them down

I saw 2 accidents yesterday morning 1 west and 1 eastbound one very serious but both of them looked like they were caused due to lorries pulling out onto cars in the middle lane yet again nothing to do with speed I used to get this all the time in the MR2 as the truckers cant see you as you are too small/low... If they want to make the road safer they should adopt the safety gap markers and pickon idiots that tailgate

 

[scotth_uk]

Scott may be able to confirm this? I heard a story that when cameras were introduced in OZ there was systematic civil disobedience and they were pulled down

Hmm. Certainly don't remember any of this. Here's my recollection, but probably a bit dated now.

When the cameras were introduced in Queensland, they were all based in the back of white vans which were parked on the side of the road. A flash unit was external to the vehicle and was connected by cable. An officer would sit inside the van and monitor/operate the camera. By law signs had to be placed a minimum distance ahead of the van, but it (the distance) was so small that you would regularly see the sign leaning against the van.

More recently, the vehicles have become more stealth:
http://www.ausmedia.com.au/0allothers/speedcam_a1.jpg
http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/old/mp2000/MP00JUSTICE_files/image002.jpg

Given that the camera was not fixed, and was operated by a human there was vandalism or damage. Attacking a policeman's vehicle won't get you too far.

Also worth noting that in all states (I think) radar detectors are illegal.

Other speed enforcement in the area included:

Seated radar units on a tripod, with police a few hundred metres past to pull you over. Always hidden, no requirement for a sign.

Handheld radar units, with police a few hundred metres past. Again no requirement for a sign and generally well hidden.

Handheld laser units, used by the police pulling you over. Again no requirement for a sign and well hidded and long distance ahead.

Car based side mounted radar units (commonly referred to as cyborgs or spiders). Very efficient units mounted on the rear drivers side window and can measure speed moving away from or towards the vehicle. No requirements for signs, and difficult to spot in dark conditions. Very effective enforcement method.

Bike cops. Need I say more.

 

[Satch]

Scott may be able to confirm this? I heard a story that when cameras were introduced in OZ there was systematic civil disobedience and they were pulled down

Not sure if the mild mannered British would go down this route but we all have an opportunity for change in a week or so's time.

Problem is, do any of the other parties have a different policy to cameras on our roads?

I feel a better solution to traffic speed is this. Raise the maximum speed limit on motorways to 85mph. Then tell the motorist at what speed they can travel using signs similar to the ones on the M25. This speed would be determined by traffic density and prevailing conditions. If the signs say 70 then we will all know that if you travel above that speed you will be prosecuted. This would suit all the cars with cruise, set at 70 and everybody’s happy! This would also do away with the uncertainty of what speed we can get away with and leave drivers to concentrate on driving rather than scoping for cameras.

There have been spates of vandalism against speed cameras. Some Greed Camera Partnerships in urban areas are locked into a silent war against dangerous types armed with cans of silver spray paint: work of seconds to render the camera window useless.

There have been instances of cameras treated to a necklace of an old truck tyre filled with petrol, holes drilled through cases and then filled with expanding foam, the odd blast or two from a shotgun (a rural favourite), angle ginders & pipe cutters on the poles and of course the antics of the MRA:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...mra08.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/02/08/ixhome.html

There was a website displaying pictures of destroyed cameras but I think it has been taken down.

Many actions against speed cameras do not get reported. Official reason is for fear of sparking copycat attacks but the real reason is that such displays of public dissent would upset Labour politicians

On the second point, that is possibly the way to go. Sensible speed limits where safe to do so coupled with strict enforcement where a lower speed is justified. Similar to the German set up where the tricked up Porche that has just snarled past you at 280khm on a derestricted section is now at a law abiding 130kmh through a restricted and enforced section.

Fear would be that the "justification" for lower speeds would soon creep across much of the motorway network just like the installation of Cameras is "justified" simply to feed the self serving, self funding, growing and wholly unaccountable monsters that the Greed Camersa Partnerships have become.

 

[Benzowner]

There has been a couple if "incidents" with cameras in the Bristol area, all they have done is removed the cameras for about three months and then replaced them with cameras about 15ft in the air on taller posts, barstewards. They have also had to re-mark the road with their little scale rules, maybe they should black them over now instead of having a go at the cameras