SPECS on the M42. An early warning

[DieselE]

Travelling on the M42 this morning I noticed SPECS camera installations on both carriageways between Junctions 10 and 12. The foundations look very permanent so I don't think they are there in anticipation of roadworks.

The structures on the westbound side already have cameras fitted (but covered over). Those on the eastbound side are not as far advanced.

Take care folks and not just over Christmas.

 

[sidmon]

Noticed this myself but they are about to start some roadworks over the next 6 months so I'm hoping they're just temporary....but it wouldn't surprise me if they were permanent. (

 

[kraftwerk]

They've been all over the A14 for ages. Proper pain in the neck, as they make most people drive like idiots - speed up to 85mph, then slam on the anchors to 55mph under the camera. W4nk3rs.

 

[Deadhead]

They've been all over the A14 for ages. Proper pain in the neck, as they make most people drive like idiots - speed up to 85mph, then slam on the anchors to 55mph under the camera. W4nk3rs.

Yes... but don't the SPECS cameras measure average speed between two points with the express purpose of discouraging such behavior?

 

[kraftwerk]

Yes... but don't the SPECS cameras measure average speed between two points with the express purpose of discouraging such behavior?

Yes, but if you travel at, say 80-85mph under the first camera, then slam on the anchors to 50-55mph under the second camera, your average speed is lowered between the two cameras.

If everyone just got on with driving at around 75-80mph where SPECs appear, we'd all get on a lot better.

 

[Dieselman]

They aren't SPECS cameras on the A14, or at least they must be recent as they didn't used to be.

 

[Dieselman]

Yes, but if you travel at, say 80-85mph under the first camera, then slam on the anchors to 50-55mph under the second camera, your average speed is lowered between the two cameras.

No it's not. It doesn't matter what speed you are doing passing the camera, it's the time between them that counts.

 

[flango]

They aren't SPECS cameras on the A14, or at least they must be recent as they didn't used to be.

Recent addition they have taken out all the Gatso's and Truvelo's and replaced them with Spec's the entire length of the A14, bugger !

 

[BTB 500]

Yes there are SPECS cameras on the A14. We drive from Peterborough to Ipswich every August ... they were definitely there this year, and I think I remember them last year.

The number of people who treat them like GATSOs is quite astonishing.

 

[kraftwerk]

No it's not. It doesn't matter what speed you are doing passing the camera, it's the time between them that counts.

I sit corrected. I thought they took two speed readings and calculated your average speed over the distance between the two cameras. Oh well - it doesn't stop people driving like idiots whenever there are SPECs about

 

[kraftwerk]

They aren't SPECS cameras on the A14, or at least they must be recent as they didn't used to be.

I use the A14 loads (I live in London, in-laws live in Lincolnshire). I drove the A14 this morning, in fact. It's had SPECs for at least 18 months.

That's one-all, I think!

 

[kraftwerk]

Woops

 

[robert.saunders]

I drive the A14 regularly and since the SPECS have gone in the behaviour is much improved, speeds are generally constant and accidents have dropped, it's much better IMO, and journey time seems to have gone slightly down as a result

 

[Stratman]

I make Dieselman correct.
Taken from the SPECS site:-

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.

 

[kwakdonut]

Don't use the M42 and you'll be ok!!! lol

 

[DieselE]

I make Dieselman correct.
Taken from the SPECS site:-

The other thing to remember is it is not necessarily adjacent cameras that are linked.

 

[DieselE]

Noticed this myself but they are about to start some roadworks over the next 6 months so I'm hoping they're just temporary....but it wouldn't surprise me if they were permanent. (

Yes, at first I thought they might be linked to the installation of traffic management system gantries but there are no signs of SPECS going in between junctions 9 and 10 which is why I think it's going to be like the A14.

 

[st4]

An interesting what if about specs. Say for example is an average speed zone that is 4 miles long between the 2 cameras but a service station in the middle of this zone. I do 100mph to the service station, fill up, and continue @ 100mph. The "average speed" will be well below 70mph but I've driven between the 2 points @ speeds which could get a dangerous driving ban but I'd go undetected.

 

[BTB 500]

An interesting what if about specs. Say for example is an average speed zone that is 4 miles long between the 2 cameras but a service station in the middle of this zone. I do 100mph to the service station, fill up, and continue @ 100mph. The "average speed" will be well below 70mph but I've driven between the 2 points @ speeds which could get a dangerous driving ban but I'd go undetected.

If you did a 3 mile SPECS zone at 120 mph, stopping for 60 secs would give you an average speed of well under 70 mph (it would be 72 mph if you spent no time decelerating and accelerating).

 

[Dieselman]

That's one-all, I think!

Ha ha..

To be honest they might have been there when I've used it but not noticed. There used to be a number of Gatso devices.

Cheers.