M4 warning non boaty

[gonfishing]

for info if anyone has to travel the M4 into or out of Wales be aware as of the 1st july speed cameras that have been fitted into the information signs alondside the motorway will be capable of monitoring your speed over a distance of 1 mile and your average taken, and points, fines issued accordingly, evidently this has been trialled successfully and is going live !!!!

julian

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[BrendanS]

Can't put speed cameras on motorways except where speed limit has been restricted (eg roadworks or traffic flow speed restrictions on SW M25.

Sounds like one of those urban myths that does the rounds, unless there is an official statement to this effect

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[wakeup]

I've seen info circulating on this as well. Apparently they are using coils in the ground to time cars between points whilst tracking them with motorway camera. All manual at the moment, but because not automatic they don't have to inform you but can nick you anyway.

That's the version I had heard at least and there do seem to be an awful lot of square lines every 500yrd or so on the Welsh side of the M4.

I hope it is an Urban Myth. Bit like Soltron ;-)

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[tico]

Yes you can..... Dyfed/Powys police have been operating white vans with speed cameras on bridges and hard shoulder of the M4 in Wales for the last few months

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

I think those white squares are part of the Vascar speed measurement system which Plod have used for many years. You will find those squares on many A roads as well. A policeman once told me always to keep to the speed limit when you see those white squares

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[BrendanS]

Doh! but those are manual, not Gatso's.
and unless someone passed an Act of Parliament while I wasn't looking, it's still not possible to put automatic systems on motorways except in speed restricted aread.

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[Bejasus]

Oh yes it is...........

The new cameras use digital number plate recognition and the tar bordered squares(not the white ones) are indeed covering buried magnetic strips. Put the two together and you can record time and distance(speed0 and the camera identifies the offender. Evidence instantly sent to DVLC and with the police access you've been caught 'bang to rights, Guv'nor'

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[boatone]

So how come the speed camera road distance markings are pesent at many bridges on M25?

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[BrendanS]

Because everytime they turn on the traffic flow speed restrictions, they can turn on the gatso cameras overhead,as the motorway is now speed restricted.

Same reason they can use Gatso's in roadworks, and where there are speed restrictions on the Motorway such as on M4 50mph at Port Talbot

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[Bejasus]

Sorry Brendan, but the last time I looked, their was a maximum speed limit in this country of 70mph therefore a motorway is always restricted. Derestriction with regard to speed limits in the UK, is a misnomer.

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[BrendanS]

Re: Oh yes it is...........

The technology has been around for ages. No need to spend a fortune closing motorways to dig holes, put in sensors and cabling to roadside box, when there is already a much simpler, efficient number plate recognition system, SPECS, which already has Home Office type approval, and measures your average speed between the SPECS cameras.

The only current Home Office approved inductive coil system linked to video (not number plate recognition) is for monitoring bus lanes

There may well be a trial underway, but if it's deployed on a motorway, it would have to be manned, and not automatic. Automatic systems cannot be deployed on Motorways outside the circumstances I've already posted.

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[BrendanS]

Forget 70mph limit. Red herring. Motorways are subject to different regulations. If a speed limit of less than 70 is in place on a motorway, then they can use Gatso, Specs and other automatic speedtraps.

Simple question, if they could use automatic speedtraps on motorways, why isn't there a little cash earner every mile or so on the Motorway. When was the last time you saw a Gatso on a motorway outside of a restricted (less than 70) zone?

This reminds me of an arguement I had in my local about speed limits on British Roads. Whole pub said 60 on dual carriageways, and 50 on A road. Had to take in a Highway code book to prove them wrong, and one so many bets that I drank free for a week.

I'm not saying there is no pilot scheme on M4, just that if there is, there is no news about it on any speedtrap site in the UK, there is no Home Office approval for the type of system mentioned, and no info about it anywhere. Plenty of rumours though.

Don't take my word for all this. I'm a member of several boards that discuss this sort of thing. I'd recommend uktrafficlaw at UK yahoo groups. I've already asked if anyone knows about this pilot scheme. Go and ask them about use of automated systems on motorways. You'll get plenty of answers, including responses from the very friendly and helpful traffic cops who hang out there.

It'll be a bit like someone turning up here and asking, what boat should I buy?, as they've all seen it before /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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[duncan]

Re: Oh yes it is...........

I'm with Brendan; anecdotially I travel the M25 a lot and when the speed restrictions are in force the camera's "come alive" - when they are not you could, theoritically /forums/images/icons/smile.gif travel at over 100 through the same camera without a flash/bill or whatever

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[BrendanS]

Oh! as a quick aside, there are many speed camera road distance markings on motorways and roads all around the UK, where there are no cameras, including several on M25 where there are no cameras.

Why? Simple psychology...quick, simple, and cheap to put a few white marks on a road, and I bet like me if on unfamiliar road, you hit the brakes.

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[longjohnsilver]

Re: M4 Port Talbot

Yes I got caught here a few months back, 67 in a 50 zone, didn't see the sign, always assumed the Mways were 70 unless there's roadworks. Wrong!!

Oh how I love going to Wales!! /forums/images/icons/frown.gif

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[BrendanS]

Re: M4 Port Talbot

Don't knock Wales! /forums/images/icons/wink.gif
Exactly the same on M4 on way into London.

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[Bejasus]

Re: Oh yes it is...........

Agreed regarding SPECS cameras, I wasn't sure about the reasons as to why there should be inductive coils on the M4, if indeed there are. I also know that the police cannot use the information from the blue pole mounted SPECS cameras currently in use for traffic information.

As far as speed limits go, a speed limit only means something if there is nothing to contradict it as explained in the highway code. I.e. roadworks, streetlighting setups in urban areas etc. something all to many people who drive today are blissfully unaware of. Another is, am I allowed to enter into these chevroned areas in the middle of the road. Err, are the lines that border them broken or unbroken. The number of people I have spoken to who have no idea, is somewhat disappointing

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[Bejasus]

Regarding the scattering of speed camera markings on roads, I Imagine that some of these are remnants of previous camera locations, others are for future possible locations, yet others are leftovers from roadworks cameras. However, I thought that with recent changes to the law, camera warnings were supposed to have been removed unless there was a camera installed within a certain distance of the sign. I.e. Roads that have signs along there length that have never had a camera on them, nor even marings on the road where they could have them.

Next bitch is about the stealth cameras in so called safety team vans. What a load of old bollocks. They are speed traps pure and simple and nothing to do with safety.

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[BrendanS]

Re: Oh yes it is...........

Ho hum.

Conspiracy theorists of the world unite!

Really can't be bothered to explain real reason for blue pole. Not Specs. Do you really want an arguement about this. Do a google search on traffic master if you want a hint.

If you want to overtake on chevrons, just make sure they are broken ones

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[Bejasus]

Re: Oh yes it is...........

Not looking for an argument Brendan.

I never mentioned anything remotely to do with conspiracy theories.

I know perfectly well what the blue poles are about and about traffic master.

I also know where to overtake.

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