Average Speed Cameras

[Wee Jock]

"Britain's first urban average speed traps are switched on in the capital.

Eighty-four new cameras are being placed on the A13 to the east of London in a bid to reduce the high accident rate on the commuter route.

They check speeds at 37 locations along a seven-and-a-half-mile stretch of the road.

Any motorists who let their speed creep above the limit between Canning Town and the Goresbrook Interchange could face a £60 fine and three points on their licence.

Unlike Gatso cameras, the network of devices monitors vehicles across the area, capturing individual motorists' average speed.

It is the first time that average speed cameras — traditionally used on sections of motorway — will enforce the limit on a road with multiple entrance and exit points, in an urban setting."

Above info was taken from the London Evening Standard yesterday, just thought I would share what is happening down south before it makes its way north. Could see them trying this out on the A9!

Its another tax hike for motorists!

[sti_steve]

As long as they keep off B roads

[BJM]

These average speed things make me paranoid and I constantly check my speed distacting me from 'driving'

[colin_ross]

There is a thread about these things on scoobynet. Nobody actually knows anyone who's been caught by them, some think they're just there to scare you into slowing down.

[billyboy]

A couple of years ago at an IAM meeting two traffic ossifers were giving a talk and the subject of these cameras came up.The ones on the 77 are victims of there own success in a three month period only 21 tickets were issued.I also noticed on the A80 if you look at the detector next to the camera some of them are dimly lit red while others are not,noticed this in the dark by the way.Possibly these are the ones that are activated.

[Wee Jock]

Just a point, these cameras are placed to cover every entrance and exit along the 7.5 mile stretch of road, its not like the motorway system where they are set up at 1 mile intervals!

The cameras note the time you enter the road (A13) and note the time you leave the road calculating your average speed, you may be on the road for 1mile or 7.5miles!

[st3ph3n]

7.5 miles is nothing. The A77 stretch is much much longer.

TBH - I think on some roads they're fairly legit things. I imagine that road in London is death trap. The A77 was a road for kamakaze driving but with all its recent upgrades it didn't really require the SPECS.

I was down in Birmingham last weekend and we went through loads of SPECs on the M6 - all in roadworks. Most of these roadworks were not manned in the slightest either. There was another road on the way to the NEC that wasn't covered with SPECs, but about every 3rd gantry had cameras on them, and it was variable speed limit too. I think we're probably lucky up here!

[weedman]

Does anyone know whether SPECS cameras work in the dark? They don't have a flash, so I was wondering whether they could read the number plate behind the glare of the headlights.

[StewartyBoy]

They have infra red illumination, so the answer would be yes. They do work at night mate.

[mystery machine]

[terzo neil]

but they dont affect motorbikes at all, as specs read the front numberplate, no front plate on a bike

[StewartyBoy]

So pretty much, at night take your front plate off. Most are on dual carriageways, and even if a passing policeman spots it missing you'll be going far too fast for them to catch up with you.

Isnt that right Rich...?

[Richie Cross]

So pretty much, at night take your front plate off. Most are on dual carriageways, and even if a passing policeman spots it missing you'll be going far too fast for them to catch up with you.

Isnt that right Rich...?

haha ...yes, but there are more of us than you and one quick radio message ahead........

but then again it's traffic.....leave that to the traffic lot!!!

[iain01]

Remember to change lanes

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-41...ging-lanes.html

[weedman]

They have infra red illumination, so the answer would be yes. They do work at night mate.

Bugger! (But thanks for the answer...)

Just as well speed cameras are infallible....

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20100122/tuk-sp...ed-45dbed5.html

[StewartyBoy]

It has been proven time and time again that Gatso cameras are inaccurate. Made by the Germans, their Government refused to use them on basis that vibrations, reflections and angle were all contributing factors to the speed traps giving nonsense readings.

If the Camera is pointed at a fixed point (say a road sign) and Lorry driven passed it, the vibrations of the truck can set off readings due to frequency distorting it. Reflections of frequency from other cars can distort frequency.

If you have a 2 lane dual-carriageway (like Barrhead Main Street), the camera has a sweep angle i.e the distance from a fixed point to that of focus, with the closest lane having the correct sweep angle for calibration. How can it evaluate the 2nd lane as it has a further distance from the fixed point and only one lens to calibrated...?

Edited January 24, 2010 by StewartyBoy

[Wee Jock]

Here's the latest edition of average speed cameras as reported on Sky News today!

Plans For New Speed Cameras On All Motorways

1:19pm UK, Monday January 25, 2010

Tom Bonnett, Sky News Online

Average speed cameras could be fitted on all of Britain's motorways if new proposals to slash carbon emissions are approved by the Government

The devices lead to fewer accidents and speeding tickets on the roads where they are installed than normal speed cameras, a new report by the Government's environmental advisers claims.

The Sustainable Development Commission is calling for cameras to be installed on all motorways in the UK because it is predicted that if all drivers stuck to 70mph, the UK's carbon emissions would be cut by 1.4 million tonnes.

In its report the Commission says drivers slam on the brakes when they see a speed camera and accelerate away as soon as they have passed it.

But, it argues, average speed cameras, which measure speed over distance rather than one point, encourage smoother, more environmentally-friendly driving.

The call for more average speed cameras comes days after London Mayor Boris Johnson announced the devices would be introduced on the A13 in East London.

The Government is poised to approve a new generation of cameras that can trace the speed of journeys over a network of streets.

If this goes ahead the devices will be fitted on all urban residential roads with a 20mph speed limit.

The report also suggests capping all cars to make it impossible to break the speed limit and teaching motorists "eco-driving" techniques.

Car sharing clubs should also be encouraged to grow and the use of technologies such as video conferencing should be used to reduce the need to travel, the report says.

Oh how the UK is messed up!

[Mairshy]

These average speed things make me paranoid and I constantly check my speed distacting me from 'driving'

indeed.

check the speedo, still doing 60, woops that chap in front is doing an emergency stop because a kid run out. Bang, you weren't looking

There is a thread about these things on scoobynet. Nobody actually knows anyone who's been caught by them, some think they're just there to scare you into slowing down.

Ive been told this too

when test driving a scoob. The sales man took me out oon the ayr by pass where there are some and gave it some beans. He says they dont work.

My turn to drive, i think, what the hell he doesn't have my details or that anyway and im only testing the water. Give it some beans and if anyone gets done its him.

He regularly takes people for test drives out on that road so its doubtful that they do work. Scare mongering tactic. im always within the speed limit of them and get overtaken by other people constantly