Speed Camera Flashes?

[Michael CallaghanParticipant @michaelcallaghan68621]

I got done for going 3mph over on the m5 near Bristol. Just at a speed awareness course v zoom. It was all about how great smart motorways are. To be honest I was half asleep through most of it. Motorists are just seen has cash cows by the councils and government. Maybe if the money was spend on better policing of the motorways I would not of been stuck behind a middle line hogger for miles driving along with the lorries at 60mph and unable to get past the pr..k due to the speed of the cars in the outside line all tailgating each other. I hate driving these days in the U.K. too many cars, stupid cyclists and now very dangerous e scooters.

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Had a few speeding tickets in my time make not excuse if you do the crime pay the fine but one thing that really get my goat is that in the town in which I live we have a mobile speed camera mount on top of a small van, Ive always wondered how someone can do such a job and whilst being a complete hypocrite one more than one occasion Ive followed said vehicle at the end of shift speeding !

H

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

I got a speed awareness course going 6 MPH over a 30 limit. Fair cop I was speeding, on the course the people running it asked. "How far do you need to travel at 80 MPH instead of 70 MPH to save 10 minutes ?" The answer shocked me, it is 100 miles. I don't say that I now never go over the limit but am more aware and respectful of the limits which means the courses work.

[Bill PudneyParticipant @billpudney37759]

A long time ago in the mid 70s I had the good fortune to have a Norton 650SS, which was a VERY fast motorcycle. I had just finished running it in from a major engine rebuild and was having a nice ride around. It was a beautiful day, little or no traffic it seemed like a good idea to ask the classic question….."Whatwillitdo mister". So on the Andover by-pass, which was still a relatively new road at that time, no traffic around so flat in third, change to fourth, well over 120mph on the chronometric speedo. All of a sudden out of nowhere appeared a white MGB GT V8, with flashing blue lights. "Oh dear, now I'm in shtuk". I had visions of my licence being ripped up and me being frogmarched into clink, as exceeding the speed limit (50mph on a non motorway) by 70mph would probably be looked on as a bit irresponsible. Anyway I pulled over and the police car pulled up behind me. The officer came up to me and we went though the usual routine….any reason, do you realise etc etc. Anyway he told me that I was doing 126mph. We then had a really good chat about motorcycles in general and Nortons in particular. He explained that he wouldn't give me a ticket I cannot remember the reason, I was too relieved, and that I should consider myself a very lucky chap. After a bit more of a chat, and a cigarette or two I went on my way suitably chastened.

cheers

Bill

ps For those about to comment that a 650SS was roadtested at 116mph in the January 17th 1968 edition of "Motor Cycle" by Fred Bloggs on the A1 dah de dah….my 650SS had high compression pistons (9.5:1 if I remember correctly) and a Dunstall racing cam

[Neil LickfoldParticipant @neillickfold44316]

Out here in NZ, they use infra red spectrum that the majority of humans can not see. So you get no flash or warning that you have been caught speeding. So its possible to get multiple speeding tickets in one day. Just a revenue gathering device. If it flashed like they used to, then anyone who sees the flash will slow down also. This reduced the number of tickets being given. Cameras are now a real source of revenue for the road transport divisions.

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

It was in 1962 and I was going home about 10 o’clock at night on a motorcycle, was pulled by a police van which had followed me for a short distance then pulled me for exceeding the speed limit. It was a week after the law was cleared for one policeman in a vehicle to be able to book you for speeding, previously it needed two. I was only sixteen at the time and had to go to Juvenile Court, three magistrates sitting on the bench and they found me guilty and fined me one pound, licence endorsed for three years, being cheeky I asked for time to pay and was given two weeks! Dave W

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Having collected a few speeding tickets and a couple of bans for totting up in my youth I got the message. The last ticket that I collected was one that annoyed me though, I had dropped our local scout group off in London for a sleepover on HMS Belfast, collecting them the next morning I decided to just drive through the city and over Tower bridge to collect them, Tower Bridge had an average speed camera setup for 20mph over the bridge, I didn’t see the sign or the cameras which the penalty notice explained due to the historic nature of the surroundings were not painted yellow. That was the first time I had ever encountered a 20mph speed limit on a main road or anywhere for that matter on a public road, my average speed was 31mph, just a shame the limit was 20, nowadays average speed and 20mph limits are common but both were a novelty then. My excuse is that the approach to tower bridge has rather a lot to take in and looking where I was going was plenty to keep me occupied and a sneaky 20mph was not something I was expecting.

Mike

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

Hi All,

Well, as expected, my late Xmas present from Devon & Cornwall Police hit the doormat yesterday!

81mph,

Must do better this year!

Cheers, Martin

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Is there not a ruling about time limitation of notification?

Might be worth a check

[Martin King 2Participant @martinking2]

It was only 10 days ago..

Martin

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Posted by Martin King 2 on 06/01/2022 09:40:08:

Hi All,

Well, as expected, my late Xmas present from Devon & Cornwall Police hit the doormat yesterday!

81mph,

Must do better this year!

Cheers, Martin

82mph?
Enjoy the speed awareness course. I was delighted to learn that I'd been under the delusion that NSL on single carriageways was 50mph (hangover from the 70's fuel crisis?) and chuffed to learn it was 60mph (doh!)

pgk

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Lost my license back in the 60s due to totting up and doing 56mph in a mini van, which was classed as a commercial vehicle limited to 40MPH ! Noel.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Chris Evans 6 on 27/12/2021 20:32:59:

I got a speed awareness course going 6 MPH over a 30 limit. Fair cop I was speeding, on the course the people running it asked. "How far do you need to travel at 80 MPH instead of 70 MPH to save 10 minutes ?" The answer shocked me, it is 100 miles. I don't say that I now never go over the limit but am more aware and respectful of the limits which means the courses work.

And to put it further into perspective, if you spend the recommended 2 minutes brushing your teeth every day, that's over a day a year spent brushing your teeth, perhaps three months over a lifetime…

Neil

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

The warning signs for speed cameras were recently removed in NSW, Aust. but re-installed after some drivers complained and said it was a revenue raising reason.

I had no problem with the removal of signs because I have a fool proof method of not getting fined. Simple, don't speed.

Edited By Paul Lousick on 06/01/2022 10:43:28

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

My Sat Nav has an annoying young woman inside who comments when necessary even when I have anticipated the limit change by around 10 -15 feet!!

Digital Display readout of speed is better/quicker perceived than keep looking a a needle.

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

Cash cow speed camera that zapped me at the bottom of the M606 at 3am one Sunday morning led to a speed awareness course. Checked later, warning sign nicely obscured by excessive foliage. Seems to be one of the best "Earners" in West Yorkshire, last chance leaving Bradford to join M62 westbound. Strangely enough none on same junction leaving M62 to join M606.

Hopes of camera not containing film? Many are fitted with a hard drive which can be downloaded via wi-fi.

Agree with Paul, if you din't speed you won't get caught.

Regards Ian.

Edited By Circlip on 06/01/2022 11:18:01

[JuddyParticipant @juddy]

The statement from the OP which seems not to have been picked up by the forum, which I find quite shocking when traveling at 80MPH + is 'Gabbing away to the missus so did not notice the speed increase', how is this possible do you not pay attention to your driving and what speed you are travelling at.

Perhaps if you cannot control your car and the speed you are travelling at you shouldn't be driving. If it hadn't been a speed camera, but instead a pedestrian, cow, deer or horse would you have noticed as you chatted away to your wife at 80mph.

very poor driving, you are in control (or supposed to be) of a lethal machine.

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Posted by Circlip on 06/01/2022 11:15:55:

Cash cow speed camera that zapped me at the bottom of the M606 at 3am one Sunday morning led to a speed awareness course. Checked later, warning sign nicely obscured by excessive foliage. Seems to be one of the best "Earners" in West Yorkshire, last chance leaving Bradford to join M62 westbound. Strangely enough none on same junction leaving M62 to join M606.

Hopes of camera not containing film? Many are fitted with a hard drive which can be downloaded via wi-fi.

Agree with Paul, if you din't speed you won't get caught.

Regards Ian.

Edited By Circlip on 06/01/2022 11:18:01

Would not be a cash cow if you obeyed the speed limits, so having the signed covered by foliage is irrelevant- in my view.

Motorway speeds are not like sudden changes ie from 30MPH to 20MPH in a city where one may be concentrating on other hazards & miss a single sign. Motorways have a max 70 MPH. Simple really

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Juddy on 06/01/2022 11:22:47:

…

Perhaps if you cannot control your car and the speed you are travelling at you shouldn't be driving.

…

Making this sort of comment has disadvantages, because it discourages healthy confessions from which we can all learn.

When mistakes are made, it's usual for the audience to let fly, shoot from the hip, and generally get into an angry emotional muddle. Therefore anyone who drops the ball is likely to suppress and confuse the evidence, seek vindications, and look to their defence. Lies, cover ups, 'no-comment', delays, scapegoating, and all the other tedious dishonesties we indulge when we or our mates make a mess of something.

Letting fly is bad, because the goal should be to prevent repetitions of the same mistake. That's harder than playing the blame game and demanding punishments. And if someone is to be punished, knee-jerk reactions are to be avoided at all costs. The 'guilty'' may be innocent, or have extenuating circumstances such as a faulty speed-camera.

Preventing accidents generally requires three systems:

1. Rules set by management or government. (Imperfect because someone has to get these rules right, and pay more than lip service to their enforcement.)
2. Provision of safety devices that prevent or minimise the consequences of human error. (Imperfect because someone has to design, introduce and debug these devices.)
3. The Rules have to be obeyed conscientiously. (Imperfect because people have to apply Personal, Social and Ethical considerations.)

People aren't good at obeying rules conscientiously. Some are too confident of their own abilities and cleverness. Others are disinclined to knuckle-down to other people's wishes, no matter how sensible. Or we could be unwell, on drugs, or angry.

Worst of all, most of us develop a bad attitude to risk over time. For example, speed-limits are often applied where there has been an accident, perhaps in fog, wet, ice, or when the road is busy. Possibly the hazard exists when farmers use the road, school opens and closes, or a queue builds up. Hidden dips, adverse camber, rarely used junctions and other non-obvious hazards. Ignorant of the history, we bowl along happily ignoring cautions, whenever the road seems clear to us. Most of the time, no problem, so we get into the habit of ignoring warnings, and become over-optimistic drivers. And the chance of an over-optimistic driver having an accident is much higher than the chap who drives conscientiously. Optimism and over-confidence lead to negligence, which leads to disaster unless it's checked, maybe by a Speed Camera.

So well done Martin for sharing: he certainly reminded me of the need to drive within the rules!

Dave

[Sam Longley 1Participant @samlongley1]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 06/01/2022 13:34:53:

So well done Martin for sharing: he certainly reminded me of the need to drive within the rules!

Dave

Pretty poor excuse for needing to be reminded of the rules.

[Ex contributorParticipant @mgnbuk]

Motorways have a max 70 MPH.

Not always – ever driven on a so-called "Smart" motorway ? Quite often it is "best guess" as to why a particular limit has been set below 70 – doesn't appear to be due to prevailing traffic conditions, as some times the limit is set higher when traffic is heavier.

On the M62 around Leeds it is not unusual to have a different speed limit set on 3 or 4 consecutive gantries – strange how the non-sensical 40 limit that comes after a 60 is on the gantry that has the speed camera on it & the following gantry goes 60 again. Happens this way too often not to be intentional.

Nigel B.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by mgnbuk on 06/01/2022 13:52:28:

On the M62 around Leeds it is not unusual to have a different speed limit set on 3 or 4 consecutive gantries – strange how the non-sensical 40 limit that comes after a 60 is on the gantry that has the speed camera on it & the following gantry goes 60 again. Happens this way too often not to be intentional.

Nigel B.

Highways would call that managing the flow of traffic, I call it a work experience day in the control room.

It's worse when you get close to a blank gantry @ 70 and you see the 50 flick up on the next one. Ruins the next fortnight for you.

[Ex contributorParticipant @mgnbuk]

It's worse when you get close to a blank gantry @ 70 and you see the 50 flick up on the next one. Ruins the next fortnight for you.

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere (Highways Agency website maybe) that there is a 30 second delay between the speed limit on the gantry changing & the speed camera working at the lower speed. Not brave enough to find a definative answer to that in practice though !

Nigel B.

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Leaving Liverpool on the m62 the last speed sign you see is 40 mph. There are street lights for several miles. I've not measured, but I wouldn't be surprised if they are less than 200m apart. Arguable whether the limit is 30 or 40. Same with temporary restrictions on the motorway, often no deristricted sign at the end

As for signs being covered by foliage, if the last sign you saw was say 60,how are you supposed to know it's dropped to 50?

A particular bone of contention is one near here where you turn off a 40mph dual carriageway onto a single carriageway. If you are concentrating on the road, the 30 sign will not be in your field of view. There has been a campaign to have the sign moved to the next lamp post so you will see it, but the local council are never wrong, so nothing happens.

Edited By duncan webster on 06/01/2022 16:05:37

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Posted by Circlip on 06/01/2022 11:15:55:

Cash cow speed camera that zapped me at the bottom of the M606 at 3am one Sunday morning led to a speed awareness course. Checked later, warning sign nicely obscured by excessive foliage. Seems to be one of the best "Earners" in West Yorkshire, last chance leaving Bradford to join M62 westbound. Strangely enough none on same junction leaving M62 to join M606.

Hopes of camera not containing film? Many are fitted with a hard drive which can be downloaded via wi-fi.

Agree with Paul, if you din't speed you won't get caught.

Regards Ian.

Edited By Circlip on 06/01/2022 11:18:01

Hi, if you speed you'll feed, if you don't want to feed, don't speed.

Regards Nick.

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