Scrappydoo2003

This may be of interest to some of you, especially if you're coming down in November..

Message from one of our clients and worth taking a look at:
>
> You may remember the message to us of a few months ago
>regarding speed cameras on the M4. This was emphatically denied
>shortly afterwards by the Chief Constable of south Wales when it was
>stated that there was no truth in the rumor and that it was just an
>elaborate hoax with absolutely no base in fact. (Shortly afterwards
>this scheme, measuring average speeds over known distances, was
>introduced between Bristol and Newport - just outside the South Wales
>police area.)
>
>New sensor grids are being installed into the surface of the M4,
>particularly on the stretch of the M4 to the north and west of Cardiff.
>After checking with a totally
>reliable source we have had it confirmed that these are indeed speed
>sensors,and that they are being linked to cameras in new matrix signs
>currently
>being installed. These matrix signs will be linked to a new high-tech
>control
>centre currently being built in the middle of the large junction 32 of
>the motorway (north Cardiff).
>
>These new matrix signs currently have yellow signs at their base
>saying "New sign not yet in use". When these "Not in use" signs are
>removed the cameras will be immediately operational. There appear to
>be no announcements planned to tell motorists in advance of their
>presence, and the first most motorists who exceed the speed limit
>through the measured sections of the motorway will know of the
>existence of the cameras is the letter with the penalty dropping
>through their letter box.
>
>The system is currently being installed between Cardiff and Bridgend and
>we have noticed that most of the sensors appear to have already been
>installed on this stretch. All that is needed is the cameras, and we don't
>know whether these will be installed (or, indeed, already have been)
>in new signs or into existing ones. Either way, beware!
>
>For those not using the Cardiff to Bridgend section I'm afraid
>that you don't escape. The plan is to extend this scheme along the
>entire length of the M4 in south Wales in stages. Judging by the
>length of motorway covered by the current stage, Bridgend to Swansea could
>well be next.
>We've already noticed sensors in the road surface through the 50 MPH
>stretch in Port Talbot and a couple this side of it, so I suspect that
>it won't be long before the full scheme is implemented.
>
>Be warned!!
>
>

V-techland

Oh Foookin hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There will be no point in performance motors at all in the near future - unless you own an airfield

marklemac

anybody got a picture of what these sensors look like ?

IWantaScoobyNow

going to be fun on the way to the rally then. surely that is going to be hard to enforce as they are supposed to warn you that you are entering a speed camera zone arent they?.

MattW

Or then again.......could be speed flow measurements for traffic management

greasemonkey

Jesus, not more bl**dy SIAL scaremongering...

Scrappy, I know your intentions are worthy, but spreading this rubbish again doesn't really help anyone.

These matrix boards do not contain speed enforcement devices, and the various stories that say they do are full of demonstrable inaccuracies. There may be some traffic flow monitoring kit on them, yes. Speed enforcement, no.

MBScooby

It is possible for matrix signs to have speed cameras fitted to the back of them if the sign is mounted over individual lanes of the motorway! The matrix sign must have a red ring around it, to make it an enforceable speed limit.

Detectors cut into the road surface are likely to be traffic counting loops for surveys or speed sensing loops to activate signs to tell you to slow down or warn of queueing traffic

[Edited by MBScooby - 9/30/2003 7:14:54 PM]

Scrappydoo2003

Ok guys and gals, if it's bullsh*t then I apologise, but if it's not then I don't anyone to say ' told you so'...