Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Just curious really. I drive through loads of these types of cameras every day and the traffic is getting quicker and quicker, i can sit at 53mph in a 50 limit and vehicles come past me, easily doing 55+. Most cameras are in motorway roadworks and i was wondering if they are actally connected up to a 'system', I'm not sure how they would connect but it would seem to me that it would take quite a bit of time and money, as opposed to a van or mobile gatso.


SPECS speed cameras explained, UK SPECS traffic cameras

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

There are lots of ways to try and avoid specs cameras, some have really worked in the past, but you could be up **** creek if the rules change on you and you don't know.

As for the speed people come past, you may well find that they are using their satnav to work out their real average speed. Most speedos under read, in my scooby 55 is actually 51. So if you think that they have set the ticket threshold to 55 then you can actually drive at an indicated 59 and be in the clear.

They are of course other tricks, such as lane changing. The cameras are not yet mean to be type approved to catch any one who changes lanes between the pairs. You must change lanes each time you pass a camera though, miss one and your stuffed. Just as if the rules change

Also, there is the tailgating option. See a camera coming up in front and find an artic to follow so that there is no chance of it seeing your plate.

Both of the above tactics have been reported to work, but I'm not going to suggest you try them yourself.

Oh and of course for the real speeders who you see blast through specs systems at 100mph+, yes really! What you need for that are diplomatic plates

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Its because you typical car speedo under reads by 3 to 4mph and in addition the cameras have a error margin to take into account any poor sod who has an overreading speedometer (very rare - 99% under read).


As such, I pick and follow a suitable (British registered) HGV. They have properly calibrated speedometers, so what reads at 50mph (actually 80km/h) in their cab could be showing just under 54mph in your car. Add the error margin, so in your car it could be showing 56mph yet not be going fast enough to get done for speeding

I've not been done for speeding (yet), despite having the cruise control set at 55mph on empty Spec infected motorways where the roadside workers are seemingly on permanent coffee breaks.

cster

In answer to your question - I have never heard of anybody being done by a Specs camera.
And I am of a curious disposition on such matters

room 512

I know people have been done by the specs on the Stocksbridge By-pass north of Sheffield as a bloke contested his ticket on there a while back and won his case due to the signage being wrong. That's been changed now.

As for on the motorway, I drive through the ones on the M1 every week and its not drivers just doing 55 cos their sat nav tells them its 50, loads go through at easily 70+ They should publish figures like they used to do when they only had Gatso's on them and would complain that the film kept running out!

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Thanx for the replys guys.



Ali-B, not strictly correct, i drive a HGV all week hence why i see so many Specs.The speedos are not spot on, they are as a car. I show 84km/h on my speedo when my satnav shows 50mph (flat out 90km/h reads 57mph). But you do right to tag a HGV as no driver in his right mind will want any points

Phantom_Flan_Flinger

When the SPECS were first put up for the M1 J6-10 widening a few years back, there was an article in our local paper saying around 70 cars/hour were getting caught.

Dave.

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

Me neither. I've heard that it's all a hoax ie they don't work ... fear is the only thing that stops me blasting past them

TX.

Leslie

It is true that it is less likely that you will maintain an average speed above the limit then to get caught by a single speedcam, unless you are travelling at a pretty high speed above the limit.

Les

cster

The other day, I saw a speed camera van on the side of the A127 in a 70 mph specs zone

GC8

If youve ever taken a vehicle to have its tachograph calibrated then youll know that theyre not 'as a a car'. The tech will place a reflective sticker onto the vehicles wheel and then set the roller at 90kph; adjusting the speedometer readout as required. Every HGV that Ive compared to a GPS has been spot-on to the mile per hour.

Simon

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Just realised I mixed up under -read with over-read . But you get my drift

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Taken a few for test and calibration mate, the only thing i've seen them do is to remove the seal from the tacho head and insert a probe which is connected to some sort of meter

Every truck i have every driven has read under compared to the satnav as do all my mates trucks. The last DAF 105 i had read 90km/h on the speedo and the tacho head but showed 58/9mph on satnav depending on tyre wear

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Yeah, knew where you where coming from mate

sparkykev

My boss was caught in the M1 roadworks J25-28 earlier this year.
When i was going through them last week, I was passed by someone going 70 plus (its a 50 limit) but maybe they were going to get off at the next juntion, and knew there were no more cameras.

dunx

iTrader: (3)

I blitzed on on the M62 as above, then left at the next exit, those around me probably thought I was mad....

Those who know me, know it's true.

dunx

Mog

Just how reliable is sat nav as a true source of speed then ??????

Mog

thesyn

If it is receiving land speed information via GPS it is as accurate as that used by police.

what would scooby do

100 through M1 specs J28 several times - no tickets

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

......But loads of dead road workers "Loved Ones At Work" campaign

SVXNUT

Never any roadworkers doing any work.

Timwinner

iTrader: (3)

I did some work for a company in Camberley that make specs, A lot of them are live, some are not.
A lot of the time the fake ones dont have a junction box at the bottom for wires, but dont count on that as absolute proof there not real.
The thing to do is check that a temp speed limit has been applied for on that stretch of road. If it has chances are they cameras are live, They turn over far more than a static camera so it would be pointless not to have them live.

If the temp limit has not been approved any ticket is void anyways.

GC8

I cant do much more than acknowledge what you say. If thats your experience then thats how youll see it: Im not going to argue that my experience is of any greater worth than yours.

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Your going soft in your old age Simon

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

Thanx Tim, how can you check if the temp limit has been approved


Likewise fella, all views and experiences are valid and taken on board

And you can get back in ya booth and stop stirring it too

MJW

The SPECS cameras on the M1 have saved me a fortune in petrol money, just slow down (I usually go through them at a speedo indicated 55) and reap the rewards !!

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

Your lucky, 3 years ago, Simon would have had you arguing until 4am

Glowplug

iTrader: (8)

3 years ago i would of just been gettin in at 4am

Timwinner

iTrader: (3)

[QUOTE=b13bat;9002519]Thanx Tim, how can you check if the temp limit has been approved

Your local highway authority will have had to approve the speed change, You can request this information from them, Most the time it will be in the local press in some small print in the middle lost between adverts.

GC8

Three years ago Id have been getting up for a shower before going to the quarry...