Speed Camera use Changes

[SPAXIMUS]

Just had an article sent which will be of interest to most of us. The police in Avon and Somerset have now started to use the gantry cameras on the M4 and M5 managed bit to enforce the 70mph limit. This means that not content with using us for a cash cow with conventional means on dangerous roads, they now see even more opportunities. The Chief Constable and PCC of A&S are rabid in their use of cameras as they make money for the force and the councils when we get caught. In truth they want us to go on Speed Awareness courses as fines go to the government whereas the money from the SAC is split.
I wrote to the PCC who gave me a breakdown of how the money gets split.

Jeff

New developments in the use of speed camera technology
The Times has reported that drivers who exceed the 70 mph limit on stretches of motorway are being routinely targeted by speed cameras for the first time.

The move means any driver who travels considerably faster than the national limit — defined as 10% plus 2 mph above the limit — will receive a fixed penalty
notice.

Up to now, motorway cameras have been used primarily on stretches undergoing roadworks, or to enforce variable speed limits on stretches of managed motorway, where they have only been switched on when the limit has been reduced to 60 mph or below.

The announcement comes after the recent news that the number of deaths on Britain's motorways increased by 14% last year.

The crackdown, which is being led by Avon and Somerset police, began enforcing the 70 mph limit on June 27, using speed cameras mounted on gantries over stretches of managed motorway along the M4 and M5.


A gantry mounted HADECS3 camera


549 drivers travelling at 79 mph were caught within two weeks. These drivers were subsequently issued with fixed penalty notices or a court summons.

'We have looked into the value of speed cameras and come to the conclusion that they encourage most drivers to comply with the national speed limits. It
makes total sense from a road safety point of view to enforce the speed limits on this managed section — whatever limits are in force at the time,' said
Temporary Chief Superintendent Ian Smith.

Other forces are preparing to use a new generation of speed camera, called Hadecs3 (Highways Agency digital enforcement camera system). These are not
installed on gantries but mounted discreetly on poles at the roadside. They are painted grey and require no white lines on the road to verify their speed
readings, which makes them more difficult to spot than current systems.

The cameras have already been installed on the M25 between junctions 5 and 7 and are being tested by Kent police before they are used to enforce the speed
limit.

['Mendip Wurzel']

Very interesting, but also depressing.

I didn't realise about the 79 mph thing, that means I can go a lot faster as I've been sticking to 70 mph in the controlled zones. Also interesting about the Hadecs3 stuff.

Thanks

[mittaw]

FYI an initiative around here will be rolled out nationally soon where local residents can set up speed camera traps using the police hand cameras. While you don't get fined you will get a letter from the police and 3 letters you'll get a visit from the police.  Not sure what happens after that.  Probably a copper with a speed gun next time.

Oh rise the neighbourhood watch speed camera sub committe

[SPAXIMUS]

The community speed watch groups are given the cameras to use after they have lobbied to get one. The police are happy to give them out as it shuts them up without them having to do anything.
We have them in Chipping Sodbury on St Johns way, they wave them around and they take your number. What happens then is you get a letter from the police telling you they have spotted you speeding and the police then say that if you are caught again they could take action. However they cannot as these people have no authority so ignore the letter. There have allegedly been cases where neighbour disputes have seen people being reported when they were not even there.

The problem now is so many roads have got reduced limits to ones where people do not respect them as they are clearly wrong. People who have bought homes next to busy roads don't like any car driving past so lobby for restrictions that the police cannot police and then they get an old camera given.

It is usually retired people who man these, the same people who will speed in other peoples area but want their road restricted. It is always interesting when they hear the Westfield and how disappointed they are when I am not speeding.

What I hate about this is in Communist East Germany the Stasi had neighbours watching neighbour and reporting for anything that was seen as not normal. When the forces of law and order start getting people to spy on people it is a slippery slope.

[Iancider]

Another good reason to stay off motorways!

It would be interesting if the could set one up in the M5 Junction 18/19 at about 17:30 and set it to 10 mph - I am not sure they would catch many!