According to this link I've just received a number of motorways now have speed cameras that monitor the variable speed sections. It also says that they are being used to catch drivers who are driving over 70mph (despite the Police reckoning 79 would be a fairer speed) I've seen these in operation on the M25 between the M23 and the M20 but didn't realise they were being used outside of the times when the variable limits are in force.. Has anyone any experience of them? I'm not exactly the fastest rider but even I would struggle to keep to 70 when the traffic is light.
Have to say I always thought that up to 10% over the police we not interested. Will have to see if these cameras are a money making exercise or are set to catch the proper idiots.
It's a pity they don't invest as much time and money trying to eradicate poor driving.Lane hogging,driving to close,pulling across 3 lanes of traffic to exit a motorway,people who don't indicate properly or don't bother at all on roundabout's,poor lane discipline at junctions.These probably contribute as much if not more to accidents than speeding. But of course they are also harder to police,bang a camera up,5 mph over,thank you very much sir for your contribution
I agree with all of you. According to the article motorways are the safest roads anyway. I don't really see speed being a factor so much as poor driving (as roadrider says). Money making I reckon. Thing is that who's actually making this money and where is it going? There's a certain lack of transparency here. It's not as if the chief constables are trousering it........ is it? Still, looks like I have to be extra careful in those variable speed sections. And talking of money. Brighton council made 18 million last year from parking fines. That money is supposed to be part of an infrastructure budget to support transport. The parking meters outside my house won't accept coins because the council is not maintaining them to save money! That means using your phone (if you have one) to pay for parking by credit card (which you are also charged 15p for using).
I've seen one flash in the new variable section of the M5 around Bristol when there wasn't a variable limit in force.
Motorways around the world are statistically safer - ie less serious or mortal accidents - than their single carriageway cousins and yet we still see more and more automated cash machines ooops! sorry speed cameras. There was something on French telly last night where they were trying to prove that reducing the national A road speed from 90kph to 80 will save 400 lives per annum. Only if people stop crashing into each other! Only if people start to realise they are in a "loaded gun waiting to go off" unless they concentrate more. Only if they stop using their mobile phones whilst driving. Over here it will soon be illegal to have your phone switched on, whilst driving your car. Using a blue tooth hands free does not stop your attention being taken away whilst driving and chatting. You see it all the time here, driving one handed no hands on the wheel because they've only got one hand free and that one is currently changing gear/changing radio channels etc etc etc and if you have the temerity to observe to them their lack of attention - let alone the illegality of it - what a mouthful of filth you get! The road death rates on French roads are starting to climb again just as mobile phone sales top out - odd that isn't it? Right I'm climbing down from my high horse............................................ Dave
I must admit that I don't find speed cameras a problem. I concentrate and stick to the posted limits wether mobile or fixed. I try to keep off the motorways as much as possible. They may be the safest roads but they are so boring.
Hi PJT, I don't find the cameras a problem either as I've reached the age where outright speed is not my main buzz, but I do dislike intensely when politicians or figures of authority try to bullshit me. It's as if they believe we are all stupid and will swallow whatever guff they decide to deliver, in order to follow their own personal agendas. I find it insulting that they think I will accept their version of the 'truth' without reflection and evaluation. My bullshit filters are set to MAX !
According to some Government or Police statistics on the cause of accidents I once read, it concluded that excessive speed was ony a factor in 4% of accidents and that speed was a contributory factor in a further 11%. Even with my limited maths capability, that means that 85% of accidents are caused by something else. Speed cameras save lives? I don't think so - well perhaps only 15% of those that could be saved.
And during the fortnight before 28th January 28,000 people died of Flu in the UK. So much for road deaths. Just a revenue making exersise
The biglad is right. Most speed cameras are simply revenue collecting devices. The garbage that politicians spout about safety just doesn't fit. The motorist/motorcyclist are just easy targets. I stick to below the speed limits so that I don't feed the coffers out of my precious pension.
