Beware overhead active traffic mgt speed limits

I suppose we are now getting to a time where it is feasible/cost effective to monitor roads electronically for speed limits, a cash cow really but when all is said and done they only catch people who are over the limit... don't get me wrong it frustrates the hell out of me as I have recently been subject to a FPN myself but it was my car, with me in it and it was going faster than the applied limit on that stretch of road!



I spoke with an officer whilst viewing the footage of the alleged fine and he offered some advise, If I wanted to challenge the FPN I had to decline the standard offer of a fine and points, at this point I may be given a second chance offer, should I refuse this offer and go to court and be found guilty of the speeding offence is then classed as a criminal charge which sits on my record! I had no reason to believe the individual was scaremongering about the criminal record but it does put things in to perspective. 3 points and a fine is relative short term pain in comparison to a criminal record.
i know, that was me in my car. But, why the heck 60 on calm Sunday? If they would get me intentionally doing 80 in 70 area i wouldn't complain, that would be offence and there must be prosecution for it. But in this case i see i was not offended, but made mistake, human error.
 
It's frustrating when there's no apparent need for a reduced limit. But, it's the limit. Applies to everyone.
Just shows that a moments inattention can do. We've all suffered it but most have got away without any sanctions.
About time some effort was put into catching and prosecuting the real threat on our roads - those using mobile phones, especially texting and using fb etc. Have the car impounded for 48 hours would be far more effective than points. 2nd offence 7 days etc. Then charge for the recovery and storage even if they don't collect the car afterwards. The roads would be much quieter very quickly.
A few days ago while I was walking the dog I counted six drivers out of fifteen or so in 100m in a queue of slowing moving traffic (10-20mph). Not one was looking in front but down at their lap. You see worse on motorways.
 
It's frustrating when there's no apparent need for a reduced limit. But, it's the limit. Applies to everyone.
Just shows that a moments inattention can do. We've all suffered it but most have got away without any sanctions.
About time some effort was put into catching and prosecuting the real threat on our roads - those using mobile phones, especially texting and using fb etc. Have the car impounded for 48 hours would be far more effective than points. 2nd offence 7 days etc. Then charge for the recovery and storage even if they don't collect the car afterwards. The roads would be much quieter very quickly.
A few days ago while I was walking the dog I counted six drivers out of fifteen or so in 100m in a queue of slowing moving traffic (10-20mph). Not one was looking in front but down at their lap. You see worse on motorways.

no doubt rules are rules. But as said, where the point to impose 60 on clear calm sunday? To me it looks like cash generation. I can't remember i ever overtake anyone this day, it was calm trip, surely many more drivers got those letters today. I was going at the speed of the rest traffic, so apparently this ficked cam has had good harvest at that sunday!
 
just got FPN letter for £100 and 3 point for driving 70 on m5 j15-16 while overhead 60 illuminated.
If this is the first letter then it is the start of the process as at this point the Police do not know who was driving the car. It has been sent. to you as you are the Registered Keeper. Therefore the important bit is the S.172 on the back of the letter that requires you to identify the driver, this MUST be returned within the stated time limit (IIRC 28 days) otherwise an offence has been committed for which the penalty is 6 points and a £200 fine.

After returning the S.172 you will get the actual FPN and it is at this point that a Speed Awareness Course is usually offered.

It is very rare for the variable speed limit signs to be manually activated as the system is automatic and I would guess that on a Sunday afternoon there was a lot of traffic moving slowing through Almondsbury and that was detected by the buried loops and a lower speed limit set.

Just a few other points:
1) the Overhead Lane cameras can detect speeds up to 200mph as they are just ordinary speed cameras so they can detect speeds over 70mph but the "evidence" cannot be used to prosecute. The SI (Statutory Instrument) that amends the Road Traffic Act refers to "exceeding the speed displayed" so they can only enforce a lower limit as displayed by the signs.

2) HADECS3 cameras usually mounted on the nearside leg of the gantry are being used to enforce the 70 limit when no lower limit is displayed. It appears from anecdotal evidence and discussions on Pistonheads and other places that these are set at 85mph
 
If this is the first letter then it is the start of the process as at this point the Police do not know who was driving the car. It has been sent. to you as you are the Registered Keeper. Therefore the important bit is the S.172 on the back of the letter that requires you to identify the driver, this MUST be returned within the stated time limit (IIRC 28 days) otherwise an offence has been committed for which the penalty is 6 points and a £200 fine.

After returning the S.172 you will get the actual FPN and it is at this point that a Speed Awareness Course is usually offered.

It is very rare for the variable speed limit signs to be manually activated as the system is automatic and I would guess that on a Sunday afternoon there was a lot of traffic moving slowing through Almondsbury and that was detected by the buried loops and a lower speed limit set.

Just a few other points:
1) the Overhead Lane cameras can detect speeds up to 200mph as they are just ordinary speed cameras so they can detect speeds over 70mph but the "evidence" cannot be used to prosecute. The SI (Statutory Instrument) that amends the Road Traffic Act refers to "exceeding the speed displayed" so they can only enforce a lower limit as displayed by the signs.

2) HADECS3 cameras usually mounted on the nearside leg of the gantry are being used to enforce the 70 limit when no lower limit is displayed. It appears from anecdotal evidence and discussions on Pistonheads and other places that these are set at 85mph

Thanks mate, I've re-read the paperwork they sent me and it seems I may qualify for speed awareness course!
 
HADECS3 cameras usually mounted on the nearside leg of the gantry are being used to enforce the 70 limit when no lower limit is displayed. It appears from anecdotal evidence and discussions on Pistonheads and other places that these are set at 85mph

It must be set to 85, I am often driving on M6 where these are installed, and usually I do 70+, but less than 80 for sure. Same time many drivers overtake me, so I would assume cams not catching them! If they would react for 75 i'd have a full letterbox of this crap letters!
 
The M42 at Birmingham is invariably set to 60 max irrespective of the amount of traffic. The time difference of 70 over 60 over the stretch is maybe 2 minutes. Really not worth getting frustrated over it.
At 85+ where there are cameras you should expect a ticket. Everyone knows the limit is 70. 80 is tolerated in most places but I suspect some forces are less tolerant.
On the overheads they should in some way show where the limit has changed. That way it would be easier to spot and your able to concentrate fully on the road in front not having to look at every gantry and less likely to inadvertently keep a higher speed. In some places there a gantries every 1/2 mile or less.
 
There is nothing more frustrating than when a temporary speed limit is displayed and then there is no obvious reason why. We all have temporary lapses of concentration and these days l reckon you must be very lucky to go through your whole driving career without getting a ticket at some point. These days if theres a temp speed limit or average speed check l just whack the cruise control on then grin and bear it..
 
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There is nothing more frustrating than when a temporary speed limit is displayed and then there is no obvious reason why. We all have temporary lapses of concentration and these days l reckon you must be very lucky to go through your whole driving career without getting a ticket at some point. These days if theres a temp speed limit or average speed check l just whack the cruise control on then grin and bear it..

I tend to obey these limits too, but in this case I can't really recall, the environment on the road did not suggested limit is set, and I missed overhead sign perhaps chatting with my miss
 
i drive carefully but i would be lying to say i never wander over these limits, we all would be lying, often look at speedo in say a 40 to see the clock at 45, maybe i have just been lucky (i spend many years on bikes too)
 
Have driven over 1m miles and not had a ticket. I know the day will come and it will be down to a lapse in concentration.

I really would like the police to catch some of the procession of people doing upwards of 70 in a 30 limit by us between 6:30 and 8am though. The police come along at 11am and plonk a van in plain sight and wonder why they don't catch anyone. They'd need a complete sting operation at both ends of the road either side a bend and they'd have a field day. Of course they don't have the resources. It will take yet more serious injury and deaths before something happens.
 
unfortunately a speeding ticket is just a snap shot in time, and is not representative to your average driving, maybe we all need aviva type apps, have a device fitted to your car that can measure driving styles and give you a score. then maybe a breakdown of where points were picked up and how to get them down, this could be something that insurance could be based on. Then maybe it would be possible to use the records to barter a lesser sentence on speeding tickets. just a thought.
 
unfortunately a speeding ticket is just a snap shot in time, and is not representative to your average driving, maybe we all need aviva type apps, have a device fitted to your car that can measure driving styles and give you a score. then maybe a breakdown of where points were picked up and how to get them down, this could be something that insurance could be based on. Then maybe it would be possible to use the records to barter a lesser sentence on speeding tickets. just a thought.

Nice idea but it's just data with no context. I know what your saying but without video you only have part of the story.
The gps in phones (and telematics systems) is good enough to tell you what's happening only over a 4-5 second window. They're quite easily confused and report incorrect instantaneous data. I wouldn't trust my insurance to that. They (insurance companies) read the data as an instance rather than a smoothed average which is what they're really telling you. So you can see gentle acceleration as you planting your foot and gentle braking as a hard stop. They can over report your speed quite easily especially in urban and built up areas. People trust their gps too much where speed is concerned. The technology is good enough for limited conclusions in my opinion.
 
I drive up the M1 Junction 26 to Leeds Junction 41 nearly every day. I drive at around 82mph which registers 77mph on my satnav and i do 55mph car speedo 50mph on satnav in the roadworks and have never been done for speeding. When the gantry flashes 60 you can get away with doing 65 on speedo
I go by my satnav and have kept my liceince clean for the last 10 years.
If you have been done for doing 70mph you must of been doing a minimum of 76mph on your speedo reading.
A speed radar wont help you for the gantry variable speed cameras as it wont be able to tell what speed has been put up.
When the gantry variable speed ones are not lit then you are safe upto around 90mph
 
otherwise an offence has been committed for which the penalty is 6 points and a £200 fine

....carries a fine of up to £ 1000 and 6 penalty points.

I know as i have the letter in front of me.

B*gger 38 mph again. That's twice now this year. 38 years on the road and no problem, now twice !

Note to self, must add No. 38 to my lottery numbers.
 
maybe we all need aviva type apps, have a device fitted to your car that can measure driving styles and give you a score. then maybe a breakdown of where points were picked up and how to get them down

OMG.. if that ever becomes compulsory l shall sell the Z for sure!!!
 
OMG.. if that ever becomes compulsory l shall sell the Z for sure!!!
not compulsory, just optional to allow for some bartering on both insurance and road offences:) this idea is to get around the daft speed cam as it only takes into account that exact moment in time, you may drive safely for 99.999% of the time but on that 0.001% there just happened to be a cam.
 
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