Average Speed Camera Clarification?

[OzyOly]

Hi lads,

After a recent speed camera scare (may still have something in the post), I was wondering what is the current practice regarding average speed cameras and possibly speeds camera on the motorway in general.

For example, everyone is doing 60mph or more on the motorway near leeds, but there are average speed cameras on the bridges every so often and people slow down for them I've noticed.

My question is, if there is a temporary limit due to for example, spray, do the speed camera make this their new speed limit?

The reason I ask is that I was traveling on the motorway and there was an imposed limit of 30mph because of spray, but the road in front of me was clear (left lane) and I had a line of traffic following me behind me. The lorry was bashing his horn in rage and flashing his lights so I sped up to 50 (the limit imposed by road works for that stretch of road) and went past an average speed camera.
Is it likely that the camera would pick that up or are they all set at the max speed limit of the particular road. More simply put, do speed cameras adjust their activation speed depending on temp speed limits?

Thanks.

 

[OzyOly]

If the ones on the gantry say 30 that's what they are set to, however the yellow average speed ones are still 50.

Ah, in that case I may have another fine coming my way. Blooming heck, I wasn't taught any of this on my driving test all those years ago.

 

[OzyOly]

average speed cameras are generally not on bridges, average one ate on posts, the ones on bridges are for use with variable limits and are instant rather than average

God knows what kind of fines are going my way then. Two weeks till in the clear right?

Edit - I think I will definitely have one from the M62. I was only keeping up with traffic, but that was over 50 for certain parts. Next time I'm sticking to the left lane on the speed limit and truck drivers and other cars can **** off.

 

[OzyOly]

You are laying some of it on the driving instructor by not telling you about speed cameras? They are there to teach you how to drive, that is all.

Oh not for the speeding its self but the confusion about tempory speed limits on those signs on the side of roads (the light up ones). I always thought they were suggestions as I was the only one that usually sticks to them even when the road is clear in front of me. It's looking like they are actually strict speed limits and everyone speeds.

 

[OzyOly]

With this 30 limit that was due to spray, what kind of signage was there? If it was just the colourless matrix boards, then it's a suggestion IIRC. If the signs were white or black text encircled in a red ring, then it's an enforceable limit.

It was coloured I think, I can't remember now...

I'm just going to have to hope I only got one ticket last Wednesday and that I can do the awareness course (which I actually need). I've had a clean license since 2007, it'll be a shame to lose it.

 

[OzyOly]

IIRC the Managed Motorway variable speed limits range from 70 -> 40 in 10MPH increments, I've never seen the signs set to anything less than 40 on M25/M1/M6 sections which uses the same technology.

As others have said, if the limit is white text, black background, red circle it's the Managed Motorway variable limit, if it's just the normal white/yellow/orange text it's just the matrix signs which is advisory.

Ultimately, you control the speed of your vehicle, not the person behind you.

I'm not going to pay attention to the angry motorists behind me again. I'm going to stick to the limits religiously from now on.
I hate this 14 day wait by post though, I would have thought it would be all computerised and instant these days.

 

[OzyOly]

As already mentioned, the red ring is the key - no red ring = not an enforced speed limit, only an advisory limit.

Thanks, this is something I didn't know until this thread. At least I wont be speeding again.

 

[OzyOly]

Yes you will.

I never speed in residential areas and I only go over 70 on the motorway when I'm having to overtake in a short time (such as having to get to a specific lane).
These average speed cameras have just thrown me, I'm going to be super careful in future.

It's been 13 days since the incident and I've not had anything in the post yet *touch wood*, I'll leave it until Monday before giving a sigh of relief though.

Can anyone go on these speed awareness courses or is it just those that are sent to them by the police? I wouldn't mind going on it just so I'm clear about all the different speed limits from different signs on the motorway.

 

[OzyOly]

I'm a bit worried myself, there is a bit on the A13 coming into Dagenham area that is really confusing, it goes from 50 to 40 and suddenly back to 50 and there are two sets of Specs around 100 yards apart, I actually didn't realise one section was 40 and I did 50 all the way across until it came to the Specs camera and had a sign saying 40 and then right after the first set of Specs there is a sign saying 50 and 2nd set of Specs, confused the hell out of me and now am worried I might have got done going at 50.

14 days plus postage delays until you find out...

 

[OzyOly]

Well over 2 weeks and I didn't get anything through the post. I imagine I would have probably been really doing few mph's below what the speedo reads.

I also didn't get anything thankfully. The M62 is now much clearer, gone are the temporary signs and the overhead signs are lit all the time to remind you of the current speed limit.