Problem with variable speed limit cameras

leaskovski said:
In the daily mail this morning (no i didnt buy it) there was an aritcle about how the variable speed cameras don't work if you change lane between cameras :D

Good technology eh!?

Even the police made a statement about it!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=410539&in_page_id=1770
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I have known about this for the last 2 years. My uncle is pretty high up in one of the largest Road engineering companies in Scotland told me about this.
 
thats a pretty damn amazing oversite by the government, as its not a technology limit, rather a rule set by the government. Nice one, and the joys of it being published in the mass media means that numpteys can happily speed through roadworks as long as they change lanes between each camera, great, cheers for that daily mail!

I guess the limiting factor will be knowing which two cameras are linked, as you could in theory have overlapping cameras.....
 
Ok, the title misled me, I should have read it more closely.

These cameras are not variable speed limit cameras, like on the M25 M4-A3 stretch, but actually SPECs which are not variable limit.
 
A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: 'The manufacturers applied for the camera to be type-approved to measure one lane only. It has been type-approved for this use - this can be either the lane under the camera or a lane to either side of it.'
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So you may get done if you go through the first in the middle lane then switch to either of the other two lanes, but not if you went past camera 1 on the inside lane then switched to the outside lane for camera 2...

Now that this is public, I foresee a lot of swerving taking place as people try to take advantage of this.

Motoring groups say police are putting too much reliance on cash-raising speed cameras which can fine a driver a few miles above the speed limit - but are unable to spot a dangerous, drunk, uninsured, or untaxed driver in an unroadworthy or stolen vehicle who is driving under the speed limit.
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When are the government going to take heed of what everyone is telling them?
 
wizardmaxx said:
Same applies to laser iirc. If you dont keep still they cant accurately measure your speed.
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They only need you to be still for 0.3 of a second. With even a dual carridgeway, you don't have much room to swerve around in and also with the distances they laze you at, you've got no chance of avoiding a shot.
 
A week later Daily Mail will publish article how SPECs circumvention was patched months ago and how tens of thousands motorists helped to fund sponsor £100,000 per location cost by doing stupid lane hopping in front of cameras for the whole week and still getting fined.

You know it's going to happen.
 
Lowe said:
They only need you to be still for 0.3 of a second. With even a dual carridgeway, you don't have much room to swerve around in and also with the distances they laze you at, you've got no chance of avoiding a shot.
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You'd also probably get arrested for driving without due care and attention instead ;)

SPECS don't really bother me much I have to say. Certainly less so on the bike - but even then I don't take the mickey. I'm not going to put my licence to the test though to check out the theory :p
 
pinkaardvark said:
So they can't get you unless your parked then, or do ya mean you just fidget around on your seat when you see one :)
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This is just as bad as the fact you can drive past a Gatso at 100mph in the opposite direction, causing it to flash and still not get prosecuted.

The problem is that loopholes cause complacency and one day you will get caught, ending up in court like me :(
 
laissez-faire said:
This is just as bad as the fact you can drive past a Gatso at 100mph in the opposite direction, causing it to flash and still not get prosecuted.

The problem is that loopholes cause complacency and one day you will get caught, ending up in court like me :(
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You can drive through a gatso in either direction and there isnt a lot they can do to prosecute you. The law is so full of holes that they simply rely on ignorance from the motorist and scare tactics to enforce the fines.
 
So, this appears as much of the publicised legistlation - both recent and otherwise - in this country: all talk and no teeth (when examined, anyway).

It is a shame that so much money is thrown at solutions that will intimidate the majority and exploited by the few. Those who would adhere to the law regardless will be the only ones to suffer here (even in my Polo TDi, it's easy to creep above a 40mph speed limit without noticing), whereas those determined to get away with it will drive dangerously to avoid being caught.

It comes down to that old adage (badly misquoted) about those who would obey the law do not need it and those who need the law will get around it.
 
Agreed. Probably one of the few times that cruise control is clearly of benefit, though I do probably use mine more often than average on motorways.
 
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