BEWARE...New digital speed cameras on M4
 

Bugga!!!



It is likely to be set at 78mph real road speed! No human intervention is required in issuing speeding tickets, so very large numbers can be issued automatically.


PS. The cameras are mounted on the overhead information signs, (pairs of tiny cameras). They DO NOT FLASH, so you won't know you are likely to 'cop' a ticket at the time.

Info from the internet follows.

SPECS -speed enforcement system
The digital speed camera developed by Speed Check Services Ltd (SPECS) obtained Home Office type approval in 2000. The camera is a major technological development over previous speed cameras and has proved successful in improving road safety and reducing casualties. SPECS cameras work in pairs and calculate the average speed of a car over a length that can be between 250m and 10km.
What is SPECS?
It is the only approved automatic digital speed enforcement using average speed measurement in the UK. The system is deterrent based with the ultimate deterrent being enforcement.

Is there any similar technology currently in operation?
No. SPECS is a unique product.

Although conventional automatic speed enforcement systems are in operation, none currently can enforce speeds over a distance - except SPECS.

How does it work?
SPECS works using automatic average speed digital technology. A pair of cameras creates a speed controlled zone and groups of cameras can be linked to create a speed controlled network. As vehicles pass between the cameras pairs they are digitally recorded. The time it takes for the vehicle to travel between both points is used to calculate the average speed.

If the vehicle speed is above a speed threshold, a speeding violation record is automatically generated. This includes images of the registration plate, a colour image of the vehicle and text data including the time, date, location and average speed travelling between both locations.

Violation records are stored on large storage capacity discs. This system functions 24 hours a day and can be interfaced with existing ticket processing systems.

How will motorists know what to look out for?

Motorists will need to look out for cameras erected on tall blue-coloured distinctive columns in the verge and central reservation. The cameras do not flash and all the data is digitally stored so that there is no need for film. Speed Camera Signs will be erected explaining to motorists that speed enforcement will be taking place.

What is SPECS and SVDD?
SPECS is the brand name for the system.
This stands for SPEed Check enforcement System.

SVDD stands for Speed Violation Detection Deterrent. It is the name given to the unique technology the SPECS system is based upon which has gained Home Office Type Approval (HOTA).

What is Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) testing and why is it significant?
Home Office Approval testing is in place to ensure that equipment meets the highest standards and any information provided from HOTA approved equipment can be considered as providing admissible evidence in UK courts.

ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) approved of the system and supported its application for Home Office Type Approval. Two Police Forces, Kent and Leicestershire, championed the trials testing on the M1 and M20 Roadworks.

The PSDB (Police Scientific and Development Branch of the Home Office) undertook scientific evaluation as a necessary part of the HOTA process. This evaluation included test track trials at an independent test site. The evaluation was successful and verified the SVDD technology used in SPECS as 100% accurate.

HOTA is significant because it empowers UK Police Forces to use the SPECS technology to bring charges against speeding offenders, confident in the knowledge that they can present irrefutable supporting evidence.

In addition, UK Home Office Type Approved products are regarded internationally as meeting external high standards of quality and integrity.

THE INFO BELOW IS HISTORIC< AND IS NOT GUARANTEED UP TO DATE, OR CURRENT.

Where is the system in operation?
Permanent SPECS systems are now operating in Nottingham, Northampton and Gloucester:
A616 Stocksbridge Bypass in South Yorkshire
Nottingham Phase 1 - A610 & Ring Road
Nottingham Phase 2 - Extension of Nuttall Rd A610
Nottingham Phase 3 - Extension of Western Boulevard South, Ring Rd
Nottingham Phase 4 - Extension of Western Boulevard North, Ring Rd
A43 Lumbertubs Way, Northampton
Linden & Podsmead, Gloucester - Residential area

Temporary roadworks throughout the country currently using the SPECS system include.
M62 J7 -9 Roadworks, Warrington
M6 Thelwall Viaduct, Cheshire
M62 J7 - 9 Roadworks, Cheshire
M6 J6 Spagetti Junction Roadworks, Birmingham

More sites to follow in the next few months.

Is the data legally enforceable?
The HOTA enables the SPECS violation records to be presented as admissible evidence in UK courts.

Apart from its use as a speeding deterrent, are there any other benefits?
Yes. There are many other longer term benefits which will be possible once the SPECS systems are installed including increasing road safety and decreasing speed profiles, more accurate journey time information and other performance data and speed management benefits.



Bl**dy H£ll, I've been up and down the M4 at least four times this week and am therefore waiting for the inevitable 'BAN'

How am I going to get out of this one with my licence in tact? I was averaging about 80-85 on all four journeys!!!

M7 :uhoh: :uhoh:

(edited for speeling)

Get a GPS based speed camera "locator" ;) Worth their weight etc etc

:p

Geodesy

Origin blue i

Edited to say, just reread your post and, er, unlucky mate! :D

There's also an in car detection system called Road Angel. I'm not certain if whether this works with digital systems.
I've got 6 points on my licence now, 3 of those were from my wife who was driving my car at the time ggrrrrrrrrr:{
FEBA

Dont think that the GPS based detector would work Have you seen how many blue posts have popped up at the side of the road in recent years? The GPS would be continually bleeping.

As these digital traps dont use Radar or Lazer Technology I dont think there is an option out of this one, detection will be almost impossible. These will be the way to go for the money making Police forces!

Could try Finding out what car the chief contstable in your area drives, go hire the same car from Avis, Fix the same registration plates as his/hers on the car and then go camera busting!!

Then wait for them to get the summons for speeding!!

I wonder if they would get away with it in court?

Bet the cameras would come down then!!


:D :p

The blue posts are NOT speed cameras they are for traffic flow observation. Get yourself a GPS based detector (I have the new Snooper S6R Neo). It works very well, and if you were to fit a laser diffuser (not that I would cos that might not be legal!) then you are protected from lasers aswell. Normal laser detectors will just tell you that you are about to get a ticket as it only takes a fraction of a sec for them to get a reading.

CAC Runaway:

'if you were to fit a laser diffuser (not that I would cos that might not be legal!) then you are protected from lasers aswell. Normal laser detectors will just tell you that you are about to get a ticket as it only takes a fraction of a sec for them to get a reading.'

A laser diffuser should be legal as it is a 'passive' device. As far as I know, the only illegal devices are 'active' eg radar jammer.

As for the laser detecting times - I have a Euro 550 and although the've got you if they have targeted you, it seems to pick up the laser well if they are pointing it somewhere else (which is useful to know that they are around).

As one of my work colleagues pointed out - if you don't speed, you won't get caught!

Easy for him to say - he doesn't have 9 points!!!

Can validate ther Snoope S6R got one in my motor.

Download a new database from the phone every couple of days so it is always uptodate.

Saved my ass a couple of times :ok:

FM

Painted Yellow?
 

Thought all speed cameras had to be painted yellow and not hidden behind things?

Mightycrewseven

I'd be interested to know the source of your "quote". Shame on you for scaring the bejesus out of all those M4 users ;)

Quote:

"There are NO speed cameras and NO SPECS cameras in the signs!"
Source: Thames Valley Police

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/ms4/09.htm

Divergent Phugoids idea is irrisistably appealing. A fundraiser should be started and a number of these vehicles commisioned, it would make for an amusing read in the daily if nothing else.

This has been doing the rounds in the local area via Email, and it looks like Scud-U-Like has just confirmed it as a hoax. Seem to be hoaxes like this every year or so in Thames Valley, but you're never entirely sure if its true or not, so you forward it on regardless! Almost like a virus hoax, but encourages you NOT to break the law - Police planted you think?:\

I always wondered how well a radar jammer would work on gatsos. Obviously vv illegal, but a bit cooler than the hard kill solution aka angle grinder+pick up truck! Mind you, though, a camera based system like Specs would be pretty much invulnerable to such methods.

(Note - however hoax the email is, it does state that speed camera signs would be erected. Hence legal)

But what's this?

"The new motorway signs have been designed to accommodate closed circuit television cameras. These cameras will be used by the Highways Agency to assess the effectiveness of the new signs by monitoring traffic flow and movement patterns in response to the driver information messages set on the signs. Real-time images from these cameras will also be available to Thames Valley Police at their motorway control office, offering additional aid to locating and managing incidents on the motorway more swiftly and helping to set the new signs more promptly and accurately. The cameras will not be used for speed enforcement." http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/ms4/03.htm


Can we believe them? Tinfoil hats on....

Oh dear Tradewind, only three more points and you'll be getting the taxi to work.

Why do normally law abiding people think it's acceptable to scream around at breakneck speed ? Yes, we'd all like to be F1 drivers at heart....that's what little boys dream of. I guess some of you guys haven't managed to shake off that boy-driver attitude. Morons.

For corporate info on SPECS (which I assume Mightycrewseven consulted) see: http://www.speedcheck.co.uk/specs.htm

I think someone may have put 2 and 2 together and made 7.

Time to unbolt the front number plate then I think!

Just no fun left in driving in the UK now. :sad: :\

As somebody has pointed out elsewhere, speed cameras are very easy to spoof, don't feckin speed.
:rolleyes:

Can vouch for the Geodesy system as being a top piece of kit as is the Origin Blue i. I also have a laser/radar detector which has saved me once :D
The laser diffuser is, I believe, illegal as they are considered to be interfering with a police officers duties or something like that.

Top tip: if you have a radar/laser detector don't take it to France. I got approached in a service station by les gendarmes who advised me it was illegal. I thanked them and in return I gave them the detector as well as £500 (after they'd driven me to a cash machine, bless 'em!)

PS. X-QUORK, what's the view like from up there on the moral high ground?

:yuk:

StopStart

How'd they catch you? I have a radar detector on my motorbike, but it is hidden inside the fairing with just a small device on the dash to flash and scream radar. I was just in France on Saturday (I only live about a half hour from the border), and maek regular trips there, so I am interested in hearing your story.

Cheers! M2

M2, according to the info on my detector when I bought it, the police (esp the French) can use equipment to detect your detector, sort of electronic counter measures. So by electronic means rather than visually.

Heh X-DORK, I assume you have NEVER exceeded the speed limit, or are you someone who speeds but still has a clean licence (like most of the drivers in this country), so you can preach to us 'morons' who got caught.

Slowly, oh so slowly, the message will sink in, that the Government has accepted that excess speed is part of the cause of road deaths, and that reduction in speed will bring about a reduction in deaths. As a result of this technology is being, and will be, deployed to catch people who speed.

Today a detector, tomorrow a GPS may defer the evil day, but sooner rather than later technology will make detection a near certainty- and not too long after than that active speed control will take the speed decision away from the driver.

I passed my driving test in 1963, and I thoroughly enjoyed driving as a sport and as a hobby.

But the party's over. Too many cars, too few open roads.

And that's a fact.