New speed traps

The following was mailed to the staff of a large group of solicitors near
Manchester yesterday and I thought it might be worth a post.

PLEASE ADVISE ALL STAFF.

The new electronic signs on the M6 were switched on
this Tuesday. The bad news is that they are rigged with the SPECS speed
cameras. This probably applies to all the new signs being installed on the
M62, M60 and M56.

SPECS is a computer-camera based system. As you go past the sign a digital
camera reads your number plate. When you go past the next sign your number
plate is read again. The computer 'knows' how far apart the signs are so it
can work out your average speed between the two, or three or four. The
system is fully automatic and will issue a ticket without any form of human
intervention. It does this for every single vehicle that passes. You will
not know you have been caught as the cameras don't flash. They work 24/7,
365 days a year, and theoretically, there's absolutely no limit on the
number of tickets that the system can issue. The whole section of the M6
between Knutsford and Preston is wired, both ways. The system is set to
trigger a ticket at 78MPH. (Don't take this as a guarantee) Radar detectors
will be of no use as SPECS is entirely passive, there is no laser beam to
detect. Be warned and spread the news!

Roger

 

FFS - Not Again !

 

Its bollocks and people with more sense should know it is, we had this at
work and I had to point out all the old rumours from down south, and of
course the fact the signs have been on for ages anyway.

 

In

anyway.


Perhaps its all a conspiracy ) .....

Maybe plod are sending out the fake emails so that when they do
fit the specs camereas no one will believe the warnings ! ;o)

Tons of income for the "cost" of a fake email ... result ..

--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://wrexhamseals.tripod.com

 

What depresses me is that it will most likely become fact. Why are we
drifting towards this fucked up nanny state?

 

I had a trip over that way a few of days ago, before the email surfaced, and
clocked all the new, partially constructed gantry signs - and I have to
admit they appeared to be slotting cameras in/on them. They looked like the
type I'd seen previously around Northampton.

Roger

 

Someone else in the office said something similar, but I will have a good
gander next time I pass

 

In

Cos its another way to pull money out of the public (

--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://wrexhamseals.tripod.com

 

Sounds reasonable.

 

SPECs ones have three boxes:

- a smallish rectangular one in the centre containing the camera

- two even smaller ones either side horizontally, containing IR
lamps so that the system can work at night. These lamps are also
sometimes spherical (see
http://www.ukspeedcameras.co.uk/cameras_main.gif).

The _real_ ones on the M4 on the approach to the new Severn bridge are
on the end of a gantry for the opposite carriageway, looking diagonally
across and down at the outer two carriageways.

I've also seen them on the M6 at roadworks, both on their own gantries
and fitted to overhead signage (latticework gantry type). Both sets were
fitted with fluorescent yellow identification - the camera gantries were
painted, and the ones on signs had cloth 'flags' behind them. The ones
on the M4 are _not_ painted specially - or at least weren't when I last
passed them (they operate going East).

A good picture of the own-gantry SPECS type is here:

http://speedlimit.dreamwater.org/images/stocksbridge2.jpg
These are the same design as the M6 ones I've seen.

See also http://www.speedcam.co.uk/index2.htm
(the Gatso section includes pages on other types of speed cameras with
photographs.

The same technology is used by Trafficmaster (they are dark blue) and
Dept. of Transport or the Road Fund people (may even be security
services). There's a bridge across the M6 in south Cumbria with SPECS
type cameras mounted monitoring all three Northbound lanes, but no
corresponding set further on. I suspect it's collecting registration
numbers for the security services, but am probably wrong (they shouldn't
need separate cameras!).

In all cases the actual cameras appear to be identical models to the
proper SPECS ones, complete with infra-red 'outriggers' on motorway
installations.

The Trafficmaster ones we have on the main roads around here are rather
different - lamp post-style mounting 0- and presently they aren't used
by the 'safety' camera partnerships. Isn't 'partnership' such a nice,
non-threatening word?

Ride safely...

Regards,

Simonm.

 

Eastbound or Westbound? I commute along there and have seen no cameras
at all. There are signs warning that the section from the M4/M48
junction to the Brynglas tunnels is covered by cameras, however the
only "safety" cameras I've seen in operation were at the Magor
junction.

A quick check of the South Wales plod combined camera site
www.checkyourspeed.org reveals the only fixed camera in Monmouthshire
is on the A48 at Caerwent. Similarly, Avon and Somerset's site shows
no motorway camera sites. I believe both police areas partcipate in
the hypothecation scheme, so have to publish camera sites.

 

This is nearly as bad as preaching OSes at me, I didn't ask for an
explanation of camera types, I am pretty much well up on them. I was
letting him know I was going to have a closer look at the info signs

 

The _one_ I know of for certain is fixed to the end of a gantry over the
westbound carriageway. It's looking at the eastbound middle or outer
lane. I noticed the camera first and wondered about it, the next week it
was publicised on Points West and in the Evening Post (but no exact
locations given, only that the system operated on the approach to the
Severn Bridge). I think it's the only SPECS setup that Avon + Somerset
has on the motorways. All the others I've seen have been conventional
Gatsos, although they were rumoured to be using a video system at road
works near Taunton Deane a few years ago (passed it lots then and saw
traffic management but not speed cameras).

The current ones: going East, the gantry is the first one after the fork
where the stretch of new motorway rejoins the line of the old M4, on the
Gloucestershire side. I haven't located any more going East, and I don't
go over the new bridge very often (mainly nip over to see friends in
Chepstow).

Next time I go over, I'll come back by the new bridge and look carefully
to see where the other end of the system is.


Regards,

Simonm.

 

I posted the original version of the message (about M4 cameras) some
months back. It was done in good faith, but I was wrong and had to
backtrack. I thought in this case it might be worth looking for pictures
(for my own benefit), and having found some thought the URLs might be
helpful generally.

I didn't think there was a word of criticism in anything I wrote -
certainly none intended.


Regards,

Simonm.

 

Firstly, for SPECs to work, a minimum of 2 cameras are required, as
the system works by averaging speed between the cameras. Nextly, if
the cameras are managed by Avon and Zummerset, then the cameras should
be mounted on a reflective yellow background, as per all the other
cameras in the area. I believe the same to be true at least of the
South Wales camera partnership.

Nextly2, the only cameras I saw on the commute on the M4, via the new
crossing, from Sadley Broke to Cwmbran this morning were of the
traffic monitoring variety. I suppose I could check the M48 on Monday,
just for completeness.

Lastly, I didn't see any warning signs to indicate the motorway is a
speed trap area, so I would take a very sceptical view that there are
any cameras there, especially given the Evil Post has reported on it.

Again, I think this is a traffic management camera. I'll look more
carefully on Monday.

Don't worry - I'll have commuted over both bridges by then.

 

Why do you think I underlined "the _one_ camera"? I don't know where the
other end is (yet). Yes it IS a SPECS-type camera, not a traffic
monitoring camera.

Possibly. When I last saw it, a couple of months ago, it was not painted
yellow. It may be so now.

Have a look for the other end on the way back - I suspect it's on the
bridge itself, or very close to it. It's not on the M48, and I don't
think there's another one further East before the M32 - but I don't
normally go that way (usually take the M49 to Avonmouth as I live in
West Bristol).

Also Points West - t'other half saw the item.

Regards,

Simonm.

 

You are worse than me for not reading stuff. I never said owt about
critisism, more being preached at. Don't give advice when it is not asked
for. I ,for one, hate it.

 

<plonk>

Regards,

Simonm.

 

I queried the statement that only one camera is in existence - if the
second one has been installed, then I would have expected an
indication of the location of the second. As it is, I didn't see any
signs of a second SPECS camera.

I'll try and remember to look at the gantry around the M4/M48
junction.

Having ploughed through the web site, the only cameras that appear to
have a requirement for visible yellow paint are the fixed, roadside
ones. I also seem to remember that, due to some pressure group, new
cameras do not have to be visible. ICBATG.

I'll keep an wary eye out for it, but as it will be dark by the time I
leave the office, I'll be pleasantly surprised if I see anything.

 

Its

*plonk*

YTC !