Speed Cameras

[Guest]

I agree with dannyd, i also think that a motorway test should be compulsary, i also think that some of the idiots that try and tow a caravan should also pass a test, its ok going forwards, but when they have gone the wrong way, and have to try and manouvere the caravan 9 times out of 10, they`ll unhitch it, and struggle to turn it round. Re the motorway test, if you pass your test now, you display a green "P", (yes, i know most peas are green) this should be compulsary, to let people know you`ve just passed your test, and then when you have completed the motorway phase,(which should be compulsary) the green comes off, and another coloured one goes on, for a probationary period. if you don`t pass the motorway phase, you are issued with a different coloured P, untill you do.

[Sisyphus]

Derek,

No. That was my first impression as I saw it in the distance but as I got closer I saw it was pointing in my direction.

[Sisyphus]

dannyd

I'm on the same lines as you re trg. Car manufacturers spend billions developing 'crumple zones', airbags, ABS, and all the other safety related devices. Not that any of that's bad. But I sometimes think if they offered a free 'defensive driving course' with every new car they'd go a long way to reducing deaths and injuries from RTA's

One of the good things about Saudi Aramco is that before you can drive a company vehicle you have to pass a defensive driving course. A fantastic idea. Mind you, as Saudi has the highest per capita deaths from RTAs in the world they're doing themselves a favour as well as their employees.

[Rotary Booty]

Sisyphus

If it is a single carriageway road, that is the same system we have here, but the camera is about 30 meters into the 30 mph zone.

The camera covers both sides of the road, and can register cars coming towards it, and away from it, in the same marked area of the road. Ours has the camera on the side of the road of the incoming traffic, and is therefore primarily to slow down vehicles that are entering the 30 mph limit from the 40mph limit. I guess the positioning could be dictated by local site conditions though. It would be interesting to know how many 'leaving' drivers are actually prosecuted at your site. Not you I hope!

Aye, Derek

[dannyd]

Well it's nice to know that there are people who agree with me regarding motorway driving & general driving standards.

When I'm coming back from a weekend away it is interesting (and annoying) to note that the driving standard gets worse the closer I get to London.

But the main point is this. If I can see the beneifts of increased driver training at the grand old age of 19 (and no, I'm not a boy-racer type), then why can't the government, in all its wisdom, see the same thing? Or are they simply more interested in raising revenue? Oh dear, 19 and already a cynic.

[Sisyphus]

. It would be interesting to know how many 'leaving' drivers are actually prosecuted at your site. Not you I hope!

Certainly not, sir! I'm a boring, slow driver. But it's only luck that I've never been done for speeding. We all do it. Even us slow ones. Don't we?

[Wholley]

DannyD,
I have to agree with you about driving standards around London.
I was in the UK earlier in the year.Had not driven on that side of the road
for a long while.Any way,rent car from Gatwick,ease out into traffic and POW every b*ggers doing 95 and I'm terrified.
We are far slower here in the US(Speed wise, before you lot start)
Mind you I was impressed with the rental.Ford Focus, neat little car,and I managed Two weeks in the UK without pranging it.Did get flashed twice by one of those cameras but the rental company never mentioned it.

Oh BTW Bootneck, I used to drive a big-rig over here.Interesting innit.
Wholley.

[Sticky Blue]

I used to drive a big-rig over here.Interesting innit.
Wholley.

I hope Mrs Wholley isn't reading this
Truckers, in general, seem to be the best drivers in the UK. Their vehicles are governed against speeding and they accept when they have made a mistake, I know there are exceptions to this rule! I was on the way home from work today in the rain, sorry monsoon, and there were stillk cars banging along at way over 90. I was doing 70 on the inside lane and was the slowest apart from the lorries. Red lights were flashing as cars had to brake hard in terrible conditions. Cars were skidding left, right and chelsea. Sadly there were no police anywhere with speed guns because they would have had a field day!!! The worst thing I saw was a cretin (Mercedes!) on the phone at high speed. Perhaps a speed camera on the motorway would be more use that in some of the revenue generating areas. They would make a killing and serve a purpose. BR, your point about the siting of cameras, the two that get up my nose are not within the guidelines that you mentioned, not even close! I'll try and measure the distance when I can see my odometer, twas a tad wet today!

[Information!]

Mr Wholley sir, you should try driving round Baghdad, is like a mine field I tell you. We have no of these speed camera you speek of but they would not be catch me for speed, I have stealth camel now with go faster stripe and sunroofs. I can even fit my head up his exhaust pipe if I am feeling that way, hey you know us boys, we often feel that way

[Wholley]

Information!
I never knew that Baghdad was really in Cornswall.
You really are the man in the knows.
Wholley.

[Guest]

DannyD,

Oh BTW Bootneck, I used to drive a big-rig over here.Interesting innit.
Wholley.

Wholley, very interesting, some of the things you see are unbelievable, and i have thought about living in the states, and driving one of those flash rigs, all i need now is my green card, can you help on that score mate?? Florida would be nice.

[Wholley]

Bootneck.
You serious?
If you are we can talk.I would advise against Florida though.
Sorry peeps off thread I know.
Wholley.

[Guest]

Had an e-mail today,( yes it suprised me too) and seems like a low down way of inserting even more speed cameras, be warned!!

Original Message

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!

[Sticky Blue]

Funny old thing is that I got the same email about the M27... all cameras have to be visible. How is it these don't have to be visible? It seems the M27 mail was a hoax so I would be suspect about this one as well

[Guest]

it may well be sticky, but who`s going to be the one to find out? stick to the speed limit, and you won`t get a ticket, very hard to stick to the limit on that, "Moped" of yours though mate