M1 Speed cameras?

James_Brandon

I was driving on the M1 north yesterday, just past the East Midlands airport. The road has been widened to four lanes, and above the road there are signs above the road every mile or so with a picture of a speed camera and camera line painted on the road. Are these cameras really there? I couldn't see in my rear view mirror as it was dark. Has anyone been caught by them?
Cheers

Lum

Sounds like a "managed motorways" variable speed limit section. Was there a gantry with a big matrix sign above each lane just before each set of lane markings?

If so then the cameras are mounted on the back of the gantries, one per lane, hidden behind the matrix signs. They are easier to see if you look at the gantries on the opposite side of the road.

In theory they are only active when a reduced speed limit is in force, i.e. when a reduced speed with a red circle around it is displayed, but I'd still recommend sticking to 70 just to be safe.

The idea is to force traffic to slow down when there is a queue ahead to avoid stop/start traffic. If it works perfectly then the stationary queue has time to dissipate before the slowed down traffic reaches it and then drivers moan that the speed limit was reduced for no reason as there was no jam.

Alternatively you end up with the situation common on the M42 where they drop the limit to 40 but the place is so congested and under capacity that no amount of management or hard shoulder running can hope to fix it.

Hammyman

Yes the speed cameras are there. The speed limit only applies if it is signed overhead with a red circle. If the number is orange then its advisory.

And the M42 hard shoulder running has made a massive difference Lum.

exup

I know where JB means as I go that way quite often. I think they are average speed cameras if they are functioning. There are no electronic displays to flash up any variable speed limits as such (unlike on the M42 approaching Birmingham).
They recently spent a long time resurfacing the road and widening it - adding an extra lane, presumably making the road safer - then sticking a load of speed cameras on it just in case someone thinks that "OO look I can do a ton on here now".
Personally I'm not risking it on that stretch but I do see people that do. Although that bit of the M1 is so bland and featureless its a wonder people don't fall asleep out of sheer boredom.
I go the other way now - as I usually join the A42/M42 at Tamworth and head North to join the M1 - I just get onto the A38 and join it further up, just after the North end of that new stretch we are talking about.

Lum

Hammyman wrote: »

And the M42 hard shoulder running has made a massive difference Lum.

Not that the times that I use it, which is typically the tail end of the rush hour (6-7PM) when most of the traffic is likely through traffic. (e.g. Hull -> South Wales in my case)

What that road really needs is a parallel road connecting the M6, M40 and M5 with no local access. Perhaps they could build it above the existing road like they did with the London end of the M4.

Coveredinbees!!!!

The speed cameras are there in the same way they are there on the M25 you mean? ie maybe 1 no the entire stretch but can you risk playing Russian speed camera.

neilmcl

For the record the cameras on the M42 have never been put to use, at least not below the NSL. I'm not sure about the M1 ones though, hopefully someone will come on and tell us if they've been flashed or not.

flashnazia

I've had a look at some of the gantries and some don't have any cameras mounted, you can see an empty bracket. Some did have gatsos on them though, I would say more had empty brackets than there were gatso boxes. Don't know if they flash at above 70 though.
Perhaps have a look at pepipo forum? May have been discussed there.

Lum

Technically what you saw was a camera housing, not a camera. Some will have actual cameras in, others will not.

bexyboo1312

Hi, no there are currently no speed cameras mounted on these - they haven't yet been installed

Viper_7

No, never been caught as the speed limit is 70mph (or less if indicated). Breaking it would be a road traffic offence.