50 mph Average Speed Cameras

adouglasmhor

meer53 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies peeps. I do wonder sometimes, like tonight, i was driving back at about 7pm, pootling along at 50mph and people were zooming past at 70mph at least, it just made me wonder whether i could have speeded up a bit ! Glad i didn't now. I do think some people think you can just be doing 50 when you pass the camera and any speed in between !

That's exactly it. they don't get "average".

SHIPSHAPE

meer53 wrote: »

Can someone tell me whether the cameras still work at night ? The section is lit so would the camera still read your numberplate ? I see people flying past me whilst i'm doing 50, am i being dim ?

Why would you be dim for driving at, or below, 50mph, if that is what the stated limit is?:undecided

flang

Also like to add that as a motorway worker we also work nights. (In some cases 30-40%)
I'm always amazed at the amount of idiots that speed past at 100mph!

rev_henry

I encountered these last week, and shall again tomorrow going back home. This time at least we can be grateful that its all in aid of making that stretch a managed motorway, which means we'll be able to use the hard shoulder as a running lane, like the M6 (iirc) near Birmingham.

I'm similarly amused by people who clearly don't understand the word 'average' - slowing down for each camera.

Also noticed there's a stretch with little signs below the cameras saying 'cameras not in use'!

The only way around the cameras is to have a motorbike.

andrew-the-cat

The amount of times I see people flying through these 50mph average camera zones at well over 70mph always makes me think that the cameras don't even work. I always feel like a right idiot as I'm sat on the inside lane doing 50mph and literally everyone is zooming past me.

Also yes they will work on a completely unlit road in pitch darkness, as they use powerful infrared lights, which is invisible to the human eye but cameras can see it fine and your number plates reflect it very well...

vax2002

There is no legal requirement for this 10% it is discretionary and some forces dont give any discretion, some will book you at 55, some at 51.
As they often only cover a stretch of road a couple of miles long, what is to be gained by flying close to the sun and gambling your speedometer against the discretion offered, how much time would you save in reality pushing your luck that few MPH, do it on the way back as well and the next day and day after that you could loose your licence before the PCN has hit the door mat.
I drive at 50mph on my speedo and them that dont like that are welcome to overtake, drive too close and it will be 40 mph until you back off or overtake, I calculate that if I am dangerously tailgated, if I slow down, the risk of impact will be lower.

adouglasmhor

vax2002 wrote: »

There is no legal requirement for this 10% it is discretionary and some forces dont give any discretion, some will book you at 55, some at 51.
As they often only cover a stretch of road a couple of miles long, what is to be gained by flying close to the sun and gambling your speedometer against the discretion offered, how much time would you save in reality pushing your luck that few MPH, do it on the way back as well and the next day and day after that you could loose your licence before the PCN has hit the door mat.
I drive at 50mph on my speedo and them that dont like that are welcome to overtake, drive too close and it will be 40 mph until you back off or overtake, I calculate that if I am dangerously tailgated, if I slow down, the risk of impact will be lower.

50 on your speedo is under 46 MPH in real speed, you may not be understnading the 10% thing?

I don't drive close but maintain a safe distance but if someone sits in the outside lane bimbling along under the speed limit I turn on my right indicator to let them know I want past.
For example.

_Highway_Code wrote:

116. On a two-lane dual carriageway you should stay in the left-hand lane. Use the right-hand lane for overtaking or turning right. If you use it for overtaking move back to the left-hand lane when it is safe to do so.

vax2002

I understand it perfectly, 100%, sorted,
I know it means if I drive at 50mph, I wont get a fine and 3 points, which as I have been driving since 1981 with no speeding fines or points I would say works very well in my favour, unlike the 3000 mugs a week in West Yorkshire who know how to beat the specs camera.

adouglasmhor

That doesn't give you the right to obstruct other road users. And you obviously don't understand it at all from your post above. of cousres if you drive around at 25mph in a 30 or 45 in a 50 you won't get points, you will still be a pain in the bum though.

I have held a full licence for a bike since 1979 and a car since 1980, only driving offence I have been done for is 3 up on a Lambretta in a side street (in 1980 odds after seeing quadrophenia).

tomoney

I was done on the M42 average speed cameras at 50mph and I was clocked at 56mph

I advised I dont recall speeding etc and they sent pictures of my car and me all in the dark

I paid up and still have 3 points on my licence until Feb 2013

Speedos generally do ready 10% higher but its not an exact amount of 10%

Sat Nav systems are generally more accurate but can vary due to interference and movements between satelites

All in all, if you want to be safe, if you see the cameras and the signs then stick with your speedo