M1 stealth cameras now signed

[Deleted User]

Travelled up the M1 a few days ago and in the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire area most of the variable speed limit signs where a stealth revenue camera was in position, were illuminated with the national speed limit and a notice on the matrix board saying "Speed Cameras". There were no variable limits in force anywhere on the stretch. Is this some sort of trial to see if revenue is adversely affected if the location of cameras is explicitly indicated, or is this the new standard?

Joe_Horner

Or is it that:

1. Despite popular cynicism, they're not actually "revenue cameras".
2. The perfect camera, in terms of their primary road safety / traffic management purposes, would be one that never caught anyone.
3. These particular ones are failing point (2) so someone's taken the common sense decision that they may be more effective at reducing risk and / or improving traffic flow if people are reminded that they're there.

Just an off-the-wall suggestion there.

Nasqueron

Cameras only generate revenue if people break the law, just reflect on that.


Don't come back with any nonsense either, your car has a speedometer, you can see if it says 70 or 80 or you shouldn't be driving. If you can't stick to 70 then you run the risk of a fine

Robisere

Nasqueron, that is a very inappropriate answer to what was merely a question; "...is this a new standard?" JohnSmith1890's post did not call for such a response. If a time comes that you make a mistake whilst driving due to inattention and/or distraction, I trust that you will present the results here?

JohnSmith1890, according to a police contact in that area, Joe Horner's 'off the wall suggestion' is basically correct. To the harried police forces, Traffic Flow is king and other issues may be subjected to reduced priority.

a.turner

Robisere wrote: »

Nasqueron, that is a very inappropriate answer to what was merely a question; "...is this a new standard?" JohnSmith1890's post did not call for such a response. If a time comes that you make a mistake whilst driving due to inattention and/or distraction, I trust that you will present the results here?

JohnSmith1890, according to a police contact in that area, Joe Horner's 'off the wall suggestion' is basically correct. To the harried police forces, Traffic Flow is king and other issues may be subjected to reduced priority.

Since traffic flow on the motorway has been primarily down to the highways agency for at least 15 years are you saying safety is a reduced priority in policing?

Joe_Horner

a.turner wrote: »

Since traffic flow on the motorway has been primarily down to the highways agency for at least 15 years are you saying safety is a reduced priority in policing?

Another off the wall suggestion:

In general terms, and particularly on motorways, effective traffic flow is one of the most important and successful parts of safety management.

Nasqueron

Robisere wrote: »

Nasqueron, that is a very inappropriate answer to what was merely a question; "...is this a new standard?" JohnSmith1890's post did not call for such a response. If a time comes that you make a mistake whilst driving due to inattention and/or distraction, I trust that you will present the results here?
.

If the OP had talked about speed cameras, I would agree.



The use of "stealth revenue cameras" however, shows the OP is one of those people who believes speed cameras target poor old motorists thanks to sneaky police who no doubt should be out dealing with "real crimes" and leave him to bomb along at 150mph while claiming it's perfectly safe as excessive speed is fine and shouldn't be penalised for doing it.

Mercdriver

Well since they are signed, they are no longer stealth cameras.

Don't do the crime, you won't get the punishment. Not getting caught also helps, but by going faster than you should also tests your skills of observation.

silverwhistle

Or as a Met traffic cop once recounted to me, he did a motorcyclist doing a ridiculous speed down Hyde Park early in the morning, not for speeding but "because you didn't see me"..

a.turner

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Another off the wall suggestion:

In general terms, and particularly on motorways, effective traffic flow is one of the most important and successful parts of safety management.

That's down to the highways agency not the police.

CardinalWolsey

Where the truth lies I don't know, but many people are of the opinion that you won't get a speeding ticket from a camera on a motorway unless a reduced speed limit is signalled on the gantries.

I would read from the OP's question that what they are looking to find out is whether or not having the national speed limit sign indicated activates the cameras or not.