Top Gear and speed cameras

[drumwrecker]

Clarkeson said they are flashing up congestion ahead signs on the M25 around Heathrow when there is no congestion, the result is the speed cameras are automatically activated.
So there you are on this nice open road and see the congestion sign and think, "can't be, must be a mistake" and continue on straight into the activated speed camera. As I write this today's MCN article about reducing the tollerance to 10% +2mph and not telling anybody came to mind. Talk about dirty tricks. Its an unwritten law that 80 is OK on a motorway but now they will nick you for it. The moral is I suppose keep to the speed limit but they know nobody drives at a constant speed and it varies up and down and they will catch you sooner or later and safe, non road hog drivers and riders rack up big points until they are off the road. As far as they are concerned one more vehicle off the road is a success.

[tomjones2]

I think both clarkson and mcn are talking crap.

I though that the restricted speed cameras on the m25 are activated and will take picutres of people doing over 85 when no lower restriction is in force. I doubt that they delibaritley turn on the speed restriction to catch people, i probaly more to do with computer/user error.

And as for MCN they i would take anything they say with a bukcet of salt, next week will probaly be about biking being banned by 2007.

[andy]

Sadly I think Clarkson was telling the truth - or should I say sadly I would not be surprised if he was telling the truth!

[andyaikido]

I thought they had to display a change of speed limit sign on either side of the carriageway to be able nick you. The limits shown above each lane on a motorway are just a recomendation, aren't they?

[chazzyb]

I thought they had to display a change of speed limit sign on either side of the carriageway to be able nick you. The limits shown above each lane on a motorway are just a recomendation, aren't they?

You try telling that to the cameras. The ones on that M25 stretch are legal speed limit signs, having a white background within a red circle (I think). Thinks: have they got a white background? Certainly got a red circle :-k

[DanAbnormal]

They have a red circle and white numbers on a black background.

Just got off the M25, still riding now in factaaaaaaaaargh (crash).

[Biker Biggles]

It will all be academic in a few years when the on board micro chip takes over road police duties.Then the spy in the sky will know exactly how fast you are going at all times,and it will be compulsory to have one fitted.Big Brother will be everywhere,so enjoy what's left of your freedom while it lasts.Me?I'll either leave this country when that happens or join "Le Resistance".---Hello Hello :shock:

[Razor]

I read an article about how they want to slow everybody down on the motorways. Supposedly any speed above 70MPH has a detrimental effect on fuel consumption and then more emissions are produced. Some egghead had worked it out and suggested it at some bloody meeting full of government folks getting fat off tax payers money.

[MavUK]

I read an article about how they want to slow everybody down on the motorways. Supposedly any speed above 70MPH has a detrimental effect on fuel consumption and then more emissions are produced. Some egghead had worked it out and suggested it at some bloody meeting full of government folks getting fat off tax payers money.

It's 56mph for *most* cars. It's been around for a while. And if you try it it does work. However you also die of bordem...

However, they make money from me using 10% more fuel to go a few mph faster so wy should they care? I get taxed for my choice of speed.

[Razor]

I thought 56MPH was the old spec that the yankees used to decide their new speed limit way back when?

[jimmy4237]

All UK & European trucks now over 7.5 tonnes are now electronically restricted to 56mph or 90km/h. '03 onwards Scania, DAF, Volvo, Iveco and Mercedes trucks do this via the ECU. To change the top speed at which your throttle stops working requires a laptop computer with special software, of which the dealer accesses the trucks main ecu with a keycode. Thereafter, they can download a bigger BHP fuel map which increases the truck's pulling power, increase / decrease the speed limiter, calibrate a tacho, anything... much like a modern car.

Doing 56mph still doesn't help the average 8.5mpg a 40 tonner does. The volvo 460bhp FH12 (2005 registered) doing Glasgow bulk deliveries uses 130 litres of diesel a day for covering 250km. In english, that's 5.46MPG doing Glasgow stop start deliveries. Traffic sucks.. Yet doing a steady 56mph for an hour solid will return 8.85mpg. Depends what kind of work you're doing.


Back in the good 'ol days when the speed limiter was set to 60, along with Euro 1 & 2 truck emmision rules, the mpg was 9. An old '97 Irish spec Scania 143 500bhp I once drove for a week only managed 6.5mpg... crusing at 62mph. Drive it at 70mph, and it dropped to 4mpg.....will that be cash or credit card sir :lol: :lol: :lol: But it went and pulled like hell and was still pulling a 30 tonne trailer comfortably at 72mph... didn't need a speed limiter (registered in Dublin before new 2005 speed limiter rules).

Any new Irish registered truck since 2005 has had to have a speed limiter set to 56mph fitted. The Irish truck boys aren't very happy now.... you try catching a ferry when you're running late, and you're capped to 56mph. It's boring, you fall asleep, and you end up missing the boat. So much for next day deliveries :lol:

[mburnstead]

I thought they had to display a change of speed limit sign on either side of the carriageway to be able nick you. The limits shown above each lane on a motorway are just a recomendation, aren't they?


No. The matrix boards in the central reservation or hard shoulder are the advisory ones (these are the ones which also say 'Fog' etc). The red-circled numbers above the lanes are the legal ones, which is why they have been made up to look like a standard painted sign.

The M25 cameras are actually few and far between, although nearly every gantry and bridge has the white lines on the road to make you think they are there. There are cameras at the start of it between the A3 and the A320, but I'm pretty sure there aren't any at all in the newly widened bit between the M3 and the M4. Not sure about the bit beyond that, though occasionally I do drive it and haven't seen any up there.

If you look up at the gantries on the other side of the road as you go round you can easily see if there's cameras on them or not, and if you do the same going the other way you'll soon learn where they are...

[Vfr400]

I thought 56MPH was the old spec that the Yankees used to decide their new speed limit way back when?

Nope! its the maximun speed at which Harley's don't shake themselves to bits :D

chris

[Kylie]

I'm pretty sure there aren't any at all in the newly widened bit between the M3 and the M4.
I'm less sure, I do a run round from the M40 to the A3 about once a week at night when there are no temporary speed restrictions in place and no "Congestion" signs up and yet most journeys round some car or van gets flashed, usually for doing something just over 80mph. I've seen too many flashes to risk it now, though the SV's engine braking comes in handy going under them gantrys

[Viney]

I think both clarkson and mcn are talking crap.

I though that the restricted speed cameras on the m25 are activated and will take picutres of people doing over 85 when no lower restriction is in force. I doubt that they delibaritley turn on the speed restriction to catch people, i probaly more to do with computer/user error.

And as for MCN they i would take anything they say with a bukcet of salt, next week will probaly be about biking being banned by 2007.

Not rue. I have hammered round that section in the early hours at over a ton and never had any tickets. When the signs aint on, the cameras aint either. When the signs are on, then yes the cameras are set to that speed. However, last night they where showing 40mph...yeah like that was going to happen. Im sure i saw a snail hurttle past at one point. 5 lanes either way and still a car park!!

[Kylie]

When the signs aint on, the cameras aint either.
I've seen a good few cars and vans get flashed, particularly clockwise between the A3 and the M3, when no restrictions were in place. Might be they don't actually get a ticket, I haven't been flashed so I don't know, but I'm guessing flash equals ticket.

Every single one of them has braked heavily after the flash, which I love, yeah thats gonna help....

[AlanSv]

Ive been flashed when the speed restriction signs have been off, and never got a ticket, so I suspect they're missfires.

[northwind]

As I write this today's MCN article about reducing the tollerance to 10% +2mph and not telling anybody came to mind. Talk about dirty tricks.

Speeding's speeding. The offence isn't "speedign and getting caught". 0 sympathy.

[DanAbnormal]

It's funny. We all know the speed limits yet we all break them and then whinge when we get caught. I guess it's becasue we're british. I've been lucky so far, I tend to stick the the 30 - 40 limits as that's where I have seen most police camera action (haha) and people get nabbed. I'm sure it's just as easy on the M-way though. I try not to go above 80 on teh M way with no cameras as most undercover police units are out to get the real speeders, you know the ********s on suoer sports bikes that do 120mph or guys in their big flash exec cars.

[454697819]

As I write this today's MCN article about reducing the tollerance to 10% +2mph and not telling anybody came to mind. Talk about dirty tricks.

Speeding's speeding. The offence isn't "speedign and getting caught". 0 sympathy.

which reminds me. today is the first anniversary of my 3 points... :lol: :cry:

still got my fingers crossed about the incident on the M5! :shock:

[northwind]

I'm semi expecting a NIP, I'd be suprised if I managed to get below 70 before i passed this camera :roll: It's the same camera I should've got nabbed by before. If I do, I shall show you how a scotsman faces his doom :) Crap observation strikes.