So yeah the other night I used the M25 for only the second time and??roadworks.
I didn?t get flashed, im assuming I?d have seen it as im told its very bright right?
Camera wise all that?s bothering me is those average speed ones.
A couple of times I had issues with speed limits. I try not to go over any speed limit at all. I like REALLY try. But its unhelpful when you just aren?t sure whats right. I went through areas flashing 40mph, 50mph, and 60mph. any time I go those speeds people get very annoyed.
At one point im sat there and my sat nav is telling me 70mph, as well as flashing to alert for speed cameras wanting me to do 50mph, with road signs telling me 60mph. Not really a great help. I cant remember what speed I went through places at ? but never above 70, and other people were passing me all the time (unless it was single land traffic in which case tough ? they had to wait). So im figuring, why am I worried when people were passing me?
The cameras I mean are in Kent, I travelled from Dartford to Woking, so that stretch of road was the issue for me.
I didn?t blast my way through roadwork areas, there were scores of cars going faster than me, I didn?t see any flashes, do you think I should be concerned, in particular about the bit where I wasn?t sure of the speed limit which was going on? Are they the Gatso flashing ones there or another kind?
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Do not know the area or the cameras.
BUT
Infra-red cameras can see and read number plates in the dark!
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Drive the camera'd section almost every day, and regularly break the variable limits by 5-10 mph, the same as everyone else does. No tickets yet.
The flashes used to be very noticeable, but I'm told the cameras have been upgraded recently and now have no visible flash.
Cheers
DP
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SFAIK there are no SPECS cameras on the M25, certainly not between LHR and GTW. Plenty of static cameras in the gantries; I do not know if they change their trigger speed to conform with any displayed limit, lower than 70. If the limit is 50 do the cameras adjust to that? I don't know I am afraid.
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Im wondering about from the start to the finish of roadwork areas, would they have the SPECS there then? Im unsure, im clueless in fact - ive been driving 2 weeks and am worried about collecting 6 points badly as thats all they allow, im 26, i drive a Rover - im not a boy racer haha. I have some sense and no will to break the law! I want to get from point a to point b and i want no issues to arise.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 10/10/2008 at 19:29
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Goat, if you didn't see any flashes and were going more slowly than other vehicles you are most unlikely to be in any trouble.
It is a good idea on unfamiliar fast roads to take your speed cues from what appears to be the 'experienced majority' of other traffic: that is, neither the mimsers nor the occasional outside-lane eager beaver. Stay in the middle of that speed envelope until you have a better idea of what you are doing and you will be all right. If you find yourself being undertaken by a lot of cars you are probably in the wrong lane for the speed you are going.
I hope it won't annoy you if I remind you to make absolutely constant use of your mirrors on busy bits of motorway like the M25 (and indeed everywhere) - don't let twenty seconds pass without checking them - and always to leave a decent gap to any car you are following (two seconds is recommended for dry conditions at motorway speeds). Never ever change lanes abruptly or without signalling.
The brain of a proper driver is busy at all times. If you stay on top of all aspects of what you are doing you won't get nearly as many nasty expensive embarrassing surprises.
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Thanks!
And thanks for all the advice - there is a helluva lot to take in isnt there?
Nothing annoyed me at all, all very valid points and things i need to remember, so thanks!
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there is a helluva lot to take in isnt there?
Understanding that is half the battle.
The reason so many drivers are so devastatingly awful is that they are allowed to believe they can drive when they have passed the test, and simply leave it at that, driving about with their mouths hanging open in a waking dream.
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Yes, I've noticed a correlation between mouth breathing and bad driving. Can't imagine why. Perhaps someone suitably qualified could explain it.
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I do have my doubts about these variable speed limit cameras on the M25. Basically, I'm not sure how many there are or at what threshold they are set. Maybe just the fear of them is all it takes to get compliance?
For example, coming round the western stretch a couple of weeks ago, road perfectly clear (for the M25) and all gantry lights are off, except one which was showing 40. l and everyone else ignored it, cruising past at 70-ish. No flashes, no tickets (yet).
Edited by boxsterboy on 10/10/2008 at 17:38
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Here is a link to a picture of a SPECS camera gantry.
tinyurl.com/3jybbo
Note the large 'L' shaped gantry and the strange logo in the right angle between the vertical pole and horizontal beam - it looks a bit like a Motorola logo. The cameras are also distictinctive. Just search Google images for "Specs Cameras and you will get loads of piccys, They aren't easy to see at night and they work 24/7 without flashing - infra red is used.
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