Next generation speed cameras

[M]

Not sure how true this is but just in case any of you happen to be going that
way...................................................


For your information

Those new electronic signs on the M4 were switched on this Tuesday. The
Bad news is that they are rigged with the SPECS speed cameras.

SPECS is a computer-camera based system. As you go past the sign a
Digital camera reads your number plate. When you go past the next sign
your number plate is read again. The computer 'knows' how far apart the
signs are so it can work out your average speed between the two, or
three or four.

The system is fully automatic and will issue a ticket without any form
of human intervention. It does this for every single vehicle that
passes. You will not know you've been caught as the cameras don't flash.


They work 24/7, 365 days a year, and theoretically, there's absolutely
no limit on the number of tickets that the system can issue.

The whole section of the M4 between Theale (J12) and Membury Services
(between 14 and 15) is wired, both ways. The system is set to trigger a
ticket at 78 mph. Radar detectors will be of no use as SPECS is entirely
passive, there is no radar or laser beam to detect.

Be warned and spread the news.

M

[blakheet]

I've heard of this too, and my source is fairly reliable. Basically it is inevitable that these will soon be commonplace on our motorways, meaning that you cannot speed at all, end of story.

A similar concept has been used in france for some time, year before last i was going to le mans with my father and we were doing about 130 most of the way there and he got a ticket because the toll booths had worked out that to get from one booth to another he must have been speeding, same concept as these cameras...long distance speed checking.

On a related note, did anyone see that response to Frances first speed cameras in the papers yesterday? LOL.

[carpens]

Missed it!  What did the paper say?

[Overseer]

false!

From: http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/ - Via http://www.rowan.me.uk/?q=node/view/214&PHPSESSID=760d6f082bf998bea79fe1d032099438
 
New M4 Road Gantry Signs
The Highways Agency has installed new signs between J 12 and J 14 of the M4 as part of a year long pilot project to reduce congestion and collisions. The signs have two CCTV cameras. One which monitors the sign itself to make sure its working and displaying the right message; and another to monitor the congestion to evaluate the effect the sign is having on the traffic.
 
There are NO speed cameras and NO SPECS cameras in the signs!
 
The only involvement Thames Valley Police has is to change the messages on the signs according to the conditions to give up-to-date information. This is done via our control room. The signs are owned by the Highways Agency.
 
There is detailed information about the project on the Highways Agency website. Please follow the link below or call them on 0845 955 6575.

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/ms4/09.htm
 
http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/ms4/04.htm

[blakheet]

They've introduced like 20 cameras in different places, all have been vandalised beyond repair using a combination of sledghammers, bullets and paint. And the goverment official who was going to the grand speed camera opening ceremony was caught doing 20mph over the speed limit, by one of these cameras.

Overseer, you absolutely sure?

(Thats taken from the times.)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,171-889480,00.html

[carpens]

Sounds about right!

[Overseer]

i dunno.. someone here at work sent the original post around, and someone replied with what i did!

[8vgti]

They've introduced like 20 cameras in different places, all have been vandalised beyond repair using a combination of sledghammers, bullets and paint. And the goverment official who was going to the grand speed camera opening ceremony was caught doing 20mph over the speed limit, by one of these cameras.

Overseer, you absolutely sure?

(Thats taken from the times.)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,171-889480,00.html

[8vgti]

I can back up Overseer!! We have been involved on other (unrelated )projects using the same engineers which fitted the cameras, and they confirm that they are not SPECS.
On the e-mail sent to us it said:
"One of the main design features about the MS4, aside from graphical displays, is that the structures have been designed to take the weight of a pan-tilt-zoom camera.  Police forces and ultimately HA's agents will benefit from the availability of such cameras in managing incidents and reducing delays to all roads users, including our clients.

The CCTV data has been gathered for the six months prior to switch on and will be collected until the end of 2004.  We are using the images to assess driver braking, lane changing and speed compliance behaviour in response to the sign settings".

[AdamB]

We are using the images to assess driver braking, lane changing and speed compliance behaviour in response to the sign settings".

speed compliance behaviour!
that sounds like a speed camera to me!