M4 / M5 Gatsos are now live - beware!

M4 / M5 Gatsos are now live - beware!

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Discussion

N Dentressangle

Original Poster:

3,445 posts

229 months

Monday 14th October 2013
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The new gantry mounted Gatso cameras enforcing the new variable speed limits around the M4 / M5 interchange are now live.

Noticed one flash in the opposite direction on the M4 this morning, so beware, and keep an eye on the posted variable limit. smile

LancerG

2,871 posts

282 months

Monday 14th October 2013
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Thanks. I go that way a couple times a week

McAndy

13,450 posts

184 months

Tuesday 15th October 2013
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Duly noted, thank you.

Are they still being commissioned? If so, can they issue tickets from them?

N Dentressangle

Original Poster:

3,445 posts

229 months

Tuesday 15th October 2013
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McAndy said:
Duly noted, thank you.

Are they still being commissioned? If so, can they issue tickets from them?
No idea, but they flash so I'm not sure I want to try the only way to find out.

I wonder if they monitor the NSL when no limit is displayed on the signs - ie. can you drive through the gantries at > 70mph when no variable limit is shown?

MudSkipper

2,406 posts

225 months

Tuesday 15th October 2013
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I have done in the M25, well the odd few times you can actually reach somewhere near 70.

Will be doing the dreaded M4, M25 route tomorrow.

TDIfurby

1,997 posts

182 months

Tuesday 15th October 2013
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So have the 50mph average speed cams been taken down then? At least that will speed things up a little bit through there (assuming overheads don't all say 50mph too....)

BuzyG

787 posts

218 months

Tuesday 15th October 2013
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Cheers for the heads up, Heading up that way on Saturday.

CB2152

1,555 posts

140 months

Tuesday 15th October 2013
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Thanks for the notice. The junction nearest my house seems to join right in the middle of the works...

N Dentressangle

Original Poster:

3,445 posts

229 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
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TDIfurby said:
So have the 50mph average speed cams been taken down then? At least that will speed things up a little bit through there (assuming overheads don't all say 50mph too....)
There are still average speed cameras through the parts they're still working on - the actual interchange and part of the M5 south of it, I think.

They're not that well signed though, so it's worth keeping an eye out for when the 50 average limit begins and ends.

BristolRich

545 posts

140 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
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N Dentressangle said:
I wonder if they monitor the NSL when no limit is displayed on the signs - ie. can you drive through the gantries at > 70mph when no variable limit is shown?
The cameras are only on and set to the appropriate limit when speed matrices are on...unclear if that includes the NSL sign (end of restrictions) but assume the same...

Slagathore

5,968 posts

199 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
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TDIfurby said:
So have the 50mph average speed cams been taken down then? At least that will speed things up a little bit through there (assuming overheads don't all say 50mph too....)
You would think that, but since they've stopped the 50 average on the M4 and put the road markings and cameras up, everyone has still been cautiously going through at 50-60mph. It seems most people can't read road signs, as they seem to think it's still a 50mph zone, despite the national speed limit sign just after the Cribbs junction.

I've noticed some of gantrys don't actually have cameras on yet? There's markings on the road, but lookig back in the mirror, there are no cameras on the gantry bit.

It's made me really paranoid driving through that section now. Even if they don't have anything on the variable signs, I still assume if you go through over 70mph, you'll get a ticket. Or that they'll just ticket you for going 70mph and say the sign said 50mph!


TDIfurby

1,997 posts

182 months

Wednesday 16th October 2013
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Slagathore said:
It's made me really paranoid driving through that section now. Even if they don't have anything on the variable signs, I still assume if you go through over 70mph, you'll get a ticket. Or that they'll just ticket you for going 70mph and say the sign said 50mph!
I think as long as you stick to the speed indicated on the gantry, there shouldn't be any need to worry about cameras etc. This is what I do on the M42 around Brum, and the M6 to the north of Brum.

I did wonder if they were going to use the gantries to open up the hard shoulder at busy times, making it 4 lanes? That would be pretty good if they did as it works on the M6/M42.

blueg33

38,569 posts

231 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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Interesting, the cameras on the M42 and M6 don't flash when they take a pic. Is different technology being used at Bristol? If so is it "approved" yet?

TDIfurby

1,997 posts

182 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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blueg33 said:
Interesting, the cameras on the M42 and M6 don't flash when they take a pic. Is different technology being used at Bristol? If so is it "approved" yet?
Yes, I'd be worried if it was as much of a flash as a GATSO as they are not allowed to catch you speeding driving toward them as potentially blinding / safety impeding. On a motorway you're pretty much going to have traffic going in the opposite direction all the time.

blueg33

38,569 posts

231 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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TDIfurby said:
blueg33 said:
Interesting, the cameras on the M42 and M6 don't flash when they take a pic. Is different technology being used at Bristol? If so is it "approved" yet?
Yes, I'd be worried if it was as much of a flash as a GATSO as they are not allowed to catch you speeding driving toward them as potentially blinding / safety impeding. On a motorway you're pretty much going to have traffic going in the opposite direction all the time.
Except that the opposing traffic is offset further

BristolRich

545 posts

140 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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blueg33 said:
Interesting, the cameras on the M42 and M6 don't flash when they take a pic. Is different technology being used at Bristol? If so is it "approved" yet?
The gantry cameras are in most cases, Gatso. These can work either by radar or induction loop and will Flash. The other type of flashing approved cameras are MONITRON and TRUVELO.

Cameras that "do not flash" work in a completly different manner and dont rely on film or transmission of image (e.g. MONITRON).

SPECS works by reading your no plate and timing you between two fixed points. These are typically a small lightweight "square" camera with two circular IR Sensors either side. They can be mounted on road side or over head gantries, switched on and off on demand. These were popularised when it was found out that by going through camera 1 and then changing lane, speeding up to camera 2, it was not intelegent to realised you'd changed lane.

TRUVELO are the forward facing cameras usually found but not exclusivly in the Midlands work on induction loops set ahead of the camera.


blueg33

38,569 posts

231 months

Thursday 17th October 2013
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In nearly 8 years of driving the M42 I have never seen the cameras on the gantrys flash.

I am sure I read somewhere that they use infra red.



adz9

147 posts

198 months

Wednesday 19th March 2014
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Hey guys!

Sorry to bring this up again. I was just wondering if any of you know anyone who has been prosecuted by these cameras near the M4 J19?

I drive this section regularly and recently have seen them flashing away merrily. Today I went through Eastbound. Starting the gantry section at J20 each gantry was set at 60mph. I slowed to this and carried on through the section.

A few gantries before the M32 turn off at 19 the gantries went to 40mph but I did not notice this as I went under the FIRST of these. In my rear view mirror I saw several flashes so it was not only me.

Do you think I'll be ok? Surely they have to give you a gantry or so notice before slamming a camera there?

LancerG

2,871 posts

282 months

Wednesday 19th March 2014
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Good news and bad news

The bad news - they can get you straight away, the gantry speed is directly linked to the camera, however not all gantry have the cameras. Look for the lines on the road.

The good news - I got flashed by one (double flash), eastbound before the M32 and I have not received a ticket.

good luck

adz9

147 posts

198 months

Wednesday 19th March 2014
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This was definately one of the gantries with it on. I believe 3 before the M32. Hopefully indont get anything like you!

How long ago was it you got flashed Lancer?