New speed cameras ????????????????????

[patrick]

Just been sent this info via email:

You know those new electronic signs on the M4? Well they were switched on
by some transport minister on Tuesday. Now the bad news, they are rigged
with the SPECS speed cameras.
SPECS is a camera based system. As you go past a camera software detects
and reads your number plate. When you go past the next camera, it detects
and reads your number plate again. It knows how far apart the cameras are
so it can work out your average speed between the two cameras.
The system is fully automatic and will automatically issue a ticket without
any form of human intervention. It does this for every single vehicle that
passes a camera! You will not know you've been nicked as the cameras don't
flash. There's no film in them either, they're digital. Images of you in
your car, together with the date and time are stored on disc (I assume they
only keep them if you've been nicked).
It works 24/7, 365 days a year, and theoretically, there's absolutely no
limit on the number of tickets that it can issue.
The whole section of the M4 between Theale (J12) and Membury Services
(between 14 and 15) is wired, both ways.
It is believed that the system is set to trigger a ticket at 78 mph.
The bad news gets even worse. For those who've got radar detectors, they
won't work. SPECS is entirely passive, there's no radar or laser beam to
pick up.
If anyone wants to be brave, we can do an experiment with small number
plates. I don't know what the upper speed limit is on SPECS either, on
GATSOs its about 175 mph, above that it can't detect you!

 

[Si]

Not entirely true!

I work for a company thats been charge of the development of those new signs. I've spent hours out on our company test track carrying out tests on things like legibility of the sign in all conditions, etc.
I guarantee you there is absolutly no provision for SPECS cameras in the signs.
However there are SPECS cameras on the M4 between Jcts 12 and 15!
Nothing to do with me or my company i should add!
But their not on the new signs, their mounted on poles to the side of the motorway, their white, look like a pair of cctv cameras, quite clearly visible.

 

[Matt]

Re: Not entirely true!

Nothing about speed camera's being built into the signs on the Highway's Agencies website......

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

Matt.

 

[johnp]

Thank god for my road angel! never fails.

 

[Matt]

Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

Road Angel can detect these SPECs cameras? Thought most of these devices could only pick up on radar based stuff....?

I'm probably talking rubbish though!

Matt.

 

[Marko]

I would have thought that if the GATSO is being fooled at 175 mph (top gear TVR was it?) the SPECS would not be fooled unless you left the road before making it upto or past the next 'reader'. If it takes the average speed from two readings you could in theory, fly through the first one @ say 90mph and then coast through the next one at 50mph and your average would be 70mph...unless it registers the fact that you were doing 90mph in the first instance and uses that figure alone for a conviction. Anyone know more than my speculation?

Marko

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

The specs system only takes a single picture as each car goes past so cannot tell instantaneous speed. Any number plates it can't read will be flagged for human intervention. I know the people who designed the text recognition system.

 

[Ian (Geforce)]

Re: Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

Hmmm, so does anyone know if these cameras are in place on other motorways at the moment (and working?) other than the M4..

I barely travel on the M4 (being an notherner 'n all)
but I have been on it four times in the past week and a half!
god forbid me to ever drive on that motorway again with them cameras up.

hehe

 

[andy1881]

Re: Re: Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

Marko the whole point is it knows the time you went past the camera, if you go past the first one at say 3pm and the second one at 3.10pm it knows to get from point A to point B in 10 minutes you must have been breaking the speed limit

 

[Craig]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

just imagine all them drivers with their eyes fixed on the speedo instead of the road!

 

[Alan]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

i thought those blue cameras up and down a roads did the same thing? Worked out you average speed over distance and fined you if necessary?

 

[Tom]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

The blue ones are trafic master or other such companies watching for trafic jams. they do actually count cars passing automatically but don't log number plates.

 

[Barakka]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

Check out:
http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/frames.htm
and click on SPECS on the menu for loads more info on the system.

There used to be a link on there to thecompany that developed the number plate recognition software it uses - and you could download a demo of it. It's bl**dy good and picks the plate really well and very fast!

As for any up north, I know they've had them on the M6 at Thelwall Viaduct since the roadworks have been there (see the pics on the above site). Not that you can even drive at the limit round there at the moment !

Barakka

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

the blue one saves part of the number plate and works out a general average speed for the road which is then relayed to traffic master subscribers.

 

[Si]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

Yeah there are Specs camers on the M6 near Preston and on the M62 (or is it the M60?).
You can't miss them, they look like 2 or 3 cctv cameras usually with a yellow plate behind them or on a big yellow post so that their visable!
Any idea if they work at night though?

 

[nick_wheelho]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

there are a **** load of specs cameras in nottingham - was the first place they tried them and they've kept adding to them.
as someone quite rightly said they are just like cctv cameras and dont use infa red etc.
they basically record every cars number plate - from the front, at both sets of cameras- its then works out your average speed between the two be it if you passed one at 40 the other at 30 your still be done. also as they are forward facing cameras they can be used to prove who was the driver too.

 

[Roberto]

SPECS on the M4

Hi guys,

I travel on the M4 regularly and have seen the camera's that patrick mentioned atop the new electronic road signs. I am sure they r just CCTV camera's 2 monitor traffic flow. As far as tha camera's Si mentioned between J12 & J15, well, I have 2 admit, I've not seen those at all, but I'm going down there on Wednesday and I'll keep a look out. Thing is, I must average about 70-90mph down that stretch, especially westbound, and I've not received any ominous mail yet

This is what a SPECS system looks like....

This is taken from the official SPECS website, and there is nothing on there showing any different design, therefore 1 can only assume that the camera's on the M4 signs r simply CCTV.

If any1 knows any different please let us know

I suppose, the simple thing would b 2 obey the law !!

Cheers,

Rob.

I hate people who take drugs.....customs men 4 example !

 

[John]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

Theres loads on the M6. Preston as mentioned b4, theres also loads at the road works all down the M6. U cant miss them. They hang over the road and have 1 large camera and 2 smaller ones (i guess are the infa reds).

Have to say though Nottingham or most of the Sheefield area in general have to be worst for them. Every main road has them avery 1/4 mile.

Luckily where i live in Ayrshire theres not a camera of any sorts for at least 20 miles so im not so bad off as some. lol

 

[JohnP]

Re: Re: Re: New speed cameras ????????????????????

RoadAngel is GPS based it knows your exact location, speed you are travailing and your direction, by not using radar it only goes off when there is a camera, not like the radar one I had that was going off contiualy!

It compares this with a database of speed cameras (Fixed, Mobile Location, SPECS) and alerts you as you approach the camera.

For SPECS it keeps flashing at you, and beeps now and again whilst you are in a SPECS zone so you keep your speed down.

As it knows the direction you are going, it only alerts you when the camera can get you, so it wont go off if you are heading towards a Gatso.

Another camera that is becoming more popular it the Truvelo -

they use a sensor in the road (no radar) to get your speed, and unlike a Gatso they get you as you drive towards them, lots of these in the Southampton area.

The only camera that can get you with a roadangel are mini gatsos (mobile cameras) not to many of these around, the roadangel does come with a Laser detector to alert you to mobile laser detectors.

The only thing with the laser detector is it looks abit like a camera when attached to thew windscreen, and driving a white Brava people must think I'm a police car as loads of people slow down when I'm behind them!

 

[Graham]

You already have your Guinea Pig

Well much to my displeasure, I have ascertained myself as guinea pig for the cameras you have all been talking about on the M4! last night after driving 1000 miles this weekend in my TD100 Bravo I was a bit fed up of driving to say the least, so 90 it was all the way down the M4 from the A34/36 whatever it is junction to Bristol! So I will keep ya posted if I get any mail, hopefully only the one if there is to be one cos im on 3 points at the moment and a couple of tickets could see me wih rather unsightly insurance premiums or even licence lost just for one trip!