Average speed cameras.

[rikrobson]

So I'm driving up to Inverness this morning. Up the a9 through the average speed cameras. There is a report on the bbc Scotland news saying how well they are working and less speeders are being caught.
Now I'm stuck for nearly an hour now because of an accident. Did a search for accidents on the a9 and the Internet is full of fatal accidents. There was even one the day after they got switched on.
So I'm coming to the conclusion that they ain't working that we'll.
A rescue touch has just gone buy so hopefully not much longer.

 

[eSCHEn]

Until it's all dualled and the junctions are sorted that road is a death trap.

 

[Shox Dr]

Was on it last week, Problem is everyone does 45mpg

 

[awemawson]

Was on it last week, Problem is everyone does 45mpg

I wish I could get 45 MPG in my Disco

 

[Shox Dr]

I wish I could get 45 MPG in my Disco

You know what I meant​

 

[brianblock]

From my experience the problems there are caused by people doing 70-80 and treating it like a duel carriage way

 

[Shox Dr]

Just been on the radio (13:30) overturned tractor and trailer

 

[Migmac]

Like has been said it needs to be a dual carriageway. It's the main artery north so it should be made suitable for the volume of traffic it gets.

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Most accidents happen at the junctions so the average speed cameras don't stop the fatalities.

Mod edit : no politics please

 

[Shox Dr]

Like has been said it needs to be a dual carriageway. It's the main artery north so it should be made suitable for the volume of traffic it gets.

There are sections of DC, the problem is people taking the whole section to overtake one vehicle at 50mph.

 

[Rig Pig]

The cynical side of me thinks that they are a fantastic cash generator and little else. I find I spend more time looking at the speedometer than the road when I'm in an average speed monitoring zone - hardly improving road safety.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Down here, Average speed and GATSO as well as mobile speed traps are a real pain.

Ask any one and the most common response is they are cash generators. The money the raise does not seam to go into road improvements. It seems to be “lost” in government coffers.


Recently a few have had “accidents”.

1 was damaged by a hedge cutting tractor.

1 fell over due to rust, credited to dogs using as a toilet. Not battery acid. Who would do that?

1 filled with expanding foam.


A lot of people complain the camera vans are park illegally, double yellow lines, bus stops and on pavements. What happens if a member of the public did that?

A36 Warminster by pass a good example.


The best one I saw, but was driving at the time, was some one had taken a picture of the road. As the camera would see it. Mounted it on a board in front of the camera.

I did smile.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Until it's all dualled and the junctions are sorted that road is a death trap.

Yes, but you can't legislate for stupidity. Last time I travelled the road[soon after the cameras became live] it was a pleasure - traffic seemed less 'frantic' and flowed well.

Previously, I spent a lot of time watching various o/taking manoeuvres and thinking "Noooo, don't do that". Usually they did, but not always successfully......

And, ino queues are caused by the second vehicle - food for thought there.

P.S. And there's always cruise control.

 

[rtcosic]

We have no fixed cameras in Pembrokeshire so only encounter them when traveling.

Average speed cameras are great fun as so few people are numerate:
Simplified scenario (not dissimilar to actual situation on A40 elevated section at Port Talbot, except 50mph not 60mph):

• 2 miles of average speed limit of 60 mph
• Due to traffic cover first mile at 30 mph.
• How fast can I drive over the second mile and not get flagged?

Most people seem to think the answer is 90mph on the basis that 30 + 90 divided by 2 is 60.

Actually you can travel at the speed of light if you could:

2 miles at 60 mph takes 2 minutes (60mph is one mile per minute after all)
1 mile at 30mph takes 2 minutes, so all your 'allowed' time has already passed.
Even if you traveled the second mile at 180mph - one mile every 1/3 of a minute - you have taken 2 1/3 minutes to cover 2 miles which is




51.4 mph

So I'm that bloke in the big old black Jaguar thundering past you, supercharger whining, 'slightly outside ACPO guideleines' once the last camera gantry is in view on those stretches I know well. When the road ahead is clear and it is safe to do so - as I was taught back when that sign meant 'end of restriction' not 'National Speed Limit'.

(and who gets ticked by the regulars who know where they are on their local roads and I don't. Any A14 regulars? )

 

[dobbslc]

And there's me thinking all the " " hammering past me were just unregistered vehicle's.....

 

[clift_d]

The before and after average speed cameras on the A40 heading out of London is pretty noticeable. You still have a few people who are trying it on, but there seem to be a lot less people generally who are speeding and then braking hard every time they see a camera.

 

[Screwdriver]

Actually you can travel at the speed of light if you could:

Of course as we all know, you already are!

Just not in that particular direction

S.

(Almost all of your spacetime velocity vector is used up travelling though time but like everything else in the universe, you're still speeding along at c. I'm saving up this excuse for the local magistrate. Wish me luck)

 

[Robotstar5]

The best one I saw, but was driving at the time, was some one had taken a picture of the road. As the camera would see it. Mounted it on a board in front of the camera.

I did smile.

Not sure how true it is, but some lads removed the front number plate from a camera van, stuck it over their own front plate then drove past the van a few times exceeding the speed limit.

 

[rtcosic]

Not sure how true it is, but some lads removed the front number plate from a camera van, stuck it over their own front plate then drove past the van a few times exceeding the speed limit.

The anecdote I heard placed this in Australia.
No 2 son did report the camera van to local police though - for parking on the brow of a blind summit. They turned out too apparently, though I'm not sure how he claimed to know!

 

[ms08]

Not sure how true it is, but some lads removed the front number plate from a camera van, stuck it over their own front plate then drove past the van a few times exceeding the speed limit.

Not sure...think I read somewhere it was an urban myth.