Question, am I being daft here but :-

The overhead "average speed type" often seen in road works

Looking at the FRONT of your car only

How CAN they work in the dark (without any flashes built in) ?

Thanks

I think a combination of infra red and radar

Ok yes the detection will work (IR or radar)

But what about the image

My company works with cameras / machine vision, inspecting all types of packaging. And the hardest part is the lighting of things

try to take a photo of a car coming towards you at night HEADLIGHTS ON

WITHOUT A FLASH !!

and I can bet you wont ever see the reg number

When I drive into the car park at Madrid Airport at night with lights on, the lighting is not good but it still reads the number plate and displays it on the screen. wont be going there for a while though after last week.

Does a SPECs camera actually take a picture, or does it just grab and interpret the number plate?

Chris

Takes a picture and reads the plate at the second camera. The first one just reads the plate.

The whole area is lit up using infrared which us humans cant see. If you look at the camera when you approach it you will see the faint red glow from the IR lamps either side.

Yes but car headlights also give off some IR

We feel this as heat

Numberpalates dont give off IR

I have seen a mates "Convicting Photo" from a SPECS camera in daylight that wasn't an IR image and it was large FOV showing all the car

Speed Check - SPECS, speed check, road safety UK, speed cameras, variable message signs, speed reducers

UK Speed Cameras - SPECS explained speed traps, speed camera detectors

OK Thanks all, I'm convinced now.

I guess the only way to beat it is to "Tail-gate"

Or use a wacky font for your front reg plate

The way to beat it is to slow down I'm afraid. Although I hear that changing lanes confuses it.

Or use a wacky font for your front reg plate

Easiest way to beat it is to slow down (for the most part they're there for a very good reason). Alternatively, find someone with a similar looking car to you and nick their plates

Chris

Alternatively, find someone with a similar looking car to you and nick their plates

This happenned to my neighbour. Front plate nicked off his X3. Apparently it's getting quite common for those trying to avoid congestion charging...

SPECS are only DoT approved for ONE LANE.

So if you go through in one lane and exit in another you cannot be prosecuted.

This has been stated by the DoT and was in the press at the end of last year.

With the comment from them saying "Don't do it as swapping lanes is dangerous and in extreme cases they will prosecute".

Well they can try,if the system isn't approved by the DoT for multi-lanes how can they?

I may be wrong and am open to be advised by more knowledgable members.

This is worth a look

http://www.speedcheck.co.uk/SPECS.zip

How about making a front number plate with IR leds built in,

it will look invisible to the eye, but look "flared" to a camera and so it can't read your number

Changing lanes is supposed to work. Not tested it out yet though. might get the chance today with my trip to Birmingham...?

How about making a front number plate with IR leds built in,

it will look invisible to the eye, but look "flared" to a camera and so it can't read your number

I like the sound of that idea, but don't know who'd want to be a guinnea pig for it, or how you would properly test it :P .

Sounds similar to the old theory of spraying hairspray or laquer on the number plate to create a glare when flashed, although I don't think they ever worked properly.

I'm all for the idea of laser diffusers and would definately get one if I got done by the scamera "partnership" (yeah right!), though hopefully my talex will stop that from ever happening - obviously not relevant on these types of camera though.

Anyone interested in how to get off speeding fines should have a look at pepipoo.com.

Fascinating reading on their forums (take a look at the success stories under case files), wouldn't have the guts to follow their advice though....I tend to just keep my speed down these days!

SPECS are only DoT approved for ONE LANE.

So if you go through in one lane and exit in another you cannot be prosecuted.

This has been stated by the DoT and was in the press at the end of last year.

With the comment from them saying "Don't do it as swapping lanes is dangerous and in extreme cases they will prosecute".

Well they can try,if the system isn't approved by the DoT for multi-lanes how can they?

I may be wrong and am open to be advised by more knowledgable members.

That explains the eejuts on the M1 swapping lanes after each camera in the average speed check sections... *******...

Here's an insane idea.

Drive at or below the chuffin' speed limit.

Presumably I'll now be flamed by the knuckle-draggers of the forum.

Here's an insane idea.

Drive at or below the chuffin' speed limit.

Presumably I'll now be flamed by the knuckle-draggers of the forum.

Specsis the only camera shown t have reduced accidents in road works so should be congratulated, however, speed limits are enforce to increase capacity in narrow lanes, and therfore if the traffic is free running why shold it not go faster, I doubt the poor road worker hit at 60mph instead of 50mph is going to be any less dead.

I doubt the poor road worker hit at 60mph instead of 50mph is going to be any less dead.

True enough, but at 50mph there's probably a better chance of missing him. And probably less likelihood of another car ploughing into the back. I do prefer the averaging cameras to the ordinary ones, simply because people generally drive in a less idiotic manner around them.

I'm not against avergae speed cameras, i just think like most cameras they are badly used, protect the workforce and increase capacity yes, but when they are not working and its quiet at night whats the point. I found on the M6 at peak times the shear volume of traffic at peak times made th things redundant anyway.

but when they are not working and its quiet at night whats the point. I found on the M6 at peak times the shear volume of traffic at peak times made th things redundant anyway.

On the A66 near Teeside PArk there was some amusing signs telling me that the 30mph speed limit in the roadworks was left in force for my own safety over christmas, 30mph on a dual carriageway miles away from housing! No narrow lanes or contraflows.