I have just recieved this e-mail, I assume it to be true

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New SPECS Speed Cameras which were introduced just before

Christmas on the M5 are going 'live' TOMORROW.

They are positioned between Junctions 29 and 31.

The first cameras read your number plate and if you arrive at

the next camera too quickly you will get a

That is almost word for word the same as the email that was doing the rounds about the M42 variable speed limits , and it was almost all incorrect then

(or worse if you are going over an un-disclosed threshold speed).

If they are there the speed that you can get away with and only end up with 3 points and 60 quid fine is 95.9mph any more and its court for you buddy

That is almost word for word the same as the email that was doing the rounds about the M42 variable speed limits , and it was almost all incorrect then

As I said I recd the mail so cant vouch for it but I did spot the specs cameras in that area at Christmas & they werent in any roadworks so it could be true

I noticed some work being done around that area and updates that would be inline with putting cameras up when I was last driving down there.

Personally I'll be taking it all slow anyway.

proberbly something to do with this,

Highways Agency - M5 J29-30 Catenery Lighting and J30 Slip Road Widening

from the above link

Work on the M5 will affect approximately 4km of carriageway, although the actual lanes in use will vary as work progresses. Due to the reduced lane width on this section, there will be a 50MPH speed limit in operation. SPECS safety cameras are being installed to record the average speed of traffic passing through the site. They will go live in January 2007 and will be in operation until the end of the scheme.

So by March they will be gone, but all roadworks I have seen down there have clear camera signage. Specs are used in all of hertfordshires roadworks now, and are also all clearly signed. I dare say that once they go live proper signs will be installed. On the A1 the signs were not installed before the cameras went live.

TBH as long as there are signs I think specs is a good way of controling traffic around road works. That is of course assuming they are actually working and not just keeping the M1 at 30!!

Camera have been in position since before Christmas although I believe they went live last week. I have also seen camera vans parked between Highways Agency vehicles in the closed off lanes on the northbound side just before junction 30,although the surounding vehicles obstruct the view of the inside lines they have been positioned in such a way that they can see the outside lane.

There is a feeling amongst those of us who travel the route regularly that the cameras will reain long after the roadworks have ceased.

There is a feeling amongst those of us who travel the route regularly that the cameras will remain long after the roadworks have ceased.

Hmmmm - I think so!

Remember with specs because of a loophole you can only be prosecuted if you exceed the speed whilst staying in one lane so if you accidentally go through the first one too quickly then swap lanes before the second one, if you are still going too quickly & its a motorway swap to the 3rd lane before the next one ;)

Of course you should never need to do this if you stick to the limits, something you should always do if people are actually working on the road

There is a feeling amongst those of us who travel the route regularly that the cameras will reain long after the roadworks have ceased.

They didn't on the M6 by manchester

Remember with specs because of a loophole you can only be prosecuted if you exceed the speed whilst staying in one lane

Is this still a loophole? Surely it should be very easy to plug, and I certainly wouldn't bother testing it! :rofl:

Chris

Is this still a loophole? Surely it should be very easy to plug, and I certainly wouldn't bother testing it! :rofl:

Chris

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=410539&in_page_id=1770

As I understand it one lane to another cant always be guaranteed to work but on a 3 lane road slow lane - fast lane will work, also tucking up behind a truck works as well as does removing the front plate

It really makes a mockery of cameras reducing speeding, if Mr average goes a bit over the limit he gets a ticket but if the determined speeder swerves between lanes, dives behind trucks & possibly removes his plate or uses a false one he gets away with it. The cameras have largely replaced the Police so there are unlikely to be any Police to witness his antics.

They didn't on the M6 by manchester

Nor on the M62 and M60...

Rob.