AndyBrew

I was sent this email thought I'd share it

Dear All

This applies especially to those of you who shuttle between BRISTOL and
LONDON

The SPECS ?speed enforcement system is now live on the M4 between Junction
12 - Theale, and J14 Hungerford, just east of Membury Service station. A
transport minister switched it on officially, for a '6-month trial period'
on Tues 7 October 2003.

It is likely to be set at 78mph real road speed! No human intervention is
required in issuing speeding tickets, so very large numbers can be issued
automatically.

PS. The cameras are mounted on the overhead information signs, (pairs of
tiny cameras). They DO NOT FLASH, so you won't know you are likely to 'cop'
a ticket at the time.

Dracoro

I believe this is a HOAX. There are displays that tell you your speed but there are NO speed cameras that will give you fines etc. When I say that, I mean the ones being referred to won't give you fines. There may be other cameras that are already there or will be put there in the future that may do.

There's a coupla threads in NSR about this too.

HTH

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

All.

Anyone gone this way with an up to date road angel? RA would pick it up if true.

John.

ScoobyIan

these sound like the ones on the M6 over the manchester ship canal, they do work as i know of people who've been caught out with them, take care folks

WrX 03

Have a look on www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk under the heading S.P.E.C.S. on the left hand side.

They're definately real!! They digitally read your number plate then read it again further up the road and it works out your speed and automatically sends you a ticket.

[Edited by WrX 03 - 10/17/2003 4:45:23 PM]

Dracoro

see Here

Either way, don't chance it.

greasemonkey

Why? If (as indeed likely) it is a hoax, all you've done is perpetuate it. It's no different to that email that advises you to delete Windows system files because they're supposedly a virus - a hoax fed by paranoia and lack of knowledge.

SPECS arrays are readily identifiable and aren't "tiny". Each unit consists of a central camera with two smaller pods either side, with, as you say, another unit a kilometre or so down the road. Quite distinctive, and, especially given current law, impossible to conceal.

The "tiny" cameras fixed to some information boards are for traffic flow monitoring, not SPECS. The SPECS units fitted on the M6 near Bolton are on their own bright yellow gantries, while the ones further down on the bridge roadworks have orange sheets fixed behind to draw attention to them...

Yes, WRX03, we know SPECS cameras exist. The only issue here is whether they're on the particular section of the M4 as has been claimed in this particular email.

If speed prosecution devices were indeed disguised into traffic flow boards, you'd have grounds for escaping prosecution, especially if there were no accompanying speed camera warning signs...


[Edited by greasemonkey - 10/17/2003 5:07:20 PM]

AndyBrew

Sorry

just thought I'd pass on a bit of knowledge thats all??

**** me won't bother again LOL!

Carlos The Jackel

Why should you be sorry AndyBrew?

Greasemonkey sounds a tad arrogant to say the least. Nothing new for Scoobynet - arrogance usually sums it up.


[Edited by Carlos The Jackel - 10/17/2003 5:41:58 PM]

StickyMicky

you should see him in full swing when roll cages are mentioned LOL

Mr.M

It's not a hoax, i know of somebody's wife getting two NIP's in one day from these cameras.

greasemonkey

I wasn't suggesting he should be, merely that it's always better to count to ten before perpetuating stuff like this. The "jdbgmgr.exe" email is another perfect example of well-meaning folk actually spreading the virus - the virus in this case being incorrect and scaremongering information.

Andy's post, while well meaning, was erroneous, and given its subject, was likely to be spread by other well-meaning people if left unchallenged. If you think doing so counts as arrogance, well, your definition of arrogance is not something I'm going to lose sleep over.

Carlos The Jackel

Its just the way you started the post - and don't mention Roll Cages! LOL

macka

Simple - get a Road Angel, everyone's getting paranoid about cameras and speed traps because the boys in blue are using it to generate revenue and not just in accident black spots. Go to scotland - nice straight road u can see for miles not a house, school or old lady crossing for miles and what do you get - bloody speed camera! Really pisses me off when it's just after a hill or twisty road. The twots are just trying to cop the frustrated motorist that want's to get past a caravan or lorry. Like I said get a Road Angel! Greasemonkey's right by the way - most of these things are hoaxes designed to cause havoc with the reaction. He knows his **** as well boys so don't **** him off - you might need his advice one day! **** me - sound like me dad

AndyBrew

Sometime's I wonder about this board!

I merely received an e-mail warning me of some potential speed cameras on the M4, now to be quite frank I don't give a flying chuff whether its a hoax or not I'm not about to go flying through that section of motorway at 90mph just to prove someone wrong LOL!

Now at least one person has coroborated the story anyway so whats the problem??

PeteT

I drove past the ones on the M6 yesterday (in a 40 mph temporary limit) and the orange backing sheets behind the cameras have faded over the summer making them somewhat less visible. Loads of cars going through at 50+.

Be careful out there.

Diesel

Grease - believe they are looking for diplomats to go to Iraq. Dunno if that is of interest?

TopBanana

They had speed traps set up around J13 (A34 interchange) a while ago. Theres a 50mph restriction there at the moment, so I'd guess thats where he picked up his tickets. Not from the overhead cameras

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Just to clarify. They DO exist. And for those who don't know what they look like.....



Sometimes they are on fancy poles like this..



There are always at least 2, spaced about 1/2 mile apart and they take your AVERAGE speed, not the speed you are doing at that monment you pass them. They use digital automatic numberplate recognition, so, no need for flashes, no radar, nothing. They may emit some Infra-red so they can work at night that's about it.

MooseRacer

Ali - everyone knows SPECS cameras exist, just not on that stretch of the M4

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Well some people still don't seem to get the idea of how they work...or what to look out for.
And the descriptions about them above were sh!te

YOU MAY KNOW but others may not. I'm just informative that's all .

And quite simply, if you know what they look like...which I have just demonstrated to the lesser-informed. You know what to look out for next time your on the M4 or whatever.

As I said - JUST CLARIFYING!

[Edited by ALi-B - 10/18/2003 11:24:42 AM]

MooseRacer

easy tiger

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Sorry I'm in a bit of snappy mood today

Leslie

They look very similar to the description given by Greasemonkey as useful information to the rest of us, as was the information given in the original and subsequent posts.

Les

[Edited by Leslie - 10/18/2003 1:07:29 PM]

Kane

see http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/

Dont know how many people have said this to me this week. They are just camera's no night vision or IR finders etc. ALSO statement from the Police due to the amount of calls from the public on this stupid rumouring on the internet..

Just goes to show how many people travel over the speed limit on the M4..LMAO...

Kane

There are mobile vans all down and around the M4 J13/j14/j15/j19 at the moment...but thats normal - no static camera's or i would have NIP's coming out of my **** at the moment...

Noticed most people in the 3 road works are all going 60/70 still as they know no camera's on those sections at the moment..I aint - i need my licence as it is 3Points only.

IanW

There have been several threads on this this week, anyhow just to clear things up.

The camera's on the M4 in that area are NOT SPECS camera's they are there for the MS4 (Motorway Signal Mk 4) Signs.

If you want clarification on this then see the link below, or call the Highways Agency on 0845 955 6575.

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/ms4/09.htm

Ian

Kane

snap