Digital
speed cameras M25
Junctions 10 to 15 are going
live on 15th February 2008
One of our members has sent in a caution that he understands
the Metropolitan Police Service advise that from the 15th February
2008 all the speed cameras in the Variable Speed Limit section
on the M25 near London Heathrow Airport (that is from Junction
10 to 15) are going digital and the activation limit is being
lowered. At present the cameras are the older type of cameras
using photographic film and thew activation speed is set at
90mph when the Variable Limit Signs are not in operation.
The
new digital cameras are going to be set at the normal activation
level which is 10% of the
speed limit plus 2mph. So on a section with the national limit
of 70mph, if you are travelling at (80mph you will be taking
a risk. On that basis the calculation is 70 plus 7 plus 2 =
79mph, so 80mph is over that activation limit.
We have no information on how the lower activation limits are
set when the overhead signs are set at the variable speed limits
but it may possibly be on the same basis. But in any case the
whole purpose of the variable speed system is to achieve good
flow control at times of high traffic volumes, so adjusting
your speed to comply with the Variable Limit Signs makes a great
deal of sense simply to achieve more comfortable driving conditions.
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There is nothing
worsethan the stop- start effect in heavy traffic as it seems
more and more motorway drivers touch their brakes so frequently
these days simply because they drive too close to the car ahead.
The result is a stressful concertina effect pulsing up and down
columns of close moving vehicles.
Hope this saves
a few of you getting points on your licence and encourages safer
driving on the M25 too!
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This
note aims to provide information on a speed cameras
which we believe to be correct andfeel will make a valuable
contribution to safer driving. This note is not intended
to suggest or encourage driving above speed limits.
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