Rank: Forum user 
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My journey up the M5 currently takes me through a set of roadworks that has the Average Speed check cameras on it.
Compared to the old speed cameras they used to place on roadworks (everyone sped up directly after them) it does appear that the majority of road users actually comply with the 50mph in place (always the odd one to whom it does not apply dashing up the outside lane). Was wondering if any forum users have ever been unfortunate enough to get a ticket from this system, or if anyone from the transport industry knows if they actually issue tickets for those breaking the avarage? - not tempted to try it myself. Have to say it really does seem to work (sadly unlike the works they are trying to protect who never seem to have anyone behind the barriers....!!!!). Can only think this significant reduction in speed through the works has helped reduce accidents???????
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Apparently they do catch people; I've read a couple of blogs on this and one poster said that in a set of works he was running the cameras for they caught over 300 people. It's surprising how many people don't understand 'speed limit' and 'average', the most amusing part is watching people slow down when they get to the cameras.
I don't know what impact they have had on incident rates, it would be interesting to know. Certainly the old system which relied on drivers voluntarily slowing down (are you maaad! Slow down! What on EARTH for! It's my car!) never seemed to work too well.
Some of the flashing speed limit signs at the entrance to villages in Scotland show a little smiley face if you go past at the limit or less. I like that very much. It would be good if drivers were rewarded more often for driving properly, as well as punished for breaking the RTA,
John
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Rank: Super forum user 
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This type of system was mentioned on Top Gear recently when the "team" were travelling home after 6 weeks filming away, through average speed roadworks on the M1 at 2 in the morning with no other vehicles on the road, most frustrating.
Jeremy Ckarkson said the speed limit was in force to protect the road workers, there was nobody there at the time so a possible challenge to a prosecution if caught?
I dare you ha ha.
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Rank: Guest
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Challenging the prosecution on the grounds that there are no workers present will land you with a larger fine, and you'll have to go to court to argue the toss. Fine if you do it yourself, but hiring a solicitor will be very costly.
There will be a traffic order raised by the local authority (or equivalent) under the Road Traffic Act 1984 which will stipulate the date and times when the new reduced limit is in place. If you are caught within these hours exceeding the limit then you'll be issued with a NOIP (notice of intended prosecution), which must be served (received by you) within 14-days.
Going to court on the strength of a Top Gear programme will not go down well with a Magistrate, I fancy!
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Rank: Forum user
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They have installed average speed cameras on the M4 around Newport in South Wales and there is currently a lot of local discussion on whether they are all 'live'. At night it is possible to see whether or not the infra red lamp on the camera head is working or not. If it is there is a faint red glow from it. Also, they have installed sets of floodlights in front of just 2 of the cameras. It's almost as if they need the extra illumination to read the number plates of the cars passing by!
I agree with jwk: It's quite funny seeing people sped up between the cameras and then brake just before each set. They haven't really grasped the concept of 'average'.
Whether they catch speeders or not I don't know, but they do seem to keep the traffic flowing in a much smoother manner than the traditional speed cameras.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Challenging this based on the risk has been done. You can't get out of the points but I am aware of at least one case where he got out of the fine even after having been caught by a police camera car!
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Rank: Guest
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SteveDM wrote:Challenging this based on the risk has been done. You can't get out of the points but I am aware of at least one case where he got out of the fine even after having been caught by a police camera car! I can't possibly see how this happened. If he was nabbed by plod and given a conditional offer of a fixed penalty (COFP) then it's 3-points and a £60 fine. It isn't negotiable. The only way this could've happened is if his speed was too high to be given a COFP, was summoned to court, then the judge somehow decided to not fine him for some bizarre reason. I suspect he's telling you porkies, or Chinese whispers are resulting in bum information!
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Rank: Forum user
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They do seem to smooth traffic out, thought there does seem to be a rise in rear end shunts in SPECS areas from drivers hitting others who 'panic break' when they see a camera.
Obviously not keeping a big enough gap - remember the 2 second rule, it goes up to 4 seconds in the wet and 10 seconds in snow and ice.
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Rank: Super forum user
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jwk wrote:
Some of the flashing speed limit signs at the entrance to villages in Scotland show a little smiley face if you go past at the limit or less. I like that very much. It would be good if drivers were rewarded more often for driving properly, as well as punished for breaking the RTA,
John
I pass one of these signs most days of my daily work journey, and I purposely slow down to make the sign smile at me, for me this does work.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Brett
My problem with these cameras smoothing the flow is that the works from 28-25 on the M1 now seem to have more shunts with the speed limit than ever before!! It would be interesting to know how much of this is duer to speeders and how much to those n ot speeding - should be easy to research with the camera arrangements they have in place! Somewhere behind all of this is a blanket risk assessment that disregards traffic conditions in favour of a generic answer for the speed limit. We all know how good generic RAs really are.
Bob
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Rank: Super forum user
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ChrisBurns wrote:This type of system was mentioned on Top Gear recently when the "team" were travelling home after 6 weeks filming away, through average speed roadworks on the M1 at 2 in the morning with no other vehicles on the road, most frustrating.
Jeremy Ckarkson said the speed limit was in force to protect the road workers, there was nobody there at the time so a possible challenge to a prosecution if caught?
I dare you ha ha.
Protecting the workforce is one only reason the 50 mph speed limit is enforced, however I am not surprised that Top Gear only gave us half the story as the other reason is the width of carriageways are also reduced which increase the risk of a collision occurring!
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