Safe Speed Forums

I’ve just overheard an interesting conversation between a colleague and a work contact about speed cameras (he was on the phone). He was very critical of cameras, citing an example I didn’t know of.
I’ve since spoken to him about it. The example he gave was a new set of SPECS cameras on the M4 installed “in time for the Ryder Cup”.
He had driven to Wales (he does it regularly) so he could give some specific details.
Apparently, they had closed off 4 junctions of the motorway (starting at NewPort westbound), only to put up the cameras.
There are no roadworks or bollards since the cameras have been installed.
There are no signs of any sort (temporary, roadworks) … except the ones showing the limit had also been reduced to 50mph!

Needless to say, he is absolutely convinced the cameras are used purely a revenue raiser.

Does anyone know anything more about these new cameras?

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Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

Not an area I've driven through recently, but my understanding is that the SPECS cameras and 50 limit are to do with the installation of variable speed limits and partial hard shoulder running on the congested section of M4 around Newport. Apparently they extend some way beyond the actual area of the works which is why your colleague may have gained the impression that nothing was going on.

No doubt there will be some traffic management measures and junction closures associated with the Ryder Cup, but the SPECS wouldn't have been installed just for that.

There are various threads on SABRE about it.

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

At the recent Road Strategy Conference that I attended the SPECs chap was keen to point out the 'better traffic flow' through SPECS systems and how compliance is high as 'only' 1 in 20 drivers are receiving NIP's.
He also sighted the M3 'example' to which I questioned him about (as he said the M3 traffic normally a light and fast flowing road is simply reduced to 50mph at the junction with the M25 and the M3 traffic has no idea why is is being slowed ! He agreed that the new engineering resolved the previous problem. So we now have SPECS for the sake of it - to apparently aid traffic flow !)

The fact as I tried at length to point out to him and all in the room too was that it simply had traffic bunched / tailgating, zombie-like drivers who are exceptionally late to react to almost anything and distraction galore ! The tails prior to SPECS systems can often be extreme and many near misses occur. I have seen many SPECS up and down the Country, considering that they are proven 6% worse at roadworks for PIA (personal Injury Accidents) why are we using them ? All he could answer was speed compliance but even that is not 100%.

So I assume this is another SPECS for the heck of it, also from what you say to actually and deliberately funnel road users into their system. All sadly and highly dubious.

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Traffic flow on that secrtion has indeed improved, but that was due to the relayout of the merging junctions, not the cameras or limit reduction. Bias on Selection and all that!

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Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign