Those variable speed cameras
At the start of the year, a 50 mph, two mile stretch of enforcement cameras went life on the M4 at Port Talbot.
Since they went live, 4500 motorists have been caught speeding which is roughly 80 motorists a day. So I decided to do some digging about why people are still being caught speeding, and it mostly came down to awareness of what average speed cameras actually mean, and how they catch you out.
Average speed cameras use state of the art technology to read your number plate between two cameras along a stretch of road. They are not like fixed speed cameras that catch the speed you are going as you go past them.
A common misconception amongst drivers is that they can speed before they get to a camera and then slow down to the speed limit – this does not work. Average speed cameras work by recording the speed you were going between two cameras, and the times you went through them. By doing this it can work out your average speed and will issue you with a speeding ticket if necessary.
Also – some people said that they thought the speed signs would appear, like with the average speed cameras in Newport. The traffic signs in Port Talbot do not do this because they are always switched on and working. Therefore as soon as it says 50 mph that is the speed you have to do no matter what time of day it is.
They have caused problems with traffic as people are breaking suddenly, but unless you want to be saddled with a £100 fine, it is best to stick the speed limit. Not only will it save you money, but it could ease up congestion as well. Oh and there’s the added bit of you following the law!
Since they went live, 4500 motorists have been caught speeding which is roughly 80 motorists a day. So I decided to do some digging about why people are still being caught speeding, and it mostly came down to awareness of what average speed cameras actually mean, and how they catch you out.
Average speed cameras use state of the art technology to read your number plate between two cameras along a stretch of road. They are not like fixed speed cameras that catch the speed you are going as you go past them.
A common misconception amongst drivers is that they can speed before they get to a camera and then slow down to the speed limit – this does not work. Average speed cameras work by recording the speed you were going between two cameras, and the times you went through them. By doing this it can work out your average speed and will issue you with a speeding ticket if necessary.
Also – some people said that they thought the speed signs would appear, like with the average speed cameras in Newport. The traffic signs in Port Talbot do not do this because they are always switched on and working. Therefore as soon as it says 50 mph that is the speed you have to do no matter what time of day it is.
They have caused problems with traffic as people are breaking suddenly, but unless you want to be saddled with a £100 fine, it is best to stick the speed limit. Not only will it save you money, but it could ease up congestion as well. Oh and there’s the added bit of you following the law!
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