M42 Cameras

[Richgm]

Just been up the M42 between J10 and J11. Spotted some cameras on posts above a bridge one for each lane. A couple of miles further on the same thing again. They were defiantly cameras and not the sensors that they use for traffic-master etc.

Don't know for sure but I was thinking maybe SPECS has arrived so thought I'd give a heads up just in case.

[Terry Everall]

I,ll check it out Monday

[moomin]

isn't it a variable speed limit thing rather than SPECS?  like what they have on M25.  so if the signs are showing a speed, best stick to it me thinks.

I could be wrong - it's been known  

moomin

[Richgm]

The variable speed limit is further south. J4-J6 IIRC. These were just cameras on poles no variable speed limit signs or anything.

Been chatting about it today at work. If it's not specs then maybe one of the car tax checkers but, if so why on two bridges.

[studbuckle]

They're not SPECS. Not sure what they are but traffic monitoring is favourite given that the chances of speeding on that section are so slim.

[Richgm]

They're not SPECS. Not sure what they are but traffic monitoring is favourite given that the chances of speeding on that section are so slim.

Chances of speeding are slim at busy times. But the goverment money making machine (Sorry I meant police force) don't only use cameras at busy times.

Traffic monitoring is a possibility but then I can't understand why do you need a camera for each lane and why on two bridges a couple of miles apart.

I started this thread as a heads up just in case they were specs. Now I want to know what they are. I know which roads will take me over those bridges. I may take a wander up over the weekend and have a closer look.

[Crash Override]

Have you got a road angel or snooper? these should alert you as to whether they are SPECs or not.  I was talking to a guy a work and he rekons that they are, not sure myself as I don't go up that far, I turn off at 3A and trundle down the M40.

Malc.

[davidgh]

OT for the SPECS debate  --  but big brother really has landed: ANPR

[a4gom]

Do they look like this?

I've just looked on my database of cameras and it only shows one gatso on that stretch about half way along?

[studbuckle]

No they don't that's why I said they're not SPECS.

[Pew]

See here Clicky for the details of the project on the M42. Active Traffic Management. But as detailed this is around NEC rather than J10 - J11

[v7slr]

Thanks for the link to that site. I found a useful email address to report some items that have been bugging me for a while:

Dear sir/madam,

Of late I have noticed a couple of worrying trends in traffic management which I believe make certain motorway junctions more dangerous than before. I am referring to the implementation of traffic lights on the roundabouts above motorway junctions, and the road markings on the *road* approaches to these roundabouts.

In the first instance, I have noticed that upon leaving the Northbound carriageway of the M5 at junction 4 (the A38 junction), 9 times out of 10 I am immediately stopped by red lights. It is not uncommon for a queue of traffic behind me to reach the motorway itself in busy periods and I am reminded of the horrible accident which occurred on the M42 at junction 6 some years ago when traffic queuing on the motorway itself for the NEC caused a multiple pile-up.

I have been driving North to the M5/A38 junction for many years, and was dismayed when these traffic lights were originally implemented. I used to be able to exit the motorway and make safe progress around the roundabout in accordance with the normal rules applying to roundabouts. Now I find my journey interrupted by the traffic lights and my safety feels compromised.

There is a similar traffic light implementation on the M42 junction 2 which brings with it the same frustration at unnecessary interruption to the journey. The “fear” aspect on this particular roundabout is because of the rather ridiculous road markings leading up to the roundabout. Consider a car approaching the roundabout from the Birmingham side of the A441. As you approach the roundabout you are presented with 3 lanes. If you are turning right, presumably to join the Westbound M42, you would take the right hand lane. It therefore seems appropriate then that if you wish to go straight on, you take the middle lane and a sensible person would take the inside lane to join the M42 Eastbound or into Hopwood Park Services.

The problem is that the inside lane does not “force” you into the Services or onto the Eastbound M42, and many people feel justified in going straight on here, into Redditch on the Alvechurch bypass. This is patently dangerous because 3 cars into 2 lanes do not mix. It is only because of the slow speeds of traffic that I have not witnessed an accident, however I fear an accident will happen. I have witnessed literally hundreds of occasions where I have looked on in wonder that cars missed one another and whatever my feelings for the lack of common sense amongst drivers today, I have to admit that the road markings could be clearer.

The same applies to the other approach to the same roundabout.

Other road markings baffle many a driver too. Back to my least favourite junction (M5/Jn 4). If you approach the junction on the Northbound carriageway, and wish to turn right onto the Birmingham A38 exit, you would take the right hand lane on the motorway slip road. Owing to whatever Act-Of-God traffic management system controlling those traffic lights you are likely to be sitting waiting for a green light. When it comes, you wish to move to the middle lane for the next set of lights which are directly in front of the exit for the Northbound M5, and then to the inside lane for the last set of lights to exit the roundabout for the Birmingham A38.

The problem is that as the first set of lights change, you find that traffic is queued across your path because of other traffic lights on the roundabout. When you eventually find a space, you find that traffic in all directions believes that *it* has the rights to the middle lane, and that moving across from the outside lane upsets people. Similarly when you wish to move to the left once more before finally exiting the roundabout.

This problem is *directly* the fault of the traffic lights. The road markings would work well without the lights cramming traffic into too small a space. In fact, if I remember correctly, the road markings *did* used to work well. That roundabout was once a very easy junction to traverse.

I apologise if this email address isn’t the correct one to lodge such a note of discourse. If this email finds itself in the wrong mailbox, I would appreciate being directed to a more suitable one.

Many thanks,

Nigel Marston

Tel No. Supplied.

[moomin]

had a busy day Mr Marston?    

that's the Lydiate Ash junction isn't it?  tis a rather short slip road, and the lights are bad.

moo.

[v7slr]

Actually I've had a busy week. I've actually put more hours in this week than I'm contracted to. Odd eh? And not all on Cam7, here or the Dark Side.

Work gets in the way of a decent life. I mean, since locking V7 away on Sunday I've not seen it, let alone resolved my oil issues.  

[moomin]

me too. though ntl hasn't delivered any (cam7) email today, so I suspect a) there'll be a deluge tomorrow and/or b) it's probably been quiet today.

need some time to firkle my motah too, but I have to firkle the other one this w/e  

hope the baffle is the problem with yours...

ttfn