The Real Facts About Motorway Stealth Cameras

Darren

We've had more emails about these 'stealth' cameras than just about any other subject we've covered so I thought it was time we set the record straight and cut through all the rubbish being spouted by The Daily Fail and Clarkson!

The cameras in question are called HADECS (Highways Agency Digital Enforcement Camera System). They are gantry mounted digital speed cameras, deployed on motorways where variable speed limits are operated. The first generation cameras could only cover one lane each, examples of these are those installed on the M42 and the M4 - A3 stretch of the M25, and they've been in use for some years, the first Home Office Approval for these was issued in 2008.

HADECS 3 is an updated variant with a single camera able to monitor up-to five active lanes of traffic, including those sections of motorway where a hard shoulder can also be used as a live lane. Even these aren't new, we first covered HADECS3 cameras back in May of 2014.

The biggest outrage being spread by the rags appears to be that they are hidden 'stealth' cameras and that they can issue speeding fines for exceeding the 70mph limit.

HADECS3 is no more discrete or stealthy than many other speed cameras, and being painted grey is not unusual. The original HADECS systems, installed over each live lane of a motorway, were hidden behind the variable speed limit signs so surely they were even better hidden?

The bluster about HADECS3 being used to enforce 70mph limits is also nothing new. These cameras have the type approval to enforce any speed limit that is legally in force and so they can be used to issue tickets for 70mph limits if Police so wished. We do not know of anyone who has been prosecuted for exceeding 70mph, as a result of evidence from a HADECS system, but that's not to say you should assume they aren't or won't ever be used for that purpose.

Whilst we could argue that it can, at times, be difficult to know the exact speed limit on a stretch of road, there is little excuse for not knowing that 70mph is the UK's national speed limit.
_________________
Darren Griffin

Kremmen · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:58 am Post subject:

Personally I'm in favour as I've witnessed some horrendous speeding on the M25 western section . Shame they haven't issued any tickets since 2008 though. Speed limits are there for a reason.
_________________
DashCam:
Viofo A119 V3

Darren · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 12:15 pm Post subject:

alan_sh · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 12:45 pm Post subject:

My issue is the fact/rumour that they are set to issue tickets if you do 71mph. Can anyone confirm/deny this one?

Alan

Darren · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 1:15 pm Post subject:

M8TJT · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 2:10 pm Post subject:

We know it's the recommendations, but are they using them?

MaFt · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 2:11 pm Post subject:

acgale · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:02 pm Post subject:

Kremmen · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:10 pm Post subject:

Darren · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:39 pm Post subject:

That may have been historically true, but I know of people who have had tickets for exceeding the lowered variable limit on the M4-M3 section in recent weeks. Same goes for the M3 SPECS zone, tickets are being issued.
_________________
Darren Griffin

ChristopherW · Lifetime Member Joined: Jan 24, 2008 Posts: 41

Last November, I was flashed on the M1 out of London by one of these - thankfully nothing ever arrived in the post, definitely one of my nine lives gone!

I can confirm that at 2am, they're completely invisible in the dark Embarassed

. I didn't see a speed camera warning sign (as I believe is supposed to be there), but who knows...

The gantries weren't lit at the time, but I understand that if they are being used by the police for enforcement, they are HO Type Approved to enforce the NSL even if gantries aren't lit. I shall certainly be curtailing my speed in future.

If these cameras are supposedly going to strictly enforce the NSL at 70 with no margin of error, how many people who waft along at 75-80 mph are going to be stung by this? Wouldn't the subsequent increase in NIPs end up overwhelming the police forces issuing them?

Darren · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 5:16 pm Post subject:

Kremmen · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 5:18 pm Post subject:

Darren · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 5:20 pm Post subject:

Found this article which described the tech:

Smart Highways - HADECS 3
_________________
Darren Griffin

TerryReilly · Occasional Visitor Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 2

According to the BBC - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-28329966

Some 1,500 drivers were caught in the first two weeks as new variable speed cameras on the M4 and M5 were activated. One was recorded at 124mph.

Ch Supt Ian Smith said the "vast majority" of the offences occurred when the speed limit was reduced for "good reasons".

He said this could be due to traffic building up or debris in the road.

"If people are deliberately ignoring those limits which have been set because of increased danger... [then] there's really no excuse for that whatsoever," Mr Smith said.

The managed motorway project was signed off in January, but the cameras only became active recently.

Figures obtained by the BBC show between 27 June and 11 July 1,502 vehicles were recorded speeding.

They also reveal 70 drivers were travelling above the normal 70mph limit when the speed signs were off including three over 100mph.

Speed awareness courses have been offered to 1,318 motorists in lieu of a £100 fixed penalty notice and three points.

One hundred and sixty seven drivers have been sent fixed penalty notices and 17 have been summonsed because of the severity of the alleged offence.

	PocketGPS
	Web