Safe Speed Forums

Sat 15 September heading west bound on M4 just after Leigh Delamere, one camera or whatever on a tripod over each lane, van also parked on bridge. Further on, 3 or 4 Merc estate police cars waiting on hard shoulder.. I pass ...one pulls out.... everyone slows to 69mph..he follows me for a while then overtakes and follows a car in front for a bit then slows to... 65 everyone passes him and he pulls off at Tormarton. What was going on there? Waiting for info from ANPR? Was it a speed camera set up or ANPR or both? I believe tax, insurance and mot can all be checked from number plate?

Mult

Sounds like ANPR. They'd have pulled you over if they wanted something. The police are good at that.

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Andrew.

So i,m safe then? What speed do you have to be doing on a motorway to ensure an NIP?

Probably. I don't believe there are any type approved speed cameras which can be set up like that un-manned.

Usually + 10% + 2 = 79mph (real) but speedos often over-read at such speeds.

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Andrew.

OK, as i saw on TV they have to follow the vehicle and keep it in the frame of the camera. These 3 were all stationary on tripods.

The vehicle I was driving is limited to 128 kph approx 80 mph, speedo always reads 2/3/4 mph over what sat nav says.

If the police car was doing a 'vascar' check then yes, they follow, etc.
They could have been hiding behind you so the vehicle in front of you didn't see them? Especially so if a van.

The police car may well have had vascar on board, but they almost certainly pull you over if they want you. If you slow down as soon as you see them that seems to be enough to get ignored usually.

The police car was probably part of the ANPR team and I they presumably communicate via radio. So he might not have known who to go for or was waiting for a better description, or just wanted to get a missed numberplate or... anything really.

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Andrew.

ANPR is not capable of picking up the vehicles speed, from what i understand the bloke in the van sits and waits for the system to alert him of a suspect vehicle, depending on the offence audio noises ranging from eeeeooow to yabba dabba dooo are emitted, the operator then uses their radio to talk back to back with the plod further down the road