But the RAC continues to argue for more changes to be made to smart motorways to make them as safe as possible, and to help ensure drivers feel safe when driving on them - especially on stretches of 'all lane running' smart motorway where the hard shoulder is removed for good. They are also said to be as effective as they are in the daytime at night and will run 24 hours a day. These are CCTV cameras monitored by Highways England and used to monitor traffic, not to issue speeding fines. Get a quote online today. There are cameras on the left side of the gantry that are usually like rectangular CCTV cameras but yellow, they don't usually have the big yellow box style ones you see at the side of normal roads At a glance, they look similar to portable road traffic cameras Understandably, drivershave a lot of questions about these newer types of motorway: what are they, how do I use them, what do I do if I break down on them, are they more dangerous, andwhat fines can I get while driving on them? HOW THEY WORK: REDFLEXspeed cameras check for speeding and can monitor up to six lanes of a motorway, while REDFLEXred cameras monitor junctions in case anyone is jumping the traffic lights. Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. This camera doesn't use film, so there's no limit to the amount of violations they can record and process. You can find smart motorways at the following places, with some schemes marked under construction: Smart motorway cameras enforce variable speed limits and monitor traffic levels from gantries on Englands roads. The HADECS 3 speed cameras have so far been installed on the M25 in Kent between junctions 5 and 6/7. The smart motorway network will cover 488 miles by April 2020. The Department for Transport revealed that all speed cameras were to be painted yellow by October 2016. What do smart motorway cameras look like? They record up to five lanes of traffic. Theyre a similar size and shape to the Gatso camera and theyre also paired with white lines on the road which are used as a secondary check for the cars speed. You should be able to see the speed camera from 60 metres away in a 40 mph zone, or 100 metres for all other zones. pause the rollout ofall-lane-running (ALR) smart motorways, continues to argue for more changes to be made to smart motorways, speedingsentencing structures that could lead to as much as a 2,500 fine, Follow our guide on what to do if you break down on a smart motorway, The real causes of motorway traffic and how to stop it, read our reaction to the Government's action plan, Caravan, Motorhome and Campervan Breakdown Cover, Journey reliability hasimproved by 22%, Personal injury accidents have been reduced by more thanhalf, Never drive in a lane closed by a 'red X', Keep to the speed limit shown on the gantries, A solid white line indicates the hard shoulder - never drive in it unless directed, A broken white line indicates a normal running lane, If your vehicle experiences difficulties, e.g. The number of cameras vary depending on the road so it can get full coverage of all the lanes. Fixed speed cameras have a set trigger for catching people speeding, however, it is unconfirmed what most are set at so it's not worth gambling and assuming they give you 10% or more - never exceed the speed limit. The fixed speed camera is almost Many consider SPECS camerasto be more effective in managing speed as they do not capture speed at an individual location, but average out speed between the two camera zones, meaningdrivers are obliged to maintain speed limits over much longer distances. The red X is an increasingly common sight on the UK's roads, especially the new generation of smart motorways where traffic is managed and lanes controlled. And because the new cameras aren't housed in the familiar yellow boxes which gives away existing speed cameras, they can be quite tricky to spot. The majority of speed cameras are painted yellow, as their presence is intended to discourage speeding as much as catch speeding incidents. Traffic flow speeds are broadcast from the units and used to detect traffic jams. Other variable message signs will say hard shoulder for emergency use only. 3: Speed bumps and traffic calming measures are a giveaway. This can trigger an alert if a vehicle known to be linked to robberies or drug use passes the camera, for example. These systems are often mounted on poles at the side of the motorway, and are largely painted in grey: only the camera units themselves sometimes receive yellow markings. 8 Speed Camera Myths Uncovered - Tyres Northampton News