Information regarding activation and deactivation of AMI system on M1

The request was successful.

Dear Highways England Company Limited,

I would like to request information held on your system on reasons and timing of activation and reactivation of Advanced Motorway Indicators and the associated HADECS system on:
Motorway: M1 (Southbound)
Location: between junctions 7 & 6A near marker post 2358B
Date: 25/06/2015
Time: between 19:00 & 19:10

Yours faithfully,

Ashraf Michail

Thulborn, Steven,

Dear Mr Michail

 

Thank you for contacting the Highways England Customer Contact Centre on
3^rd December 2015 enquiring about speed restrictions on the M1.

Your enquiry has been forwarded to me as the Regional Enforcement
Co-ordinator for the East Of England.

The information you have requested is information we make available to the
public on a regular basis.

Your request has been handled under normal business practices and not in
accordance with the Freedom of Information Act/Environmental Information
Regulations.

 

Enforcement of speed restrictions is the responsibility of the Police.
Highways England are unable to comment on, or advise regarding, any
allegation of offending. Within the judicial process, information held by
the Police will always take legal precedence.

Highways England record data for operational purposes, however
confirmation of the speed limit can only come from information held by the
Police (as identified on any provided ‘Notice Of Intended Prosecution’ or
similar). This response is for information only and may not be relied on
in court for the purpose of challenging an allegation of offending.

 

Journey Time Specified

25/06/15 19:00-19:10

 

Route

M1 7-6a SOUTHBOUND

 

Event Time Speed Restriction
A 17:42:30 70mph
B 18:59:39 50mph
C 19:35:25 70mph

 

According to our records, the speed restriction in place during 25/06/15
19:00-19:10 was 50mph due to congestion.

 

I hope this information has been of use. If Highways England can be of any
further assistance, please get in touch.

 

Yours Sincerely

 

 

Steven Thulborn, Asset Manager
Highways England | Woodlands | Manton Lane | Bedford | MK41 7LW
Web: [1]http://www.highways.gov.uk

 

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Highways England Company Limited | Registered Office: Bridge House, 1
Walnut Tree Close, Guildford GU1 4LZ | Registered in England and Wales No.
9346363

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References

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1. http://www.highways.gov.uk/

Dear Mr. Thulborn,

Thank you for your response and the information you provided.

Would you be able to clarify the following:

1. How is the variable speed limit activated? is it done through an automatic system powered by an algorithm or does it get activated by a person monitoring the road conditions?
2. From the information you provided, am I right in assuming that the speed limit was 70 mph until point B at 18:59:39 when it was changed to 50 mph and then remained at 50 mph until point C at 19:35:25 when it returned to 70 mph?
3. If the system is activated automatically, when was the system last calibrated/inspected or maintained? would you be able to send me a copy of the last inspection/maintenance/calibration record or certificate?
4. Does Highway England hold video footage or pictures for motorway traffic flow? if yes, could you kindly provide video footage or images showing the road condition during the period the speed limit was at 50 mph. The period I am interested in is between 19:00 and 19:10

Thank you in advance for your consideration

Yours sincerely,

Ashraf Michail

Thulborn, Steven,

Dear Mr Michail

 

With regards to clarifying the points raised in your email.

 

1.    Motorway traffic flow is managed by devices embedded in the road
called ‘MIDAS’. These devices are connected to the signs and cameras. They
gauge quantities, frequency and lengths of traffic on the road and manage
restrictions accordingly. They can also be manually operate.

2.    Yes.

3.    Highways England holds calibration certificates relative to the
camera in question however we do not by rule provide copies to members of
the public. These documents are made available to court if required. Our
records indicate that the cameras covering this area were operating to
standard. The cameras are certified by the Home Office, to ensure that
they operate fairly and provide legal proof of what speed limit was
displayed. This involves strict design requirements which mean that they
can only enforce a reduced speed limit if it is correctly displayed and
the system is working properly; they are not capable of enforcing a
different limit to the one which is displayed.

4.    We have a number of CCTV cameras on the motorway network; however,
these cameras are movable, and are normally used to monitor conditions on
the carriageway. CCTV footage is only retained at real time for 1 hour. It
is then kept at reduced frame rate for a period of 7 dates at which point
the footage gets automatically overwritten. If there is a major incident,
then the footage can be tagged, which means it is kept on the system for a
period of 30 days, when it is automatically deleted from the servers.  So
we don’t have data for the time period you have specified.

 

Regards

 

Steven Thulborn,

Asset Manager & Regional Enforcement Co-ordinator (East of England)
Highways England | Woodlands | Manton Lane | Bedford | MK41 7LW
Web: [1]http://www.highways.gov.uk

 

 

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