Average Speed Cams - are people really this thick?

[baldy1926]

I was travelling home from a wedding a few years back, i was driving a friends car.
We were on the m1 in one of the average speed camera i said something like 'look at those tts slowing down for the camera and then speeding up dont they understand what average speed means.' There was a bit of silence before she said i had a ticket last month.
She was a senior manager for a large chemist chain and she could still not understand the concept of the cameras

[marshalla]

JacquesMesrine said:

There is a clue though with roadwork cameras and this has been discussed here before. The active cameras have floodlights just in front of them. I know we're now going tog et a great big discussion about infra red, but that doesn't tafter the fact the active cameras have those floodlights.

The question wasn't about which cameras are active, but which active cameras are paired. You can't identify the pairing just by looking.

[JacquesMesrine]

marshalla said:

JacquesMesrine said:

There is a clue though with roadwork cameras and this has been discussed here before. The active cameras have floodlights just in front of them. I know we're now going tog et a great big discussion about infra red, but that doesn't tafter the fact the active cameras have those floodlights.

The question wasn't about which cameras are active, but which active cameras are paired. You can't identify the pairing just by looking.

Agreed, but if you travel the route frequently, then you can identify the last active one before your exit and drive as you want after that.

[QuickQuack]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

NailedOn said:

The level of innumeracy is frighteningly high.
EG:
I buy two £4.99 items on a market stall and the trader gets a calculator out. Looks stunned when I tell him the answer.

I have a relative who is a very senior civil servant. Cannot use a calculator or a spreadsheet.

Joe Public gets to vote but can't add up.

There are three types of people in the world; those who can count and those who can't.

Nah, there are 10, those who know binary and those who don't...

[thatsprettyshady]

craigjm said:

Has anyone here, or someone they know, had a ticket from an average speed setup?

I've had two

[All that jazz]

JacquesMesrine said:

There is a clue though with roadwork cameras and this has been discussed here before. The active cameras have floodlights just in front of them. I know we're now going tog et a great big discussion about infra red, but that doesn't tafter the fact the active cameras have those floodlights.

So it's safe to plough through the roadworks on the M1 between J32 and J36 then because there's no floodlights at any of the camera locations?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

QuickQuack said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

NailedOn said:

The level of innumeracy is frighteningly high.
EG:
I buy two £4.99 items on a market stall and the trader gets a calculator out. Looks stunned when I tell him the answer.

I have a relative who is a very senior civil servant. Cannot use a calculator or a spreadsheet.

Joe Public gets to vote but can't add up.

There are three types of people in the world; those who can count and those who can't.

Nah, there are 10, those who know binary and those who don't...

Not forgetting the 5 out of every 3 who don't get fractions.

[BertBert]

I thought it was quality control!

The above average ones are too expensive and the below average ones are not effective enough.

Bert

[littleredrooster]

Bloke in our pub was arguing until blue in the face on the following theory: 1st camera records speed (say 50mph), second camera records speed (say40mph) Average = (50+40)/2=45. In between these cameras, he's convinced he can do 90 if he wants.

He was convinced that this was how they worked. I despair sometimes.

[MrBarry123]

craigjm said:

Has anyone here, or someone they know, had a ticket from an average speed setup?

Yes.

An ex-work colleague saw the NSL sign past a bridge he was traveling towards and immediately accelerated from 50mph to 70mph. He then passed under said bridge and was caught by the last camera sitting the other side (not visible from before the bridge).

[WJNB]

Edition87 said:

I dont understand it either.
as 'nobody else slows down.. so why would i?'

These last few words represent the window that allows us to see into a very insecure feeble mind. One that lives in fear of being different, one that is not confident enough to plough their own furrow though life but have to follow in the comforting shadow of others. Think hanging on to mummies skirt.
Even if driving a very powerful flash car I have no problem setting the cruise control to a mile or so less than the posted average speed & bumbling along until the speed limited section comes to an end. Not having anything to prove or feel a need to copy others am content to sit back & chuckle at others who come flying by knowing full well that a fine & points will soon follow. Their problem not mine.

[Fermit The Krog]

I really thought everyone understood the principle of them until a comment on a joke Facebook status I saw recently. The status read 'Wooohoo, just spanked a Veyrons ass! On a separate note does anyone know what the crack is with these average speed camera things?'
Not one but two people commented 'I don't get it'. Now, are they so dumb they can't get a joke, or, more worryingly do they not get the concept of said cameras?

Edited by Fermit The Krog on Saturday 6th February 17:29

[catman]

marshalla said:

catman said:

Judging by the amount of people on this website who don't know what a dual carriageway is, or what a national speed limit sign means, are you really surprised?

Tim

Number - unless you're proposing that we mince them up and weigh them ?

That's a pretty good idea. Wish I'd thought that one up!

Tim

[JacquesMesrine]

All that jazz said:

JacquesMesrine said:

There is a clue though with roadwork cameras and this has been discussed here before. The active cameras have floodlights just in front of them. I know we're now going tog et a great big discussion about infra red, but that doesn't tafter the fact the active cameras have those floodlights.

So it's safe to plough through the roadworks on the M1 between J32 and J36 then because there's no floodlights at any of the camera locations?

I've no idea, but I know it works well enough through the M60 roadworks and the earlier M62 one between Brighouse and the M1 albeit I don't really blast through them at silly speeds once I clear the last one.

[NailedOn]

QuickQuack said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

NailedOn said:

The level of innumeracy is frighteningly high.
EG:
I buy two £4.99 items on a market stall and the trader gets a calculator out. Looks stunned when I tell him the answer.

I have a relative who is a very senior civil servant. Cannot use a calculator or a spreadsheet.

Joe Public gets to vote but can't add up.

There are three types of people in the world; those who can count and those who can't.

Nah, there are 10, those who know binary and those who don't...

[Pete317]

I don't see what the problem is, for me it's as easy as 0x7B

[Jasandjules]

When I posted this I actually expected people to shoot me down and explain what I was missing.

Rather tragic to think that in fact it is because so many road users are absolute morons..

[Pdelamare]

Audidodat said:

I bet there are loads of people who don't understand it. There are probably loads of people who live out in the sticks who don't realise they even exist. Must admit, I can set a speed limiter on my car and am guilty of playing the 'how far over can I get away with' game. Most of the time I bottle it and set it at 53 or so.

55mph is fine. That's as far as I've dared go.

[Dave Finney]

WJNB said:

These last few words represent the window that allows us to see into a very insecure feeble mind. One that lives in fear of being different, one that is not confident enough to plough their own furrow though life but have to follow in the comforting shadow of others. Think hanging on to mummies skirt.
Even if driving a very powerful flash car I have no problem setting the cruise control to a mile or so less than the posted average speed & bumbling along until the speed limited section comes to an end. Not having anything to prove or feel a need to copy others am content to sit back & chuckle at others who come flying by knowing full well that a fine & points will soon follow. Their problem not mine.

Haven't you got that back-to front? It's us who obey that are obedient. Heard of the Milgram experiment? He explained the results by saying that few people have the social skills necessary to successfully challenge authority.

[Zedboy1200]

Pdelamare said:

Audidodat said:

I bet there are loads of people who don't understand it. There are probably loads of people who live out in the sticks who don't realise they even exist. Must admit, I can set a speed limiter on my car and am guilty of playing the 'how far over can I get away with' game. Most of the time I bottle it and set it at 53 or so.

55mph is fine. That's as far as I've dared go.

55 on the dash, 53 on the GPS for me