Speed Camera Vans

Author
Discussion

runnerbean 14

Original Poster:

274 posts

134 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
quotequote all
Speed Camera Vans are much in evidence in my local area, and have 'gonged' me twice in the last six months. Cycling past one recently I stopped, tempted to harangue the operator, but he disarmed me with politeness and then demonstrated his particular system to me - I learned a couple of useful things:

1. Although the camera system constantly records, it only measures speed when the operator pulls a trigger - he did this and gonged someone while I watched. Details on a memory card and off to the local ticket issuing office pronto.

2. The camera only operates out of the side and rear of the van - not the front. Owing to focus & field of view constraints it only seems capable of measuring one carriageway at any one time.

While these insights aren't much help on single carriageway roads (where I was done on both occasions) there is a definite lesson for motorways and dual carriageways when these vans lurk on bridges - the operator is very likely to be concentrating on the outer lane (where all the usual suspects congregate).

Move back into lanes two or one whenever possible and you are much less likely to be nicked. All the morons round here who think they 'own' the outer lane and never move out of it are much more at risk. Schadenfreude!

TheAngryDog

12,406 posts

209 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
quotequote all
runnerbean 14 said:
Speed Camera Vans are much in evidence in my local area, and have 'gonged' me twice in the last six months. Cycling past one recently I stopped, tempted to harangue the operator, but he disarmed me with politeness and then demonstrated his particular system to me - I learned a couple of useful things:

1. Although the camera system constantly records, it only measures speed when the operator pulls a trigger - he did this and gonged someone while I watched. Details on a memory card and off to the local ticket issuing office pronto.

2. The camera only operates out of the side and rear of the van - not the front. Owing to focus & field of view constraints it only seems capable of measuring one carriageway at any one time.

While these insights aren't much help on single carriageway roads (where I was done on both occasions) there is a definite lesson for motorways and dual carriageways when these vans lurk on bridges - the operator is very likely to be concentrating on the outer lane (where all the usual suspects congregate).

Move back into lanes two or one whenever possible and you are much less likely to be nicked. All the morons round here who think they 'own' the outer lane and never move out of it are much more at risk. Schadenfreude!
Quoted for posterity, and;

runnerbean 14 said:
Speed Camera Vans are much in evidence in my local area, and have 'gonged' me twice in the last six months. Cycling past one recently I stopped, tempted to harangue the operator
Why is it their fault if you got caught speeding? Are you in the habit of aggressively speaking to people because you've done something wrong and have been caught doing so? Sounds very "council" to me..

London GT3

1,025 posts

241 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
quotequote all
The comment about concentrating on only one lane, probably Lane 3, is interesting and worth remembering. Not a guarantee not to be done but perhaps reduces the risk a little.

Thank you.

danjama

5,728 posts

142 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
quotequote all
PLOT TWIST: OP is a scamera operator and this is his way of looking our for us Pistonheads!

Riley Blue

20,949 posts

226 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
quotequote all
Fastest traffic is likely to be in the outside lane - who'd have thought it?

Jezzerh

816 posts

122 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
quotequote all
Just seen one on the A630 in Wickersley, Rotherham. Dead dual carriageway at 10 on a Sunday morning, 40 limit. Downhill section. It's no wonder people are cynical.

anonymous-user

54 months

Sunday 5th July 2015
quotequote all
Why does it make a difference? The law is the law. The speed limit still applies on hills.