RLCs to double as speed scameras

[streaky]

Aside from idiocies such as penalising people for getting out of the way of emergency vehicles (various posts), RCLs are probably one of the few uses of a "safety camera" that PHers generally approve.

Now there are plans to transform RLCs into speed scameras! Testing will start shortly in several London boroughs.

They will also start testing a new scamera that takes a "clear picture of the driver's face" ... time to get the Tony B'Liar mask out I feel.

Streaky

[Reported in Evening Standard last night, no link on "This is London" site yet - S]

[smeggy]

The premise is simple enough – get the cam to take 2 pictures, but it doesn't look like an exact science when examining the link below.

www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/dcsc/enfotech/redlight.htm


One question that pops to mind, will it ‘measure’ the speed of all drivers (just like a normal gatso) and record speeding offences, or will it always record the speed of only RLC offenders? From what I have seen it looks like the only the latter is correct, I hope I’m not wrong!

[puggit]

RLC cameras have always measured speed.

A friend was caught speeding a few years back on the A417/A419 (never can remember which one) outside Swindon by a RLC.

[volvos70t5]

streaky said:

Aside from idiocies such as penalising people for getting out of the way of emergency vehicles (various posts), RCLs are probably one of the few uses of a "safety camera" that PHers generally approve.

I did see something by SafeSpeed about the "types" who jump red lights. After reading it, it certainly made me think about the benefits (or otherwise) of RLC's.

[zumbruk]

The problem with RLCs is that although they superficially appear to be a good idea, in the real world the accident rate *rises* at junctions equipped with them. (14% up, according to research in Australia.) The reason being that people brake hard for the lights and get shunted by the inattentive numpty behind. This really puts tRLCs between a rock and a hard place ...

[philthy]

zumbruk said:

The problem with RLCs is that although they superficially appear to be a good idea, in the real world the accident rate *rises* at junctions equipped with them. (14% up, according to research in Australia.) The reason being that people brake hard for the lights and get shunted by the inattentive numpty behind. This really puts tRLCs between a rock and a hard place ...

North circular a couple of weeks back. Lights changed to amber, I stuck the brake pedal through the floor (artic). Not speeding, but these things don't discriminate between a car, and a 14.5 metre truck. How long do you think it takes to get an artic through before lights go to red? to be honest I have no idea, but I do know how long it takes to stop (and sometimes, it's more than the two seconds you get)
Very nearly caused a pile up. Heard the screach of tyres behind me.

If anyone has any better way of dealing with these things, I'm happy to listen.

Phil

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zumbruk said:

The problem with RLCs is that although they superficially appear to be a good idea, in the real world the accident rate *rises* at junctions equipped with them. (14% up, according to research in Australia.) The reason being that people brake hard for the lights and get shunted by the inattentive numpty behind. This really puts tRLCs between a rock and a hard place ...

I had this happen to me last year. Lights changed, i stopped. the bloke behind didn`t. Then the insurance company tried to blame me, for stopping too quickly!! They will try anything to get out of paying.