Outrun A Scamera?

[imperialism2024]

Today the question occurred to me: Is it possible to drive so fast as to outrun a speed camera? There must be some maximum after which the shutter can't keep up...

[gog]

I seem to remember Top Gear checking this out, a year or so ago, conclusion was that it is possible but speed needed to be something like 170MPH

[welshdaz]

seem to remeber it was 174Mph, but await to be corrected

[DeMolay]

I am reliably informed that a GATSO cannot detect any speeds in excess of 157mph.

[miniandy]

DeMolay said:

I am reliably informed that a GATSO cannot detect any speeds in excess of 157mph.

Is this definite? Not that my car can reach that speed!

[Flat in Fifth]

miniandy said:

DeMolay said: I am reliably informed that a GATSO cannot detect any speeds in excess of 157mph. Is this definite? Not that my car can reach that speed!

Wasn't the Top Gear figure higher because if the camera flashed the vehicle was still in the second picture. Thus it could be deduced the the speed must have been at least n mph?

edited to the followng link

Devon & Cornwall SCP says
"Tolerances

In obtaining Home Office approval the accuracy of the Gatsometer speed camera system was demonstrated and independently evaluated as being within the required ±2 mph for speeds up to 60 mph and within 2% for speeds above 60 mph whilst operating within the temperature range -20°C to +60°C. The approval covers the measurement of vehicle speeds up to 155 mph."




>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Sunday 10th April 11:15

[ledfoot]

Flat in Fifth said:

The approval covers the measurement of vehicle speeds up to 155 mph.

So, if you drove past a camera at 180mph, would you escape a fine and ban ?

[groucho]

gog said:

I seem to remember Top Gear checking this out, a year or so ago, conclusion was that it is possible but speed needed to be something like 170MPH

Yes, I remember this, they used a Tuscan S iirc.

[imperialism2024]

ledfoot said:

Flat in Fifth said: The approval covers the measurement of vehicle speeds up to 155 mph. So, if you drove past a camera at 180mph, would you escape a fine and ban ?

If so, then you should be glad you have cameras instead of real police enforcing the speed limits...

A camera won't use a high-performance Crown Vic to pull you over...

[p490kvp]

I think the forward facing cameras have a much lower limit. I have been riding my bike through a forward facing camera - for simple amusement - and at first the speed was up near 170 but more recently I've been through at around the 100 mark and nothing happens - or if it does I've past so I can't see it.

[petros]

I believe 135 is the magic figure. A lad from my Snooker Club was caught by a GATSO at just over that speed on his Fireblade and hasn,t heard any more. And we know that this camera is operational.

[OFI]

The one from Top Gear with the Tuscan was 167mph i'm sure imagine the dissapointment being flashed at 166mph thinking it'll be quicker to speed up

[bryan35]

isn't it about corroboration.

Bit difficult if there isn't a car in the second photo!

[mechsympathy]

Flat in Fifth said:

Devon & Cornwall SCP says "Tolerances In obtaining Home Office approval the accuracy of the Gatsometer speed camera system was demonstrated and independently evaluated as being within the required ±2 mph for speeds up to 60 mph and within 2% for speeds above 60 mph whilst operating within the temperature range -20°C to +60°C. The approval covers the measurement of vehicle speeds up to 155 mph."

But, haven't people been done for 32 in a 30???

[mcflurry]

p490kvp said:

I think the forward facing cameras have a much lower limit. I have been riding my bike through a forward facing camera - for simple amusement - and at first the speed was up near 170 but more recently I've been through at around the 100 mark and nothing happens - or if it does I've past so I can't see it.

Obviously this was on a test track

[havoc]

ledfoot said:

Flat in Fifth said: The approval covers the measurement of vehicle speeds up to 155 mph. So, if you drove past a camera at 180mph, would you escape a fine and ban ?

Hmmm...lets see - the GATSO takes two photos. In one, there's a car. In the other, there's just this cloud of dust raised by it's passing.

That might just count as evidence of a silly speed!!!

[Flat in Fifth]

mechsympathy said:

Flat in Fifth said: Devon & Cornwall SCP says "Tolerances In obtaining Home Office approval the accuracy of the Gatsometer speed camera system was demonstrated and independently evaluated as being within the required ±2 mph for speeds up to 60 mph and within 2% for speeds above 60 mph whilst operating within the temperature range -20°C to +60°C. The approval covers the measurement of vehicle speeds up to 155 mph." But, haven't people been done for 32 in a 30???

I have never see that, I've seen 34 in a 30 to be sure.

Incidentally according to the Police Scientific Development Branch Handbook on Gatos they quote a permissible accuracy of +3/-5 mph

see http://publications.psdb.gov.uk/docs/psdb13-97.pdf

>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Monday 11th April 13:41

[anonymous-user]

p490kvp said:

I think the forward facing cameras have a much lower limit. I have been riding my bike through a forward facing camera - for simple amusement - and at first the speed was up near 170 but more recently I've been through at around the 100 mark and nothing happens - or if it does I've past so I can't see it.

obviously we will never get done on fwd facing without a front number plate

[craigw]

the top gear test was 157mph, who would be brave enough though ? ?

[Plotloss]

176 produced one flash in the Tuscan on TG