RE: Digital speed cameras arrive
Discussion
Ballon said:
Never ignore the 'Road Angel' and always keep it updated.
It can only be a matter of time before they upgrade the countries most lucrative camera, on the A3 before the Hook underpass.
That has to be the most dangerous camera in the country as well. I've seen three accidents there in the past year, two looked pretty serious, and all right in front of the camera itself.
Surely the opposite of one of the things the government claim camera's are there to do. The Hook camera has created it's own accident blackspot.
You can bet that one always has film in it too. Don't forget to smile!
We've had these babies in Bristol for ages.
They remind me of this chap, and make me feel about the same.
I often wonder if I'd find them more acceptable if they weren't so brutally functional in their appearance. Perhaps if they had ornate pillars and finials like Vicorian railway furniture, it would be like being nicked by the village bobby in his old-fashioned helmet, rather than rouughly bundled into a Transit by some git in riot gear.
They remind me of this chap, and make me feel about the same.
I often wonder if I'd find them more acceptable if they weren't so brutally functional in their appearance. Perhaps if they had ornate pillars and finials like Vicorian railway furniture, it would be like being nicked by the village bobby in his old-fashioned helmet, rather than rouughly bundled into a Transit by some git in riot gear.
My daily to and fro road had 2 cams 2 years ago. Now there are a dozen, most on long (try to hit the cam!) poles. Some flash, most check average speed which is a good thing. I hate to pay for a quick and safe truck-pass.
Funny: over here the roads are so well occupied, a slight driver's fault will result in a possible jam.
All lanes travel with almost exact speed: those who need to overtake don't because of flash fear, and those who slow down cause traffic-jams.
Dink says: power to the people. Let 'em choose. Experienced drivers can speed with a reason and with all the abillity. There won't be more casualties imo . . . We will never know, won't we?
Love the last part of my daily journey: 20 mins - well almost 15 lately
- of rural scamfree hooning. Some delicate twisties are no longer jawbreakers, so I guess I need a new job
Funny: over here the roads are so well occupied, a slight driver's fault will result in a possible jam.
All lanes travel with almost exact speed: those who need to overtake don't because of flash fear, and those who slow down cause traffic-jams.
Dink says: power to the people. Let 'em choose. Experienced drivers can speed with a reason and with all the abillity. There won't be more casualties imo . . . We will never know, won't we?
Love the last part of my daily journey: 20 mins - well almost 15 lately
- of rural scamfree hooning. Some delicate twisties are no longer jawbreakers, so I guess I need a new job There are already quite a few of these going up in London. There are two on Finchley Rd A41 near the O2 Centre in Hampstead, replacing an older Gatso that used to be in the centre of the road.
They are MUCH smaller and more difficult to spot than the Gatsos, even though painted yellow. The actual camera is mounted much higher, right on top of a lamppost-style pole, without the typical Gatso square-section pylon and "bent arm". It's higher than your "normal vision" would immediately register. Probably even more dangerous when you take your eyes off the road to verify what it is.
They are MUCH smaller and more difficult to spot than the Gatsos, even though painted yellow. The actual camera is mounted much higher, right on top of a lamppost-style pole, without the typical Gatso square-section pylon and "bent arm". It's higher than your "normal vision" would immediately register. Probably even more dangerous when you take your eyes off the road to verify what it is.
Has anybody spotted that the only time the government are prepared to do something to drive towards a 100% service level is when they are after our money.
Try getting that level of service when you want to get a train, and it is a completely different story.
If only the government devoted the same level of commitment to catching criminals, then perhaps motorists would not feel paranoid.
Try getting that level of service when you want to get a train, and it is a completely different story.
If only the government devoted the same level of commitment to catching criminals, then perhaps motorists would not feel paranoid.
ninjaboy said:
How well does it cope with paint on the lens?
Can imagine it would be harder to spot if the lens had been painted in a descreet colour, just need a bigger ladder as (possibly a disadvantage for the cams, they are small!) and with no film to change and automated processing when are they gonna be visited by maintenance firms. I'd imagine abuse of a normal gatso is first picked up when a billy comes to change the film or its been blatantly scarred. Also with digital image processing being handled automatically to cut costs, who is gonna know when some glue has been smeared over the lens to blur the image providing they don't verify each image by human.
Is it not time to end discussion into the finer details of camera design and loopholes in our legal system, to actually ask why the government is pressing ahead with the widespread deployment of said contraptions?
Why in a democratic society can such systems be implemented when there is no independent statistical evidence to support their ability to improve road safety, or remove dangerous drivers from our roads? I'm tired of misleading or inaccurate government statistics, the assumption that speeding drivers are dangerous drivers, and the blanket b*llshit that goes with all this.
It is a fact that cameras are detested by the majority of road users, it is also true that they detract attention away from the road and to the speedo. Speed is only the eighth highest reason for accidents, and the largest group captured by Gatsos are usually the safest drivers (full NCB, middle aged men who use the car for a living).
If the government really is interested in road safety they should introduce compulsory retesting (every 3 yrs), a tougher MOT, insurance based on the individual rather than the car (as in Canada), improved road markings and layouts.
In some cases I believe that gatsos only punish the confident drivers, usually a by product of a good driver - last night when I saw someone pay the price for driving at 46mph in a 40mph zone, (no traffic, safe dual-carriageway, fully insured, highly maintained performance car). Earlier that day I saw someone not pay the price for dangerous driving - a guy who decided to use his car as a weapon toward myself and occupants, no tax disc, beaten up old Rover with bald tyres...who ironically will never be caught on camera, and the police didn't want to know...!
Why in a democratic society can such systems be implemented when there is no independent statistical evidence to support their ability to improve road safety, or remove dangerous drivers from our roads? I'm tired of misleading or inaccurate government statistics, the assumption that speeding drivers are dangerous drivers, and the blanket b*llshit that goes with all this.
It is a fact that cameras are detested by the majority of road users, it is also true that they detract attention away from the road and to the speedo. Speed is only the eighth highest reason for accidents, and the largest group captured by Gatsos are usually the safest drivers (full NCB, middle aged men who use the car for a living).
If the government really is interested in road safety they should introduce compulsory retesting (every 3 yrs), a tougher MOT, insurance based on the individual rather than the car (as in Canada), improved road markings and layouts.
In some cases I believe that gatsos only punish the confident drivers, usually a by product of a good driver - last night when I saw someone pay the price for driving at 46mph in a 40mph zone, (no traffic, safe dual-carriageway, fully insured, highly maintained performance car). Earlier that day I saw someone not pay the price for dangerous driving - a guy who decided to use his car as a weapon toward myself and occupants, no tax disc, beaten up old Rover with bald tyres...who ironically will never be caught on camera, and the police didn't want to know...!
joke, can't believe all this crap. I seem to be looking at my speedometer nowadays more than I actually do the road. hedders said:
but cant digital photography be manipulated? This has been something i've queried for a while.
Digital photos could be edited by the less scrupilous..
Yes, thats why WE can not use digital images as evidence to defend ourselves against scams.
The law about digital images does not, of course, apply to scams
So,basically,you can be PROSECUTED using digital camera technology,but you cant DEFEND yourself using the same technology??.....dontcha just love living in a free democratic country.....
[quote=woodlands]Has anybody spotted that the only time the government are prepared to do something to drive towards a 100% service level is when they are after our money.
Try getting that level of service when you want to get a train, and it is a completely different story.
If only the government devoted the same level of commitment to catching criminals, then perhaps motorists would not feel paranoid.
Just thinking the same thing...if some criminals channeled their thoughts/energy into something positive rather than breaking the law they might be very successful at something. The reverse is true, if the police / government channeled their attention towards something more important/relevent than speeding, we might just see a reduction in crimes that really impact on people.
But then again, they would probably just slap their wrists and give them a warning or something...something that makes them go home and really think hard about what they have done....
Try getting that level of service when you want to get a train, and it is a completely different story.
If only the government devoted the same level of commitment to catching criminals, then perhaps motorists would not feel paranoid.
Just thinking the same thing...if some criminals channeled their thoughts/energy into something positive rather than breaking the law they might be very successful at something. The reverse is true, if the police / government channeled their attention towards something more important/relevent than speeding, we might just see a reduction in crimes that really impact on people.
But then again, they would probably just slap their wrists and give them a warning or something...something that makes them go home and really think hard about what they have done....
the Article said:How appropriate, almost "666", the number of the beast.
66 of them
These have one great redeeming feature, they're not SPECS. I've been past the existing pair of them on the Kendal-Windermere road and strangely enough traffic always slows to 30mph past them and then returns to a more sensible pace, something that couldn't happen if they were a SPECS system. I suppose they're effective at protecting the sheep at that specific location from having to look at fast travelling vehicles, but there's nothing else out there!
I think it shows the priorities of the Scamera "partnerships" when they opt for a minimum-cost-billing mechanism such as this in preference to SPECS, which is a lot more effective but costs the earth. Not that i'm complaining.
I'm guessing from the manufacturer's page that these cameras do have a visible flash, they certainly have a flash...
My only major objection to speed cameras is when you can be proscuted with no knowledge (e.g. no flash) and can loose your license for a number of minor offences commited before you were even aware of being caught.
Rob
P.S. I feel the camera detectors sales are soon to increase!
My only major objection to speed cameras is when you can be proscuted with no knowledge (e.g. no flash) and can loose your license for a number of minor offences commited before you were even aware of being caught.
Rob
P.S. I feel the camera detectors sales are soon to increase!
zumbruk said:
Apropos of nothing at all;
www.gizmos-uk.com/Paintball%20Guns.html
Oh, that is *so* tempting.
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