Average speed cameras
Discussion
I can't help wondering, as I travel around, whether a large proportion of the motoring public simply don't understand "average" speed cameras. Time and again people come flying past me when I'm sitting at somewhere round the limit + guidelines, only to slam on the brakes when an actual camera looms.
Are people really not capable of understanding the concept of "average" despite possessing enough intelligence to (presumably) pass a test?
Or do they think that when it says "Average", it means that the camera is nothing special and just a bit run-of-the-mill like all the others?
Are people really not capable of understanding the concept of "average" despite possessing enough intelligence to (presumably) pass a test?
Or do they think that when it says "Average", it means that the camera is nothing special and just a bit run-of-the-mill like all the others?
My daily commute takes me along the M621 which has had 30mph average cameras for the last few months and I encounter this several times every day.
The other thing I have noticed is that when you move in to L2 and slowly make your way past another car in L1 (with a speed differential of ~3-4mph), they suddenly speed up and block you from completing your overtake.
Also the average sections on the M62 currently are awful - miles of being trapped amongst HGVs while some nutter sniffs your tail pipe in his white van.
The other thing I have noticed is that when you move in to L2 and slowly make your way past another car in L1 (with a speed differential of ~3-4mph), they suddenly speed up and block you from completing your overtake.
Also the average sections on the M62 currently are awful - miles of being trapped amongst HGVs while some nutter sniffs your tail pipe in his white van.
I've told this tale before:
Pub discussion - bloke is convinced (and won't be told otherwise) that camera 1 measures the speed, camera 2 measures the speed, average is computed from the two figures. Thus if the first camera registers 60mph, second registers 40mph, average is therefore 50mph. Ergo - brake to a slow speed for every other camera.
God help me not to strangle morons like this!
Pub discussion - bloke is convinced (and won't be told otherwise) that camera 1 measures the speed, camera 2 measures the speed, average is computed from the two figures. Thus if the first camera registers 60mph, second registers 40mph, average is therefore 50mph. Ergo - brake to a slow speed for every other camera.
God help me not to strangle morons like this!
GEFAFWISP said:
My daily commute takes me along the M621 which has had 30mph average cameras for the last few months and I encounter this several times every day.
The other thing I have noticed is that when you move in to L2 and slowly make your way past another car in L1 (with a speed differential of ~3-4mph), they suddenly speed up and block you from completing your overtake.
Also the average sections on the M62 currently are awful - miles of being trapped amongst HGVs while some nutter sniffs your tail pipe in his white van.
This all day long. If you set your cruise on a long straight flat motorway you constantly get people speeding up as you pass them. If they move into your lane as they force themselves into something in front, they then slow back down. If they held their original speed you could pass and they could pull out behind you if they needed to.The other thing I have noticed is that when you move in to L2 and slowly make your way past another car in L1 (with a speed differential of ~3-4mph), they suddenly speed up and block you from completing your overtake.
Also the average sections on the M62 currently are awful - miles of being trapped amongst HGVs while some nutter sniffs your tail pipe in his white van.
A50 from Stoke to East Midlands airport is a nightmare for it.
I passed a Ford Focus police car on the M5 the other day with my cruise at 72mph. He was in the middle lane passing some trucks. As soon as I was along side he speeded up to about 80mph leaving me stranded in the outside lane. I pulled back in behind him and he dropped back to 60mph, so I obviously caught him again. This went on for about 10 miles. I eventually managed to use the cars behind me to block him, once blocked I got some distance on him and got back into cruise mode.
I'd have no issue if he was doing 70 but I don't want to drive at 60 on a pretty clear section of motorway - I'd rather have been doing 90 but there's just too many cameras on the motorways now.
littleredrooster said:
I've told this tale before:
Pub discussion - bloke is convinced (and won't be told otherwise) that camera 1 measures the speed, camera 2 measures the speed, average is computed from the two figures. Thus if the first camera registers 60mph, second registers 40mph, average is therefore 50mph.
Even if he was right, which he isn't, if the cameras are a set distance apart, say a mile, then a mile at 60 followed by a mile at 40 would not give you an average of 50 for the 2 miles. Pub discussion - bloke is convinced (and won't be told otherwise) that camera 1 measures the speed, camera 2 measures the speed, average is computed from the two figures. Thus if the first camera registers 60mph, second registers 40mph, average is therefore 50mph.
Most people don't understand average, percentages, probability etc.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
littleredrooster said:
I've told this tale before:
Pub discussion - bloke is convinced (and won't be told otherwise) that camera 1 measures the speed, camera 2 measures the speed, average is computed from the two figures. Thus if the first camera registers 60mph, second registers 40mph, average is therefore 50mph.
Even if he was right, which he isn't, if the cameras are a set distance apart, say a mile, then a mile at 60 followed by a mile at 40 would not give you an average of 50 for the 2 miles. Pub discussion - bloke is convinced (and won't be told otherwise) that camera 1 measures the speed, camera 2 measures the speed, average is computed from the two figures. Thus if the first camera registers 60mph, second registers 40mph, average is therefore 50mph.
Most people don't understand average, percentages, probability etc.
This also backs up your point neatly
donkmeister said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
littleredrooster said:
I've told this tale before:
Pub discussion - bloke is convinced (and won't be told otherwise) that camera 1 measures the speed, camera 2 measures the speed, average is computed from the two figures. Thus if the first camera registers 60mph, second registers 40mph, average is therefore 50mph.
Even if he was right, which he isn't, if the cameras are a set distance apart, say a mile, then a mile at 60 followed by a mile at 40 would not give you an average of 50 for the 2 miles. Pub discussion - bloke is convinced (and won't be told otherwise) that camera 1 measures the speed, camera 2 measures the speed, average is computed from the two figures. Thus if the first camera registers 60mph, second registers 40mph, average is therefore 50mph.
Most people don't understand average, percentages, probability etc.
This also backs up your point neatly
So he thinks average cameras are like normal speed cameras, but with a get out of jail option. So it's a 50 limit, and you go thru one at 95 because you don't see it until the last second, all is not lost, just go thru the next on at 5mph and you're off the hook!! Christ, people are even thicker that I thought.
littleredrooster said:
I've told this tale before:
Pub discussion - bloke is convinced (and won't be told otherwise) that camera 1 measures the speed, camera 2 measures the speed, average is computed from the two figures. Thus if the first camera registers 60mph, second registers 40mph, average is therefore 50mph. Ergo - brake to a slow speed for every other camera.
God help me not to strangle morons like this!
Indeed. Even if you did 60 through first camera and stayed like that up to say 30m from second and braked hard to go through second camera at 40mph, you would still be well over 50mph average. Remember, (average) speed = distance/timePub discussion - bloke is convinced (and won't be told otherwise) that camera 1 measures the speed, camera 2 measures the speed, average is computed from the two figures. Thus if the first camera registers 60mph, second registers 40mph, average is therefore 50mph. Ergo - brake to a slow speed for every other camera.
God help me not to strangle morons like this!
GEFAFWISP said:
My daily commute takes me along the M621 which has had 30mph average cameras for the last few months and I encounter this several times every day.
The other thing I have noticed is that when you move in to L2 and slowly make your way past another car in L1 (with a speed differential of ~3-4mph), they suddenly speed up and block you from completing your overtake.
Coincidentally, also the most tedious fThe other thing I have noticed is that when you move in to L2 and slowly make your way past another car in L1 (with a speed differential of ~3-4mph), they suddenly speed up and block you from completing your overtake.
king section of motorway in existence. Roadworks everywhere else drop the limit to 50, needlessly. M621 is already 50, needlessly, so let's drop it to 30. Feels like you're barely moving!garyhun said:
As I say to my dad every day, never underestimate the stupidity of the general public.
Ricky Gervais has it right."we had a referendum on a complex issue like our continued membership of the EU, in a country where we still put warnings on bottles of bleach saying DO NOT DRINK. If we must have a referendum, take the warning labels off the bleach, for two years, and then have the referendum."
TwigtheWonderkid said:
garyhun said:
As I say to my dad every day, never underestimate the stupidity of the general public.
Ricky Gervais has it right."we had a referendum on a complex issue like our continued membership of the EU, in a country where we still put warnings on bottles of bleach saying DO NOT DRINK. If we must have a referendum, take the warning labels off the bleach, for two years, and then have the referendum."
Pica-Pica said:
Indeed. Even if you did 60 through first camera and stayed like that up to say 30m from second and braked hard to go through second camera at 40mph, you would still be well over 50mph average. Remember, (average) speed = distance/time
You see, your argument is circular. You know how they work and are asserting that that knowledge is clear from the name. If you invented a speed camera system that averaged spot speed readings from each camera, that could well be called average speed cameras, fitting the definition of 'average' perfectly.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff