New (to me) speed trap.. thing. Purley area.
Discussion
Yesterday I was driving down towards Purley from Banstead. I came off the roundabout between Little Woodcote Lane and Foxley Lane, onto the A2022, and admittedly got close to 40mph when I noticed a pole with a black box and a sensor device on the left hand side. After passing it, and starting to slow down, I saw another pole-mounted device with a screen that read out my numberplate!
This was slightly unnerving as I haven't encountered a system like this before. The fact it noted my plate is worrying, but I'm confused at the seeming lack of camera. I have searched and can't find a photo of it; Google street view doesn't have an updated road image suggesting its a relatively new thing and I haven't heard of such a roadside set up, although my first thought was a slightly advanced LED 'smiley' system; more of a warning / deterrent than an enforcement trap.
Can anyone with some experience tell me what this might have been - and whether I can expect any trouble coming my way soon? I'm fully aware of my actions, but just bracing for the possibilities!
Thanks in advance.
This was slightly unnerving as I haven't encountered a system like this before. The fact it noted my plate is worrying, but I'm confused at the seeming lack of camera. I have searched and can't find a photo of it; Google street view doesn't have an updated road image suggesting its a relatively new thing and I haven't heard of such a roadside set up, although my first thought was a slightly advanced LED 'smiley' system; more of a warning / deterrent than an enforcement trap.
Can anyone with some experience tell me what this might have been - and whether I can expect any trouble coming my way soon? I'm fully aware of my actions, but just bracing for the possibilities!
Thanks in advance.
Edited by Resolutionary on Friday 13th July 17:06
ghe13rte said:
That's the thing! Thank you.I can't say I've seen such a set up before - if not to issue tickets, what is the point of storing the gathered information?
Redline88 said:
I passed a similar thing in Croydon a couple of years ago. AFAIK it’s just like you say, a smiley type sign and the ANPR element just added to make you think.
Don’t think that they can be used to issue tickets and I never received a NIP or anything.
I think you're right - seems odd that the website suggests data is stored for the 'client', which is supposedly the council where the devices are installed. Strange and surely quite expensive replacement for the smileys!Don’t think that they can be used to issue tickets and I never received a NIP or anything.
Afternoon,
I worked with the croydon council transport team for a while. I recall a team meeting about 10 years ago when a highways engineer in the road safety team was being congratulated for thinking up and working with a company to develop this apnr/ speed monitor system.
Their work had revealed that drivers reacted more to seeing their registration number, than just a smiley face, or even their speed (as I'm sure everyone else speeds up to see how high you can get it to go)
So no, it was never intended to issue penalty notices.
The road safety team included some keen bikers and drivers, but they did take people's safety seriously as they were the team who tracked injuries and deaths. There were a couple of rabid cycle-mentalists perhaps, but they had little time for the BRAKE types.
Hth
Ian
I worked with the croydon council transport team for a while. I recall a team meeting about 10 years ago when a highways engineer in the road safety team was being congratulated for thinking up and working with a company to develop this apnr/ speed monitor system.
Their work had revealed that drivers reacted more to seeing their registration number, than just a smiley face, or even their speed (as I'm sure everyone else speeds up to see how high you can get it to go)
So no, it was never intended to issue penalty notices.
The road safety team included some keen bikers and drivers, but they did take people's safety seriously as they were the team who tracked injuries and deaths. There were a couple of rabid cycle-mentalists perhaps, but they had little time for the BRAKE types.
Hth
Ian
Ian Geary said:
Afternoon,
I worked with the croydon council transport team for a while. I recall a team meeting about 10 years ago when a highways engineer in the road safety team was being congratulated for thinking up and working with a company to develop this apnr/ speed monitor system.
Their work had revealed that drivers reacted more to seeing their registration number, than just a smiley face, or even their speed (as I'm sure everyone else speeds up to see how high you can get it to go)
So no, it was never intended to issue penalty notices.
The road safety team included some keen bikers and drivers, but they did take people's safety seriously as they were the team who tracked injuries and deaths. There were a couple of rabid cycle-mentalists perhaps, but they had little time for the BRAKE types.
Hth
Ian
Thanks Ian! Much appreciated - it certainly worked; upon seeing my plate displayed to me I made the rest of my drive very considered (not that I'm not anyway..!). It certainly worked on me.I worked with the croydon council transport team for a while. I recall a team meeting about 10 years ago when a highways engineer in the road safety team was being congratulated for thinking up and working with a company to develop this apnr/ speed monitor system.
Their work had revealed that drivers reacted more to seeing their registration number, than just a smiley face, or even their speed (as I'm sure everyone else speeds up to see how high you can get it to go)
So no, it was never intended to issue penalty notices.
The road safety team included some keen bikers and drivers, but they did take people's safety seriously as they were the team who tracked injuries and deaths. There were a couple of rabid cycle-mentalists perhaps, but they had little time for the BRAKE types.
Hth
Ian
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