Camouflaged average speed camera

[Simpo Two]

Noticed yesterday that the last camera in a line of average speed cameras on the A12 around Witham had been painted green. It now merges splendidly with the large green trees behind. All the ones before it are the usual yellow. Is this common practice and is it legal?

[martinbiz]

Yes and yes

[xjay1337]

Yes, it is legal.

I don't think it's common practise.

I think it's wrong myself, but you'll have the people who say "you shouldn't speed".

Take your choices. And drive safely

[nonsequitur]

Simpo Two said:

Noticed yesterday that the last camera in a line of average speed cameras on the A12 around Witham had been painted green. It now merges splendidly with the large green trees behind. All the ones before it are the usual yellow. Is this common practice and is it legal?

All the ASC I've seen are blue.

[anonymous-user]

The sign announcing that there are average speed cameras gives you the relevant info. The location of a specific camera isn't really relevant. If your plan is to spot each such camera and slam your brakes on before speeding up again, the word "average" is perhaps worth pondering on.

[jet_noise]

nonsequitur said:

All the ASC I've seen are blue.

They're live traffic reporting cameras used by some nav. systems/route planners/highways agencies. Not ASC.
Haven't been proved wrong yet (by the arrival of a ticket!)

[DS129]

True, but OP was referring to the LAST camera in the set. Good to know if you are out of the average check.
As an aside, all the average cameras on the A12 around Dedham are on green poles lost in the trees.

[anonymous-user]

Breadvan72 said:

The sign announcing that there are average speed cameras gives you the relevant info. The location of a specific camera isn't really relevant. If your plan is to spot each such camera and slam your brakes on before speeding up again, the word "average" is perhaps worth pondering on.

The location and visibility of the last camera is important though, as that is the point at which a driver can accelerate to a speed in excess of the speed limit, should they wish to do so.

[Simpo Two]

Breadvan72 said:

The sign announcing that there are average speed cameras gives you the relevant info. The location of a specific camera isn't really relevant. If your plan is to spot each such camera and slam your brakes on before speeding up again, the word "average" is perhaps worth pondering on.

Oh indeed, I set the cruise control, but it's clear evidence that they don't want you to stay at 70 and be 'safe', they want you to be fooled and speed up so they can get £100. If they wanted you to stay at 70 it would be yellow.

I believe that manned speed traps have to be visible - ie no hiding in doorways - so the same might apply to other methods.

[anonymous-user]

I am all in favour of hooning when it can be done safely, but frankly this measure sounds like a sensible way of getting me and others to slow down. We are where we are. Those who wish to speed with more or less complete impunity need first to devise a time machine and go back to some time before, perhaps, the 1990s. NB: that would mean giving up the satnav and the digital radio and the cupholders, and your car might not start on cold mornings. You can't have everything.

[anonymous-user]

Simpo Two said:

Oh indeed, I set the cruise control, but it's clear evidence that they don't want you to stay at 70 and be 'safe', they want you to be fooled and speed up so they can get £100. If they wanted you to stay at 70 it would be yellow.

I believe that manned speed traps have to be visible - ie no hiding in doorways - so the same might apply to other methods.

Yes, it is all a conspiracy aimed specifically at you, and the police, camera operators, etc. all keep the money for themselves and spend it on coke and hookers. But your rant fails because you did not include a reference to not catching burglars. 1/10, try harder.

[anonymous-user]

PS: Cunning plan to defeat their cunning plan: Resist the mind-beams that they project at you to make you drive at 100 mph against your will. Take control of the car and, er, don't drive at 100 mph.

Indeed, you might find this whole "take responsibility for your own actions and don't whinge and bleat and blame everything on others" quite a refreshing experience. Give it a go!

[Simpo Two]

Breadvan72 said:

Yes, it is all a conspiracy aimed specifically at you, and the police, camera operators, etc. all keep the money for themselves and spend it on coke and hookers. But your rant fails because you did not include a reference to not catching burglars. 1/10, try harder.

It wasn't a rant. You'd have recognised it if it was. Merely an observation followed by logic followed by a conclusion.

[Nampahc Niloc]

As someone who may or may not have slightly exceeded the speed limit once or twice, I have no issue with sneakily hidden speed cameras. As has been said above, if you don’t want to get fined, don’t risk speeding.

At the end of the day a law is a law. Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be enforced.

[anonymous-user]

Are they deciduous trees?

[QuickQuack]

nonsequitur said:

All the ASC I've seen are blue.

Poor joke based on the lay name of tritanopia colour blindness which oversimplifies the defect. 1/10. Try harder.

[citizensm1th]

Simpo Two said:

Noticed yesterday that the last camera in a line of average speed cameras on the A12 around Witham had been painted green. It now merges splendidly with the large green trees behind. All the ones before it are the usual yellow. Is this common practice and is it legal?

Do they come around and paint it grey brown in the winter or are they only targeting people during the summer months?

[anonymous-user]

Simpo Two said:

Breadvan72 said:

Yes, it is all a conspiracy aimed specifically at you, and the police, camera operators, etc. all keep the money for themselves and spend it on coke and hookers. But your rant fails because you did not include a reference to not catching burglars. 1/10, try harder.

It wasn't a rant. You'd have recognised it if it was. Merely an observation followed by logic followed by a conclusion.

Apart from the utter absence of logic in your position, you are of course bang on.

[Mr_Megalomaniac]

Breadvan72 said:

I am all in favour of hooning when it can be done safely, but frankly this measure sounds like a sensible way of getting me and others to slow down. We are where we are. Those who wish to speed with more or less complete impunity need first to devise a time machine and go back to some time before, perhaps, the 1990s. NB: that would mean giving up the satnav and the digital radio and the cupholders, and your car might not start on cold mornings. You can't have everything.

Correct, although it does bring into question the notion that these cameras are for "safety" purposes after all as opposed to fund raising.
If they are for safety, then clear signage along with a nice brightly painted camera that occassionally ticks off a little flash lets you know they are serious about it. Of course, for your safety.
Camoflage, hiding in the bushes (A South African policeman favourite), and otherwise obscuring the presence of the officer or equipment doesn't assist in safety, nor does it inhibit speeding. It only facilitates a financial penalty after the fact.

For safety cameras to be geared towards safety, their presence should be clear.
I do think there was some anecdotal research around councils and camera visibility back in the mid-90's?

[anonymous-user]

Some people slow down a bit after they get a fine and points. Some don't.

I wonder: do the "it's just a financial scam" brigade believe that there's a vast pile of gold somewhere on top of which gleeful public sector employees roll around all day, cackling?