Sneaky mobile scamera location!
Discussion
I was in Swindon yesterday and came across one of their camera vans (peugeot Partner?) parked on a grass verge - one of the sneakiest traps I have seen to date.
The road is a fairly new dual carriageway with a pavement on one side only. The speed limit is 40mph.
The van was parked at the exact spot I've taken the photo, half hiding behind the bush and catching vehicles as they come into sight over the brow of a slight hill. You can see a white vehicle in the photo just coming into sight about 350 metres away.
I dont know the KSI of this road but it would be interesting to find out, I think it's called Thamesdown Drive near Haydon Wick.
Question is, is there any possible road safety benefit from operating at this location? Surely they wouldn't use it just for easy revenue...?
>> Edited by deeps on Friday 2nd September 18:06
The road is a fairly new dual carriageway with a pavement on one side only. The speed limit is 40mph.
The van was parked at the exact spot I've taken the photo, half hiding behind the bush and catching vehicles as they come into sight over the brow of a slight hill. You can see a white vehicle in the photo just coming into sight about 350 metres away.
I dont know the KSI of this road but it would be interesting to find out, I think it's called Thamesdown Drive near Haydon Wick.
Question is, is there any possible road safety benefit from operating at this location? Surely they wouldn't use it just for easy revenue...?
>> Edited by deeps on Friday 2nd September 18:06
I've never heard of a single KSI from this road. It's the slowest, most boring road around. I believe the only reason it's 40 is for noise reasons, as there are hardly any pedestrians ever present, nor are there houses bordering directly onto the road.
Most of the time you go round there, everyone borders on 50mph. But, as you say, it's just there for easy revenue. Not a single local I know can understand why its 40. And the talivans always hide along it, including at the bottom of the hill just past the bridge, where it's incredibly difficult to keep to 40 without constant application of the brakes.
Of course, "safety" cameras wiltshire would have you believe speeding kills, they tell us all the time.
Most of the time you go round there, everyone borders on 50mph. But, as you say, it's just there for easy revenue. Not a single local I know can understand why its 40. And the talivans always hide along it, including at the bottom of the hill just past the bridge, where it's incredibly difficult to keep to 40 without constant application of the brakes.
Of course, "safety" cameras wiltshire would have you believe speeding kills, they tell us all the time.
Look like an easy revenue spot. They know that, as they come over the hill, the driver's eyes are unlikely to be looking at where the van is situated and that a driver is likely to be making perfectly reasonable progress (which means more than the unreasonably low limit). Easy money.
Yeah the scameras are often in this spot and to be honest, if I was to pick a place to set up a camera to catch the most people - this would be it. It's probably the least dangerous stretch (not that any of it is dangerous!) until the A419 and is downhill with the crest to prevent the drivers seeing the van until it is too late.
I reckon the other most frustrating thing about this road is the number of traffic light controlled crossroads. I am assuming the council is trying to shake the town's reputation for being a capital of roundabouts but I'd much rather have some roundabouts than stopping 5 times in a mile! Especially as it's a new-build... they could have done whatever they liked!
I reckon the other most frustrating thing about this road is the number of traffic light controlled crossroads. I am assuming the council is trying to shake the town's reputation for being a capital of roundabouts but I'd much rather have some roundabouts than stopping 5 times in a mile! Especially as it's a new-build... they could have done whatever they liked!
benwiz6 said:
I reckon the other most frustrating thing about this road is the number of traffic light controlled crossroads. I am assuming the council is trying to shake the town's reputation for being a capital of roundabouts but I'd much rather have some roundabouts than stopping 5 times in a mile! Especially as it's a new-build... they could have done whatever they liked!
Damn right, extremely frustrating, what a total waste of space those traffic lights are! I can only assume that they are actually trying to create congestion and have succeeded rather well. Whoever is responsible should be sacked, they're obviously clueless.
I agree about the camera location, I would set up there too if my business was cash cameras. They are basturds for sure but they're not stupid!
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