truvelo question
Author
Discussion

craigw

Original Poster:

12,248 posts

312 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
Yesterday I was doing about 36 in a 30 (8am sunday morn, deserted road) and I came around corner to see a truvelo, no time to brake.

Later on, i saw one flash somebody else, do they always flash when they catch you?

Andrew D

968 posts

270 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
craigw said:
Yesterday I was doing about 36 in a 30 (8am sunday morn, deserted road) and I came around corner to see a truvelo, no time to brake.

Later on, i saw one flash somebody else, do they always flash when they catch you?
I had read that Truvelo's use an non-visible infra red flash, which is why they are allowed to be forward facing (a Gatso would blind the driver). So you shouldn't be able to see a flash.

They also use sensors mounted in the road just before the camera, rather than radar, so you may have slowed before the trigger point.

Besides which the prosecution guidelines are generally "10% + 2", so you might get away with it anyway (although they are only guidelines).

craigw

Original Poster:

12,248 posts

312 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
re infra red, i thought the same, but i definitely saw one flash a car in front of me, will watch post, cheers!

Plotloss

67,280 posts

300 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
They flash Magenta.

Normal flash, just behind a magenta filter.

A43 Green Man per chance?

Edited by Plotloss on Monday 3rd July 11:23

TripleS

4,294 posts

272 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
From what I've heard Truvelo type cameras do flash, but it is magenta, not infra-red, and it is visible to the driver, but should not dazzle or blind the driver.

I'm happy to say I have never seen one in action, so I am unable to report from actual experience!

Best wishes all,
Dave - still lucky at the time of writing.

craigw

Original Poster:

12,248 posts

312 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
Plotloss said:
They flash Magenta.

Normal flash, just behind a magenta filter.

A43 Green Man per chance?

Edited by Plotloss on Monday 3rd July 11:23


erm, unsure tbh matey.

so if it had nabbed me, would I have seen something?

Plotloss

67,280 posts

300 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
I believe so, never seen one go off but have read on here many times that they flash magenta, the filter on the front is a magenta colour so it makes sense.

Indicated 36 in 30 should see you free and clear though, they shouldnt go off until an actual 35 at the minimum so unless you were seeing around 40mph...

motco

17,649 posts

276 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
If a 'normal' Gatso flash would blind a driver, can I sue because I saw one on the opposite side of the road, facing me and quite close by, flash a driver? It happens all the time.

smeggy

3,241 posts

269 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
I think the site ‘speed trap bible’ falsely claimed that Truvelos use an IR flash (there’s a lot of other crap there too).

www.truvelouk.com/installationmains.phtml

“Magenta flash filter for front photography”

There are Truvelos near where I live which are placed in lucrative positions (e.g. enforcing 40mph at the mouth of M275) so I can tell you: these things do flash and are really quite bright.

Triggered IR flashes are currently limited to the new digital gatsos (not yet approved)

t40ora

5,177 posts

249 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
I posted this on SUnday after a similar incident on Saturday, and the concensus seems to be the same; that they flash.

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=284760&f=10&h=0

craigw

Original Poster:

12,248 posts

312 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
i really hope so, licence currently clean. as said before, will watch post, cheers for replies guys.

monkeyhanger

9,267 posts

272 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
Indicated 36?

If so, you'll probably be ok.

t40ora

5,177 posts

249 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
That indicated 36 comment makes me feel better too; as flashed or not I was indicating a max of 37.

bluepolarbear

1,666 posts

276 months

Monday 3rd July 2006
quotequote all
Andrew D said:
I had read that Truvelo's use an non-visible infra red flash, which is why they are allowed to be forward facing (a Gatso would blind the driver). So you shouldn't be able to see a flash.

They also use sensors mounted in the road just before the camera, rather than radar, so you may have slowed before the trigger point.


Urban myth on the first point - it is not IR

Correct on teh second point.

You will see three white lines on the road, the flash will occur with your wheels on the middle white line. Just prior to the white lines will be "black lines" where they have cut the road to install the sensors. The sensors provide the speed, the white lines confirm the speed was correctly measured so hence only single flash (gatso double flash to confirm radar measurement).