What I saw this morning on the A14

[supermono]

1. "Safecam" van parked on the opposite carriageway half in the hedge, no hard shoulder, you or I would be moved on at least not to mention done. Flashing yellow lights on top it looked for all the world like a drain cleaner or some other works van. Presumably there "for safety reasons". Quite obviously not intented to be spotted until it was too late.

2. Couple of miles further on works van on my side displaying those enormous road signs showing nearside lane closing. Fine, I eased up to let the guy I was about to overtake to come over ahead, but wait -- written underneath "On Slip Road". Alright, toe down again no problem. Suddenly *panic* another van blocking the nearside lane -- it's not on the slip road at all. Chappy panics and swerves in front, I brake to avoid him, car behind me does the same.

Now why do they spend so much effort getting their revenue collection system going at full chat but can't be bothered to do the simplest things like getting the contractors to do their signs -- which are 100% about safety -- right?

Makes me livid.

SM

[whyohwhy]

I saw this scamera van. Not only was it parked in a dangerous place there is no way the operator could see a car longer than 2 secs to judge they were speeding, let alone get a ping on it.

Plus pulling off onto the road again from that position will be very dangerous as traffic approaching it will have very little time to react.

So much for safety camera van.

And should anyone be unfortunate to get a NIP from the van you can bet they won't get to see the full video.

[bigdods]

A scam van with orange lights turned on ? He must have forgotten to turn them off ' Ive never seen one with them turned on. And they nearly always park where they could never form a prior opinion, they just ping every car coming past. As I know to my cost when it happened to me.

[Cooperman]

Presumably the scan van was not in the SPECS area between Huntingdon & Cambridge?

[whyohwhy]

No it was parked on the verge of the eastbound carriageway between the All and the A142. Its a fast 3 lane stretch and there have been accidents on it, but where this was was plain stupid.

[cupra-225-r]

Sounds dangerous, I would have called the Police to report it!

[G.O'Rilla]

A14 - they stick a van on a bridge north of the specs area, which is designed to catch southbound traffic at about 800 metres as it comes around the corner. You see the van as the road opens out and you're done.....

They let me see the video after I got the NIP (I have to say they were extremely polite, patient and keen to explain things for me) but my speeding was indefensible so I coughed for the sixty quid and three as I was clocked at 90. The laser alarm worked - fat lot of good it was!

A lesson learned and I drive much more reasonably now. I don't like scameras any more than anyone else, but for me, it has been a deterrent.

Parking them in dimwitted places does these people no favours at all - they need to develop respect, not throw it away

[supermono]

Knowing how dangerous that bit of road is, I saw an XK jag coming the other way on a clear bit just after (before for him) the camera. I flashed him as I would anyone looking like they were speeding into a dangerous stretch in case they didn't know. Hopefully he slowed down...

SM

[supermono]

G.O'Rilla said:

they need to develop respect, not throw it away

ha ha. I've got a company that automatically fines people who step on cracks in the pavement. Don't do it! Do you know how many twisted ankles happen because of stepping on cracks in the pavement? 60 quid a pop please, it's for your own good you know.

Now, all I need to do is develop respect for this genius system of mine. lol.

SM

[NobleGuy]

whyohwhy said:

And should anyone be unfortunate to get a NIP from the van you can bet they won't get to see the full video.

LOL! Probably won't have one to show. Shame a herd of runaway HGVs didn't spread it down the carriageway in pieces. Maybe someone might have then asked what the **** they were doing there. Then again, I doubt it.....

[rude-boy]

Time will tell with these. Given that the most dangerrous place to be on a motorway is the HS, it can only be a matter of time before a Scamera van gets clouted with the idiotic parking places they pick.