A40 Target Roundabout Tallivan
Discussion
Just now, heading West, been there for an hour or two as I saw him on the way into town. Sitting at the bottom of the underpass. White van with flourescent stripes on the back, no writing on the rear of the van and a flashing yellow light on the roof (was flashing). Looks just like a road maintenance vehicle. Camera and flash unit sitting on hard shoulder in front of van. Bafty Crastards. There was no warning and no way to know it was a Tallivan unless you read the writing on the side panel which was nigh on impossible.
RichB said:
Accident Black Spot that don't you know? What with all those pedestrians doing their shopping and school-kids milling around... on the dual carriageway! Muppets!!! Rich...
That was my van and believe it or not there have been numerous fatals on that stretch of road, several of which I have reported. I think the only muppets are the motorists who get caught.
Trefor said:
Just now, heading West, been there for an hour or two as I saw him on the way into town. Sitting at the bottom of the underpass. White van with flourescent stripes on the back, no writing on the rear of the van and a flashing yellow light on the roof (was flashing). Looks just like a road maintenance vehicle. Camera and flash unit sitting on hard shoulder in front of van. Bafty Crastards. There was no warning and no way to know it was a Tallivan unless you read the writing on the side panel which was nigh on impossible.
Well you must have had a good view cos apart from telling me the colour of the operators eyes.....
I thought it might have been you Will - was thinking about giving you a bit of a hoot but you might have taken a piccy of me and NIPed me for inappropriate use of horn or something 
As I approached your position at 40 something (50 limit), behind a dump truck (I'd seen it on the way in so was waiting to see how the traffic reacted on the way out - see if anyone noticed it was a Tallivan), a green Corsa went past me at 50ish with a Saab catching him up fast (so yes, he must have been speeding). Corsa must have been a local - he spotted the Tallivan and braked hard (even though he was doing nigh on the limit). The Saab nearly went into the back of the Corsa as he had not reason to suspect the Corsa needing to do an emergency stop. Yes the Saab was getting too close to the Corsa, but a collision nearly occured which would not have if you had a Police/Speed Camera sign on the back of your van/50m back along the road.
Will - I have nothing against you personally, this positioning of the Tallivan thing is my issue. Park near a school/shopping arcade for better effect IMO. Or will that mean less 'kills'?
I bet if you put 3 signs out along the road before the Tallivan warning people you're active saying "camera in van in 50M" or whatever you'd still get plenty of kills and catch real numpties more safely. People who didn't heed (or even see/read) the signs deserve what they have coming ... but the surpise aspect is not a good thing.
Ok. There are numerous signs along the A40 warning of speed cameras. If people wish to drive too close to the car in front thats an issue they can deal with. If the Saab in question was white, then it was caught.
This section of A40 has a problem with RTA`s. the standard of peoples driving as you have seen demonstrates this.
I only `caught` nine people on this section in 1hr 30 mins.
It`s not about the achieving a high number of kills, I believe that even if we had more signs out it wouldn`t make a jot of difference. I don`t care about revenue and thats a fact.
I have sat at this location in a marked traffic car with the Gatso out front and surprisingly I had the same panic braking effect and a higher number of offenders No matter how many warning signs you have out it really doesn`t make a difference.
Unfortunately with mobile camera vans the whole purpose is i guess surprise..you just never know where we will pop up next, I do however give a large amount of thought to the position I sit in, not just for joe publics sake but mine.
At the moment I am researching roads near schools so I can park up and enforce speed for kiddies!!
next time you are passing stop off for a guided tour..
This section of A40 has a problem with RTA`s. the standard of peoples driving as you have seen demonstrates this.
I only `caught` nine people on this section in 1hr 30 mins.
It`s not about the achieving a high number of kills, I believe that even if we had more signs out it wouldn`t make a jot of difference. I don`t care about revenue and thats a fact.
I have sat at this location in a marked traffic car with the Gatso out front and surprisingly I had the same panic braking effect and a higher number of offenders No matter how many warning signs you have out it really doesn`t make a difference.
Unfortunately with mobile camera vans the whole purpose is i guess surprise..you just never know where we will pop up next, I do however give a large amount of thought to the position I sit in, not just for joe publics sake but mine.
At the moment I am researching roads near schools so I can park up and enforce speed for kiddies!!
next time you are passing stop off for a guided tour..
will crash said:
Ok. There are numerous signs along the A40 warning of speed cameras.
Yes, just like there are numerous signs elsewhere. It's the "Cry Wolf" story...there are so many signs nowhere near cameras that no one believes them any more.
What's wrong with using a different design/colour signs when you actually have a speed camera operating? I look forward to your answer.
There is nothing wrong with a different coloured sign letting people know when a speed camera is operating. However people should just pay attention to those funny round coloured signs with that number on that shows the speed limit.
It`s always someones elses fault that people get caught for speeding...it`s quite simple really just slow down, I don`t hide, you can see my van from miles away, I park only in areas where there is a high number of Fatals, I work on the A40 every week in the same locations and still people set cameras off.
It`s always someones elses fault that people get caught for speeding...it`s quite simple really just slow down, I don`t hide, you can see my van from miles away, I park only in areas where there is a high number of Fatals, I work on the A40 every week in the same locations and still people set cameras off.
I`m back on the A40 tomorrow morning at White City. The speed limit down there is 40mph, but believe me the threshold speed of the camera is above 50mph, we are only out to catch muppets who can`t see past the end of their bonnet.
Anway what is the point of rushing to work, you probably won`t get paid extra........
Anway what is the point of rushing to work, you probably won`t get paid extra........
But Will, as trefor points out - your presence nearly caused an accident today. If you had not been there the saab would not have nearly run into the back of the corsa.
How can you say this is ok?
I just don't get it - we all know numpties panic brake when they see a camera - even if they are under the limit, surely you are aware of this? You surely must also realise that if you have numpty followed by numpty, this is likely to lead to an accident - or do you dispute that?
So how do you justify the higher risk of an accident when you are present?
How can you say this is ok?
I just don't get it - we all know numpties panic brake when they see a camera - even if they are under the limit, surely you are aware of this? You surely must also realise that if you have numpty followed by numpty, this is likely to lead to an accident - or do you dispute that?
So how do you justify the higher risk of an accident when you are present?
R32 said:
So how do you justify the higher risk of an accident when you are present?
They *want* higher accidents! Accidents are the limp excuse they use to justify their activities.
If the death rate in the UK was zero they'd find it hard to justify their existence. (Not that they don't already...)
Will, if you want to be SEEN, why park the van so the writing is not visible from your victims cars?
Surely a white van with roof lights doesn't give any clue as to what it is...? so we are all to brake for white vans in future?
But good onyer for researching school roads & the like. We'd ALL be on your side if you did them.
C
Surely a white van with roof lights doesn't give any clue as to what it is...? so we are all to brake for white vans in future?
But good onyer for researching school roads & the like. We'd ALL be on your side if you did them.
C
I didn`t say it was OK for people to have an accident due to panic braking.
I have been a traffic Officer for 6 years and have never once reported an RTA where the cause was excessive braking due to speed camera.
I don`t want to cause RTA`s, believe me there are enough already due to other factors. I do not hide the van, motorists can see it from miles away, it cannot be parked side on at the locations I attend.
I think it looks like police vehicle from the rear, this is backed up by the large numbers of motorists who stop and ask for assistance or directions, they have told me they knew it was a Police vehicle.
I mean we advise on websites and local radio stations where we are going, apart from sending out personal invitations I don`t know what else you want.....
I have been a traffic Officer for 6 years and have never once reported an RTA where the cause was excessive braking due to speed camera.
I don`t want to cause RTA`s, believe me there are enough already due to other factors. I do not hide the van, motorists can see it from miles away, it cannot be parked side on at the locations I attend.
I think it looks like police vehicle from the rear, this is backed up by the large numbers of motorists who stop and ask for assistance or directions, they have told me they knew it was a Police vehicle.
I mean we advise on websites and local radio stations where we are going, apart from sending out personal invitations I don`t know what else you want.....
will crash said:
apart from sending out personal invitations I don`t know what else you want.....
Cautions and driver education instead of fines and points?
Quite seriously most of my anti rozzer stuff is tongue in cheek and I have a great deal of respect for policemen of every hue esp th eones on this site.
But...
...to claim you don't want crashes when crashes is your excuse for a multi million pound revenue collecting activity is just a simple lie.
If you wanted to save lives you'd simply educate drivers. If you believed speed kills you'ld impose 70mph speed limiters in all cars.
It about revenue. And if people get hurt that's all to the good for the talivan.
The fact that you need to lie about your motives suggests you aren't too proud of what you're doing...
Toad (not cheerful for once.)
R32 said:
But Will, as trefor points out - your presence nearly caused an accident today. If you had not been there the saab would not have nearly run into the back of the corsa.
How can you say this is ok?
I just don't get it - we all know numpties panic brake when they see a camera - even if they are under the limit, surely you are aware of this? You surely must also realise that if you have numpty followed by numpty, this is likely to lead to an accident - or do you dispute that?
So how do you justify the higher risk of an accident when you are present?
So Will/Van nearly caused an accident ?
I guess I'm going to get hammered for this one but surely the Saab should have allowed an adequate braking zone between him/her and the Corsa.
Many moons ago the 30amp fuse the fuel injection system of my car decided to blow, whilst in the outside of the A3 at around 80mph in rush traffic. Result - instant loss of power and engine braking. Rapid declutching and a fortunate gap in traffic meant I could get to the hard shoulder without incident but it may happen at anytime to any of us.
Moral - Don't drive too close and always carry a spare pair of strides.. oh, and a fuse.
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