Gatso Question

[NDA]

I was driving at 30mph in a 40mph limit past a speed camera I know well (on my side of the road and with road markings for the camera on my side only).... a motorcyclist coming the other way was accelerating hard and passed me at around 70mph. The camera flashed just while I was on the markings.

Should I be worried?

[lucido grigio]

no.

[Joe5y]

Yes

[tumble dryer]

Maybe.

[MockingJay]

Maybe

[tumble dryer]

(But really, no.)

[Joe5y]

tumble dryer said:

(But really, no.)

This

[threespires]

Don't they take more than one photo when triggered?

[NDA]

This is so helpful.

Thanks

[bilhound]

The markings are there to show speed/distance/time. If you were truly going at 30mph then you have nothing to worry about as the piccies of your car going over the markings will prove as such. It may take a couple of back and forths but I'd say you'll be fine once you have a chance to explain it.

Hard to imagine though - Mr Motorcyclist must've passed you very closely at 70mph in order to trigger the camera (which is triggered by the black patches slightly before the markings) and then go around you.

In the first instance I'd just ignore it - don't chase it.

[scorcher]

bilhound said:

The markings are there to show speed/distance/time. If you were truly going at 30mph then you have nothing to worry about as the piccies of your car going over the markings will prove as such. It may take a couple of back and forths but I'd say you'll be fine once you have a chance to explain it.

Hard to imagine though - Mr Motorcyclist must've passed you very closely at 70mph in order to trigger the camera (which is triggered by the black patches slightly before the markings) and then go around you.

In the first instance I'd just ignore it - don't chase it.

Motorcyclist was going in opposite direction towards camera.

[bilhound]

scorcher said:

Motorcyclist was going in opposite direction towards camera.

Ah so he was, apologies. In that case, it's strange that he set off your camera? In any case, the markings will tell all.

[covboy]

bilhound said:

in order to trigger the camera (which is triggered by the black patches slightly before the markings) .

??

[Halmyre]

bilhound said:

scorcher said:

Motorcyclist was going in opposite direction towards camera.

Ah so he was, apologies. In that case, it's strange that he set off your camera? In any case, the markings will tell all.

You can trigger a Gatso from either direction, there's one on my commute home that I have, ahem, seen other people, set off. Luckily (for them of course) you can't prosecute for such infringements.

[bilhound]

Halmyre said:

You can trigger a Gatso from either direction, there's one on my commute home that I have, ahem, seen other people, set off. Luckily (for them of course) you can't prosecute for such infringements.

Gatso's are rear facing only, the motorcyclist is unlikely to have set it off. It could be another brand of camera, or a bird, or just the camera flashing for no reason (which does sometimes happen).

As I said, in any case, the markings will tell all.

[bilhound]

covboy said:

bilhound said:

in order to trigger the camera (which is triggered by the black patches slightly before the markings) .

??

Some cameras have black patches in the road bed itself that are the initial speed measurement, they look a bit like the sensors before barriers/traffic lights. The camera then takes a series of pictures of your vehicle over the white painted markings as the secondary measurement necessary for a conviction. In fact all speeding offences technically require two measurements. Even a PC with a speed gun has to 'estimate' your speed to be over and above the limit (first measurement) before pointing the laser at you to get an accurate reading (second measurement).

[covboy]

bilhound said:

Some cameras have black patches in the road bed itself that are the initial speed measurement, they look a bit like the sensors before barriers/traffic lights. The camera then takes a series of pictures of your vehicle over the white painted markings as the secondary measurement necessary for a conviction. In fact all speeding offences technically require two measurements. Even a PC with a speed gun has to 'estimate' your speed to be over and above the limit (first measurement) before pointing the laser at you to get an accurate reading (second measurement).

Are you talking Gatso or Truvelo - Different animals

[bilhound]

covboy said:

You CAN trigger GATSO from either direction but they are only authorised for vehicles traveling away

I was under the impression that they are rear facing so as not to blind the driver, being able to set them off both ways negates that point. Happy to concede though if you have experienced it yourself - and you intimidated me with shouty capital letters.

[bilhound]

covboy said:

Are you talking Gatso or Tuvelo - Different animals

The black patches - must be the tuvelo ones you mention?

[SS2.]

bilhound said:

I was under the impression that they are rear facing so as not to blind the driver, being able to set them off both ways negates that point

In the UK, Gatso Type 24 units are approved for rear facing use only, although the control modules can be configured to detect approaching traffic, receding traffic or both.