Speed Camera Van on Motorway
Discussion
Ok, now I'm asking advice for a friend...
If you were driving over the crest of a hill on a motorway say at 93ish mph and you spotted a scamera on a bridge maybe 600 yards away, braked down to early 70's (friend has a sports car), then passed a large stone pillar would you then be in the camera zone. In other words if there was an obstruction between line of sight and van would the van be taking a meaurement over a set distance closer than the obstruction?
How much distance do the scamera laser vans (hole in the side) need to measure speed? Also does moving lane help?
My friend would be keen to know as he has a clean license and has done similar before, and never got a ticket! PS, it wasnt on the camera database either he says!!
If you were driving over the crest of a hill on a motorway say at 93ish mph and you spotted a scamera on a bridge maybe 600 yards away, braked down to early 70's (friend has a sports car), then passed a large stone pillar would you then be in the camera zone. In other words if there was an obstruction between line of sight and van would the van be taking a meaurement over a set distance closer than the obstruction?
How much distance do the scamera laser vans (hole in the side) need to measure speed? Also does moving lane help?
My friend would be keen to know as he has a clean license and has done similar before, and never got a ticket! PS, it wasnt on the camera database either he says!!
Was it on the M4?
How do you mean there was an obstruction in the way? Was there two bridges like on some motorway junction roundabouts, and the van was on the far bridge?
They can get you from well over 600 yards, so if you could see the van when you were doing 93 he was probably targeting you. I think they need about 0.3 of a second to get a reading. Hopefully the operator was targeting the car slightly infront of you first, so you may be ok.
Isn't it just plain crazy to target safe driving in this manner!
How do you mean there was an obstruction in the way? Was there two bridges like on some motorway junction roundabouts, and the van was on the far bridge?
They can get you from well over 600 yards, so if you could see the van when you were doing 93 he was probably targeting you. I think they need about 0.3 of a second to get a reading. Hopefully the operator was targeting the car slightly infront of you first, so you may be ok.
Isn't it just plain crazy to target safe driving in this manner!
Jon Ison said:
Could be wrong but as I understand it by the time you see them they have already seen you.
This is rapidly becoming an urban myth. As I understand it, each situation will depend on:
1. Range (we are told on other threads it can be up to 1km). It is possible to spot a van before you get in range of it - whether it is safer to be concentrating on scamera vans 1km away on bridges, or if concentrating on the vehicles around you might be a safer way of driving, is one of those interesting little conundrums that the present scamera regime throws up!!
2. If you are lucky, the operator may be targeting someone else
3. Actual speed. Due to the tendency of speedometers to over-read, anything less than an indicated 82 would probably bring you within the usual 10%+2mph threshold.
vipers said:
Hopefully your "friend" will get a ticket, and abide by the rules next time.
And Nuts to you too. Like any speed it could well have been a safe speed for the conditions. After all have many vans do you see when it's raining?? If he slowed down fast enough the laser will not have been able to "lock" on. Remember the "errors" on the videos the SCP's have leaked. It's because they cannot get a big enough sample at a speed.
telecat said:
vipers said:
Hopefully your "friend" will get a ticket, and abide by the rules next time.
And Nuts to you too. Like any speed it could well have been a safe speed for the conditions. After all have many vans do you see when it's raining?? If he slowed down fast enough the laser will not have been able to "lock" on. Remember the "errors" on the videos the SCP's have leaked. It's because they cannot get a big enough sample at a speed.
Tut tut tut, always a sensitive subject, but why worry about his "friend"? We all know the speed limits, and know if we exceed them we may get zapped, and fined, so why do it. I dont agree with all speed limits, but do abide by them, but thats life I suppose.
Edited by vipers on Saturday 25th November 21:38
Edited by vipers on Saturday 25th November 21:40
SpudGunner said:
must be you who keeps causing hold ups everywhere then.
Crikey must be so boring to be so perfect. Dont think there was any need for your comments tbh.
Crikey must be so boring to be so perfect. Dont think there was any need for your comments tbh.
Nope, dont cause holdups, cruise at 70 on motorways in either L1 or L2, been driving 30 years, and NEVER BEEN DONE FOR SPEEDING, and comments, well its a free world, freedom of speech, as I said always a touchy subject is speeding.
Lets face it, we PH's are the first to crucify plod when they get "let off" for speeding, arnt we? See
www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?p=1&f=23&t=329776&h=0e
Edited by vipers on Saturday 25th November 22:25
Edited by vipers on Saturday 25th November 22:26
vonhosen said:
Mr2Mike said:
vipers said:
Nope, dont cause holdups, cruise at 70 on motorways in either L1 or L2,
You should be in L1 at all times unless overtaking. L2 is not for "cruising" at 70mph as much of the population seem to think.
It's fine if you are cruising past the traffic in L1.
Overtaking them you mean?
Back on topic:
Not entirely true, it depends how you came into their view.
1) The operators have to be seen forming an opinion of speed so they may wait a second or two before deciding to ping you(r friend)
2) Coming over a hill means you(r friend) will see them before your (friend's) plate is viewable by them. The equipment is at huge risk or error if the beam can't hit the plate.
3) At greater distances the gun will give a lot of errors anyway so the operator may need several attempts before getting a valid speed reading
all three together may result with you(r friend) scrubbing off the excesss speed in time.
Time will tell....
Jon Ison said:
Could be wrong but as I understand it by the time you see them they have already seen you.
Not entirely true, it depends how you came into their view.
1) The operators have to be seen forming an opinion of speed so they may wait a second or two before deciding to ping you(r friend)
2) Coming over a hill means you(r friend) will see them before your (friend's) plate is viewable by them. The equipment is at huge risk or error if the beam can't hit the plate.
3) At greater distances the gun will give a lot of errors anyway so the operator may need several attempts before getting a valid speed reading
all three together may result with you(r friend) scrubbing off the excesss speed in time.
Time will tell....
smeggy said:
Back on topic:
Not entirely true, it depends how you came into their view.
1) The operators have to be seen forming an opinion of speed so they may wait a second or two before deciding to ping you(r friend)
Jon Ison said:
Could be wrong but as I understand it by the time you see them they have already seen you.
Not entirely true, it depends how you came into their view.
1) The operators have to be seen forming an opinion of speed so they may wait a second or two before deciding to ping you(r friend)
In an ideal world smeggy, that is very true. But unfortunately camera van operators do not make a prior opinion of speed, they simply target as many vehicles as they can. If your livelyhood depends on it then that's what you do. That is why they won't release full session tapes as it will expose their practice of random shooting.
Jon Ison said:
Could be wrong but as I understand it by the time you see them they have already seen you.
Not necessarily so. Aways stamp on the pedal and lock all four wheels if possible, then if you were speeding you have a good chance of getting done less or not at all, (plus for safety you have to slow down of course, 71 is unsafe, but 70 is safe) - and if you weren't, well it's good practice that may quickly make you safe one day. I always do that and seen a few others too - once I almost had a rear ender when I'd stamped on after a hidden camera popped up, only to realise I was on cruise and therefore within the limit anyway
LOL. Plus it teached numpties not to follow closely!
vipers said:
Hopefully your "friend" will get a ticket, and abide by the rules next time.
Just curious, but do you think everyone should not exceed 70 on a motorway regardless of the conditions? If they do they should be prosecuted? Or perhaps at 10% + 2, ie above 79?
What in your opinion would be the benefit to society of the OP receiving a ticket for 93?
If you were responsible for reducing motorway collisions, would enforcing the 70 limit be one of your prioities? If yes, I assume you believe slower = safer, so going with that reasoning would you therefore introduce a lower limit ie 60 or 50?
If not why not, and why would you stick with 70?
vipers said:
SpudGunner said:
must be you who keeps causing hold ups everywhere then.
Crikey must be so boring to be so perfect. Dont think there was any need for your comments tbh.
Crikey must be so boring to be so perfect. Dont think there was any need for your comments tbh.
Nope, dont cause holdups, cruise at 70 on motorways in either L1 or L2, been driving 30 years, and NEVER BEEN DONE FOR SPEEDING, and comments, well its a free world, freedom of speech, as I said always a touchy subject is speeding.
So you believe in freedom of speech in a free world, but you don't believe in freedom of choice?? Curious that!
Rules are rules and must be obeyed?
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff