Those speed warning signs; do some have cameras too?
Those speed warning signs; do some have cameras too?
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T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

250 months

Sunday 10th June 2007
quotequote all
Travelling along the road running from the A3 towards Tongham and Farnham (is it the A31?) tonight and there are a couple of those speed warning things - they flash the speed limit at you, if you are driving over said limit.

I noticed that these ones showed not only the speed limit when they flashed up, but also a camera logo. Does anyone know if these have a camera fitted?

109 Bob

3,762 posts

249 months

Sunday 10th June 2007
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Personally in 8 years driving for a living I have never seen one with a camera. They have a speed censor normally on top that activates them. I have not seen the ones you're referring to so I can't be 100% sure but I would think not.

bi9_jk

883 posts

296 months

Sunday 10th June 2007
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I cant find any of those ones that flash the speed of the passing car not the limit. My mates and i want to see if they go into treble figures.

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

250 months

Sunday 10th June 2007
quotequote all
After 10 years of point free driving, I have 6 on the licence and another 3 going through a PACE fight. Getting a bit paranoid as I can't afford any more.

Getting pulled by the BiB is somehow so much more acceptable than getting flashed. Although of course I'd prefer neither....

Reading what I've written above seems a bit randon; it's been a long day. Another glass of wine, log off, and bed...

Thanks guys.

PS As for treble figures, that reminds me of Mr Now-I'm-Anti-TVR-But-I-Grudgingly-Admire-Them Clarkson's experiment with how fast you must go for the second camera flash to miss. Could try the same with one of the signal jobbies.

streaky

19,311 posts

280 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
T40ORA said:
Travelling along the road running from the A3 towards Tongham and Farnham (is it the A31?) tonight and there are a couple of those speed warning things - they flash the speed limit at you, if you are driving over said limit.

I noticed that these ones showed not only the speed limit when they flashed up, but also a camera logo. Does anyone know if these have a camera fitted?
It is the A31, and they haven't ... but scameras have been reported to operate along that road (albeit the police action seems mostly to be either ANPR or directed against "dogging" in the cafe car-park [reportedly]) - Streaky

Zeek

882 posts

235 months

Monday 11th June 2007
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T40ORA said:
Travelling along the road running from the A3 towards Tongham and Farnham (is it the A31?) tonight and there are a couple of those speed warning things - they flash the speed limit at you, if you are driving over said limit.

I noticed that these ones showed not only the speed limit when they flashed up, but also a camera logo. Does anyone know if these have a camera fitted?
I actually know the answer to this, after having dinner with the people responsible for spending the scamera money in Surrey.

This year, they have decided to spend their 500k on no more cameras, but all of it on these speed reminder units. I also saw that they do (not all, but certainly these new ones they are putting in do) have automatic VRN readers in them. The technical response as to why they didn't use the captured reg numbers was that these things are covered by the asbo act, not the speed camera act. They also told me that they can keep all info captured, except the VRN, which they have to delete.


doc3

483 posts

246 months

Monday 11th June 2007
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bi9_jk said:
I cant find any of those ones that flash the speed of the passing car not the limit. My mates and i want to see if they go into treble figures.
The set down point at Stansted has one of those. You get a smiley depending on your speed! Not the most sensible place to be giving it the beans though hehe

Raify

6,556 posts

279 months

Monday 11th June 2007
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I've seen one with a camera. It was a Heath Robinson affair, temporarily at the side of the road. It flashed, but I didn't receive a NIP

Peter Ward

2,097 posts

287 months

Monday 11th June 2007
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There's one in Kenilworth. It flashes up "TOO FAST". Unfortunately even at less than 30 it still flashes up the warning, so rendering it worthless.

Flat in Fifth

48,934 posts

282 months

Monday 11th June 2007
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What I will say is that sometimes you will find a scamp round the next corner.

eg http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=395...

Scamp parks at arrow point, VAS on apex of bend to WNW of scamp site. Pass the sign and immediately into scamp viewfinder.

NobleGuy

7,133 posts

246 months

Monday 11th June 2007
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doc3 said:
The set down point at Stansted has one of those. You get a smiley depending on your speed! Not the most sensible place to be giving it the beans though hehe
To be honest I don't have a problem with these - it's just a friendly reminder to be aware.

It's the forcing-down-the-throat almost sect-like mindbending that going on in a lot of places that gets right on my tits. In MK, bright shiny green posters: not 'Take care' or 'Caution', just 'Speed Kills'.

BIG DUNC

1,925 posts

254 months

Monday 11th June 2007
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I also don't have a problem with these. As they by definition are highly visible, they do tend to remind you of your speed, and make you slow down much more effectively than a camera. If they gain public acceptance ( as they don't give points / fines ) then that is a good thing. I don't know the relative costs between these and a camera, but as they don't ( at present anyway ) bring income in, there can only be one answer.

2 other comments.
A policeman I know told me they were technicaly able to show your speed, but they would NEVER be set up to do this. Why? They are ( like cameras ) located in accident black spots and other locations where the police really do not want you traveling too fast. As soon as you put up a sign that displays your speed all the local boy racers would try and see how fast a speed they can get displayed.

Secondly, they are not that accurate, at least the one I drive past every day is not ( maybe why they are not approved for evidence ). It is on a 60 limit on dual carrige way ( probably a good limit as visibility is poor, and there is a hidden junction just round the bend ). Some days you can go by at 65 without it going off. Some days it goes off at 55. I would like to think the averige camera is more accurate than that.

T40ORA

Original Poster:

5,177 posts

250 months

Monday 11th June 2007
quotequote all
I don't have a problem with these either; they really do usually usually make me very aware of my speed, and adjust if necessary. I'm pretty sure that I was doing the within the 10% plus 2mph, and usually drop right back after I've seen one.

Psychologically, they're much more effective for me as it implies that the guys that put them in are NOT just after cash, so I'm much more pre-disposed to comply.