Detection and picture range of camera vans?
Discussion
Had a lovely day out with the family in North Wales, on our way home and decided to stop off for a cuppa at the Horse Shoe Pass.
Anyway on way back home heading towards English border, came up behind a motorbike sat patiently behind 3 cars going 40mph in the NSL. He was on a road/dakar hybrid type thing. Anyway when safe he took all three, as did I (my car is and RS6). He seems a little surprised to see me with him.
Anyway, we continued on our way and overtook another couple of sets of cars, all friendly stuff. We then get onto about a straight 1.5 mile road and he really guns it. I speeded up but held it at 80mph.
The road has a series of dips before levelling out for the last 1 - 3/4 mile. I spotted a white van at the end of the straight, took about 2-3 secs to determine it didn't look right and braked sharply to 60mph. My suspicions were confirmed and it was a camera van.
My question is what is the detection range and photograph range of the equipment? I think I saw it very quickly and got speed off so might I have a chance?
The strange thing was the bike rider had all the normal 'Power Ranger' gear on, but a high-res vest over it. My wife and I debated for sometime before overtaking the cars whether it was a off-duty policeman as you don't see many bikers wearing hi-res stuff. Their was a Bike for Life campaign and lots of police bikes up at the Ponderosa.
After passing the van the biker backed right off again. My wife thinks I was suckered into the speed trap, but I think he probably thought he'd had a lucky escape as he has no front plate and he backed off too.
>> Edited by rs666 on Sunday 30th April 20:17
Anyway on way back home heading towards English border, came up behind a motorbike sat patiently behind 3 cars going 40mph in the NSL. He was on a road/dakar hybrid type thing. Anyway when safe he took all three, as did I (my car is and RS6). He seems a little surprised to see me with him.
Anyway, we continued on our way and overtook another couple of sets of cars, all friendly stuff. We then get onto about a straight 1.5 mile road and he really guns it. I speeded up but held it at 80mph.
The road has a series of dips before levelling out for the last 1 - 3/4 mile. I spotted a white van at the end of the straight, took about 2-3 secs to determine it didn't look right and braked sharply to 60mph. My suspicions were confirmed and it was a camera van.
My question is what is the detection range and photograph range of the equipment? I think I saw it very quickly and got speed off so might I have a chance?
The strange thing was the bike rider had all the normal 'Power Ranger' gear on, but a high-res vest over it. My wife and I debated for sometime before overtaking the cars whether it was a off-duty policeman as you don't see many bikers wearing hi-res stuff. Their was a Bike for Life campaign and lots of police bikes up at the Ponderosa.
After passing the van the biker backed right off again. My wife thinks I was suckered into the speed trap, but I think he probably thought he'd had a lucky escape as he has no front plate and he backed off too.
>> Edited by rs666 on Sunday 30th April 20:17
Quinny said:
I saw him to, said to my wife that looks like a hi-res vest, she said nah its inside a hedge....went past at 54mph and he was in the hedge!!!
I normally check the arrivealive website but didn't this morning d'oh
Did you see a Griff going in the opposite direction?
Did you see an RS6 Avant?
bluepolarbear said:
The lasers used by the vans and police are good for aroun 1000m to get a speed reading but the optics on the camera vans are no where near as good. If you are not stopped at the time then max range is around 400m if they want the evidence to take you to court.
If that's the case then I will be fine. My thoughts were that might be the case. I reckon the operator was thinking aha another 'customer' as the radar clocked my speed, but by the time I got anywhere near camera range I was down at about 50mph.
Richard C said:
The Arrive Alive van in question was parked here with the rear camera pointing up the road to the south west. Sorry didn't have a camera with me but the fat oafs who man these vans get quite peeved when one photograhs them. It was there before 08:30 Saturday and Sunday. It is NOT a location listed in Arrive Alive's 'schedule'. The location has been chosen as a nice sneaky holiday weekend 'big earner'. The van covers 1010m from the junction to the bend at are travelling into N Wales having endured 4 miles of absurd 30 limits and few overtaking oppportunities. So what do the hypocrites in Arrive Alive do...catch out SAFE overtakers.
Cars and Bikes travelling away from the van and cars towards the van are vulnerable. But rear plates of cars and bikes on the main road cannot be read from the van and beacuse Arrive Alive understand their extreme unpopularity they have a rule that no operator is allowed to leave the van.
That's the spot. Not listed on their site heh, that's a bit naughty.
Given the activity around the bikers (every few groups leaving the Ponderosa were tailed by a marked police biker) I figured it was aimed at the rear plates as they rounded the corner.
Interestingly it had hardly any markings on it at all. The ArriveAlive vans are normally plastered in stickers, but this one was almost plain.
Thanks everyone, feeling much better about this. I am a careful driver and take pride in my skills and observance of restricted limits. I just wish there was a way to enjoy driving in this country. I do regular trackdays, but sometimes its nice to enjoy life and have a blast on the open (safe) roads.
Anyway will know in 13 days time I guess.
I'll be at the Nurburgring then, so will not be worrying about it too much!
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff