Discussion
Was suprised and startled to be flashed twice by a Gatso speed camera in Northamptonshire as I drove TOWARDS it a few weeks ago. Suprised as, obviously, I'd never exceed the speed limit, and startled as it's difficult to see the road when you've been flashed in the face by a camera that (I understand) is supposed to be rear-facing and take pictures of vehicles after they've passed.
Having assumed it must be a fault, I was even more unhappy to get a speeding ticket through the post.
Has this happened to anyone else? I'm i right in thinking that forward facing cameras are meant to use infra-red and not flash to avoid dazzling drivers?
Thinking of going to court with this one.
Steevo.
Having assumed it must be a fault, I was even more unhappy to get a speeding ticket through the post.
Has this happened to anyone else? I'm i right in thinking that forward facing cameras are meant to use infra-red and not flash to avoid dazzling drivers?
Thinking of going to court with this one.
Steevo.
There's another one on the A217 that also does this sometimes. I've been double flashed by it driving towards it whilst driving on the opposite side of the road (admittedly in excess of the speed limit) but I didn't get a ticket.
I thought you could only get done if you were driving past a Gatso rather than towards it. Can anyone confirm this?
sgnicol - are you planning to question the validity of your ticket?
I thought you could only get done if you were driving past a Gatso rather than towards it. Can anyone confirm this?
sgnicol - are you planning to question the validity of your ticket?
The one near where I live flashes oncoming traffic all the time. The Gatso is on a road with a slight right hand kink to it. The first time it happened to me it frightened the life out of me, so I went in search of info. I read somewhere that if they are not setup correctly then they can pickup oncoming traffic, though it does not mean you will be done. I have been flashed many times by it, even though I always drive past at 30 or below. Bib must plenty of snaps of me by now.
All the fixed cameras (except the SPECS) in Northants are Truvelos, which are forward facing. You can see the flash, it just has a slight magenta tinge to it. When I've seen them go off I think they only flash once but I'm not 100% sure. Which one was it and how fast does the ticket say you were going?
Fixed Gatso sites can be set to trigger for vehicles going away, vehicles travelling towards them and also both directions.
Gatso's also have two speed settings. One for cars and one for larger vehicles.
A Range Rover would may be classed as a larger vehicle by the camera but in a national speed limit it is entitled to travel at 70mph on a dual carriageway. The cameras lower triggering speed may double flash the Range Rover but the camera film should be checked before sending out any NIP's
Gatso's also have two speed settings. One for cars and one for larger vehicles.
A Range Rover would may be classed as a larger vehicle by the camera but in a national speed limit it is entitled to travel at 70mph on a dual carriageway. The cameras lower triggering speed may double flash the Range Rover but the camera film should be checked before sending out any NIP's
From the horses mouth so to speak.
I dont know what to make of it and I wouldnt go speeding through a camera just because it flashes at me going the wrong way but it might be usefull info
i accept no responsibility for the accuracy of this and for the consiquences of any (mis)use of it
>> Edited by chief-0369 on Monday 20th September 21:37
The chap at work who knows a little too much about scameras if you ask me said:
Propper forward facing cameras (ie truvelo and a couple of others) can get you. If its a propper gatso dont worry.
They cannot be used for forward facing use and as such you are ok. In addition, when a dummy flashing unit is fitted a cheap radar pack is used which cannot distinguish which direction the speeding vehicle is traveling. When the real unit is fitted and a film in place, an expensive unit which can distinguish which direction it is traveling is used.
In theory, that means (at least in kent) that if a gatso flashes you face on. its fitted with a dummy unit
I dont know what to make of it and I wouldnt go speeding through a camera just because it flashes at me going the wrong way but it might be usefull info
i accept no responsibility for the accuracy of this and for the consiquences of any (mis)use of it
>> Edited by chief-0369 on Monday 20th September 21:37
Watch out in Northampton - there's once pair of Truvelos on top a a hill with crawler lanes leading up to each side. The sneaky bastards have placed a Truvelo on the left hand side of the road to catch the traffic coming towards you, but the back of the camera is painted yellow and looks like it would get you. So you speed up after the camera you just passed, only to get caught by the camera on the other side of the road!
chief-0369 said:
From the horses mouth so to speak.
The chap at work who knows a little too much about scameras if you ask me said:
Propper forward facing cameras (ie truvelo and a couple of others) can get you. If its a propper gatso dont worry.
They cannot be used for forward facing use and as such you are ok. In addition, when a dummy flashing unit is fitted a cheap radar pack is used which cannot distinguish which direction the speeding vehicle is traveling. When the real unit is fitted and a film in place, an expensive unit which can distinguish which direction it is traveling is used.
In theory, that means (at least in kent) that if a gatso flashes you face on. its fitted with a dummy unit
I dont know what to make of it and I wouldnt go speeding through a camera just because it flashes at me going the wrong way but it might be usefull info
i accept no responsibility for the accuracy of this and for the consiquences of any (mis)use of it
>> Edited by chief-0369 on Monday 20th September 21:37
Interesting - I got flashed by one on Albemarle Rd in Beckenham a couple of years ago - I may or may not have been exceeding the speed limit...
I was going in the opposite direction and it flashed only once.
From what your friend says it would be a dummy then.
Interestingly, a friend whose dad is BiB (not trafpol though) reckons that the hole on the back indicates a genuine camera. However it seems a little silly that it would be that obvious, and I have also heard that there is a sliding cover over the hole, so it just means whoever was in it last left it open...
FunkyNige said:
Watch out in Northampton - there's once pair of Truvelos on top a a hill with crawler lanes leading up to each side. The sneaky bastards have placed a Truvelo on the left hand side of the road to catch the traffic coming towards you, but the back of the camera is painted yellow and looks like it would get you. So you speed up after the camera you just passed, only to get caught by the camera on the other side of the road!
What is the exact location of this?
If the camera was on your side of the road facing you then it was a truvelo and you have been done.
If it was on the other side of the road facing you and it went off (double flash) then it's a Gatso with no film. For some reason they can't calabrate them without a film in.
I also think the Truvelo cameras have 3 strips in the road rather than the white dots of the Gatso and as others have said the lense on the flash looks red.
Are you sure the flash you got was the same flash that gave you the ticket and are you sure it's not a Truvelo that flashed you?
If it was on the other side of the road facing you and it went off (double flash) then it's a Gatso with no film. For some reason they can't calabrate them without a film in.
I also think the Truvelo cameras have 3 strips in the road rather than the white dots of the Gatso and as others have said the lense on the flash looks red.
Are you sure the flash you got was the same flash that gave you the ticket and are you sure it's not a Truvelo that flashed you?
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