cameras going off when you drive towards them

[dans]

This has happened to me a few times with a camera near my house. I have perhaps been travelling faster than the law says I should on that section of road at the time (although the cameras are not calibrated to measure in that direction so it might just be wrong, but I am too busy being blinded to know). I have never seen an ordinary Gatso take pictures when facing it (and it is an ordinary Gatso not Truvelo or some other nasty) As I understand it there is no way that it cold be used, so why does it go off and have I found a nice way of using up a Roll of scamera partnership film?

[nonegreen]

dans said:

This has happened to me a few times with a camera near my house. I have perhaps been travelling faster than the law says I should on that section of road at the time (although the cameras are not calibrated to measure in that direction so it might just be wrong, but I am too busy being blinded to know). I have never seen an ordinary Gatso take pictures when facing it (and it is an ordinary Gatso not Truvelo or some other nasty) As I understand it there is no way that it cold be used, so why does it go off and have I found a nice way of using up a Roll of scamera partnership film?

I do it all the time, its an ordinary gatso keep up the good work.

[BliarOut]

I have set off three like that this week alone

You should see the looks of horror on the numpties faces when I overtake straight into the face of the beast and drop my sun visor

[Raffles]

dans said:

too busy being blinded

I was walking toward a gatso when it went off. Me and some other guy were rubbing our eyes for a couple of seconds afterward. They're damn dangerous!

[Neezer]

Saw that happen with a biker the other day, well funny!

[parrot of doom]

Theres one not far from me, I make a point of going through at about 40mph

[mcflurry]

Last sunday in Sutton there was a convoy of bikers.
All of them wheelied at well over 30mph, setting off the cameras like strobes, and wasting lots of film.

Thumbs up to them

[mechsympathy]

I had similar on the M4 at junction 18, I was in the outside lane and the camera on the opposite hard shoulder went off. The wife actually jumped (luckily I was driving) and we both had spots before our eyes.

Safety my arse.

[cooperman]

I've wasted the film in 3 Gatsos in the last week by driving towards them slightly on the right hand side of the road at over the limit!

[softwaresorcerer]

Zulu 10 said:

This happened to me late at night a few weeks back on the road between A1 and Coldstream - the machine couldn't have been calibrated - I was well within the (NS)limit. Having been flashed twice in quick succession head-on by a white strobe, in otherwise total darkness, I had to pull over for a few minutes to let my eyes recover. Good job there was nothing coming in the opposite direction.... Cause of head-on RTA in rural area: driver dazzled by 'safety' camera, consequently temporarily lost SA and crossed white line.... >> Edited by Zulu 10 on Thursday 12th May 13:42

Thought this for ages. Same happens if it takes an oncoming vehicle for which it is intended - you get blinded as you face it. There's nothing safe about blinding a motorist. I guess it happens to me about once every couple of months, and each time I can't see properly afterwards. Assuming for the moment that we can't get them removed completely (I wish...), why does the flash have to be visible white light, rather than (essentially) invisible infra-red?

[Balmoral Green]

Sorry to be a dumbo, but is this right? Fixed scameras are no good if you are driving towards them and they are on the other side of the road facing you?

They only work if they are on your nearside and you pass them travelling away from them?

Doh! I never knew this, will someone please confirm?

[Marki]

So hyphotheticaly what if a German registered car was to hyphotheticaly come to England this weekend and set off a load of Gatsos how hard would they chase the imaginary driver of said imaginary vehicle

[softwaresorcerer]

Marki said:

So hyphotheticaly what if a German registered car was to hyphotheticaly come to England this weekend and set off a load of Gatsos how hard would they chase the imaginary driver of said imaginary vehicle

Nothing hypothetical about it - this has recently been in the news, and the answer is apparently very simple. They don't chase at all.

[Marki]

softwaresorcerer said:

Marki said: So hyphotheticaly what if a German registered car was to hyphotheticaly come to England this weekend and set off a load of Gatsos how hard would they chase the imaginary driver of said imaginary vehicle Nothing hypothetical about it - this has recently been in the news, and the answer is apparently very simple. They don't chase at all.

Oh shame well lads if i see this imaginary driver i will urge him on




>> Edited by Marki on Thursday 12th May 18:45

[softwaresorcerer]

Marki said:

softwaresorcerer said: Marki said: So hyphotheticaly what if a German registered car was to hyphotheticaly come to England this weekend and set off a load of Gatsos how hard would they chase the imaginary driver of said imaginary vehicle Nothing hypothetical about it - this has recently been in the news, and the answer is apparently very simple. They don't chase at all. Oh shame well lads if i see this imaginary driver i will urge him on >> Edited by Marki on Thursday 12th May 18:45

Get him to read this first

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4292645.stm

[Marki]

I think the major point of the article is

"So you would need some form of physical police presence on the road."

i am all for this after some of the nightmare storys of utter total incompetance on the roads i read on here .

Im lookng foward to being "Road Raged" having my car "Keyed" or even "Carjacked" but i suppose i will not be disturbed by the "Old Bill" what ever happens

Its been over 2 years since i have been back over 4 years since i have driven in the UK it seems thing have changed a lot

[nel]

Marki said:

So hyphotheticaly what if a German registered car was to hyphotheticaly come to England this weekend and set off a load of Gatsos how hard would they chase the imaginary driver of said imaginary vehicle

Hi Marki - my cars are frog registered rather than kraut, but I take great pleasure in setting off as many Gatsos as I can when in the UK, sometimes with the middle finger in evidence just for emphasis.

I will admit to sometimes worrying that there'll be a posse waiting for at Eurotunnel, but it hasn't happened yet! Down with Europlod!

[Marki]

nel said:

Marki said: So hyphotheticaly what if a German registered car was to hyphotheticaly come to England this weekend and set off a load of Gatsos how hard would they chase the imaginary driver of said imaginary vehicle Hi Marki - my cars are frog registered rather than kraut, but I take great pleasure in setting off as many Gatsos as I can when in the UK, sometimes with the middle finger in evidence just for emphasis. I will admit to sometimes worrying that there'll be a posse waiting for at Eurotunnel, but it hasn't happened yet! Down with Europlod!

Yes Nel i have been a secret admirer of your 993 next year one will be mine all mine

OK so its Gatsos away me heartys this weekend

>> Edited by Marki on Thursday 12th May 20:35

[cooperman]

Balmoral Green said:

Sorry to be a dumbo, but is this right? Fixed scameras are no good if you are driving towards them and they are on the other side of the road facing you? They only work if they are on your nearside and you pass them travelling away from them? Doh! I never knew this, will someone please confirm?

Fixed GATSO cameras are only Home Office approved for photographing the rear of cars going away from them. Not to be confused with TRUVELO fixed cameras which can face towards you and which can be on either side of the road. The TRUVELO has a lesss-blinding flash as well.
It's so important to really know the difference.

[Balmoral Green]

Thanks cooperman.