New Digital Gatso Speed Camera

[TTMKENT]

Question:
I was driving home from work, and driving above 30mph. As I was approaching the Gatso digital speed camera had already reduced my speed before I was even close to any of the white lines on the ground. I saw a single flash which I saw from another car's headlights dazzle me but after getting home I thought it was the camera but I'm not sure as I started to worry. I'm approaching the 2nd year of driving in the next few months I don't want any points or to lose my licence, it's really got me worried and on the edge just can't sleep! I know it’s noting major but it has got me feeling low.

So my main question is do the new type of Gatso digital speed cameras (as pictured in the attached image) only take pictures from the rear? If driving on the other side facing the camera can they still take photos? I have heard it can take both sides and but also heard they put white marks on the other side of the road to fool drivers and scare them. I know Truvelo speed cameras take pictures on both sides.

[markyb_lcy]

Unless you were doing silly speed in a 30, you are not going to lose your license. The camera would have had to flash at least twice as I understand it (2 photos in order to calculate speed from distance travelled in a given time). If the camera was on the other side then I’d say very unlikely you need worry. Was there road markings ... one one side or both?

Edit: I think they someone mark both sides of the road in order to stop speeders and overtakers using the other side of the road to avoid the camera/markings.

I’m in a similar paranoid wait as I went through a red light recently and got 3 distinct flashes, 100% from the camera itself too as I reviewed it on my rear dashcam footage.

Rest up and try not to dwell on it.

Edited by markyb_lcy on Friday 6th March 00:50

[anonymous-user]

I have one local, never been flashed or got a ticket driving towards it.

[TTMKENT]

I was doing about 35mph, I was a far distance from the camera and slow down on the approach towards it and still had time to reduce speed. I didn't see 2 flashes, I saw the flash before I had even got near to the white striped markings. I had driven right up my rear increases by speed as he was getting way to close. There are white straight lines on both sides of the road.

I will definitely try not to worry about it as best as I can cause whats happened has been done. But it’s just not nice having to wait in the unknown about something like this.

Red light cameras are evil!!

[TTMKENT]

If they then u can move on! I thought they were able to take images of both sides!

[SSWGB]

If you were doing 35 it should be fine as there’s usually a few mph between your readout and actual.

Don’t quote me on that though.

You will likely be fine

[IJWS15]

TTMKENT said:

Question: I was driving home from work, and driving above 30mph. As I was approaching the Gatso digital speed camera had already reduced my speed .......................

Best way to keep your license is to stick fairly close to the limits then if you miss a camera it doesn't matter.

I tend to set cruise to just below the "old" ACPO tolerance figure and haven't been caught since 2011. Unless you are driving huge distances it will only cost you a few seconds on the journey time.

[TTMKENT]

I’m definitely going to try and move forward and let this keep me down as it’s not good. I’ll just wait until two weeks times and then I’ll where I’m at. Thanks for all the information and advise very much appreciated!

[speedking31]

TTMKENT said:

I had driven right up my rear increases by speed as he was getting way to close.

Incorrect, you chose to increase your speed. Reducing your speed is an equally effective antidote to a tailgater.

[martinbiz]

TTMKENT said:

Red light cameras are evil!!

Why is that? Because they stop cars T boning each other and killing people???

[TTMKENT]

martinbiz said:

Why is that? Because they stop cars T boning each other and killing people???

Evil in the sense you could go past red camera by accident and get points which can effectively increase your insurance or make you lose your licence. But referring to reply on T boning I don’t disagree I think you are right. I’m just saying these pros and cons two it.

[Bumblebee7]

martinbiz said:

Why is that? Because they stop cars T boning each other and killing people???

Totally agree, on a bike (where I'm usually at the front of the queue at lights) I am always having to start, then stop to allow cars through who seem to think red lights don't apply to them.

On the topic of the camera- they're rear facing only using piezo sensors in the ground. Lines are largely meaningless for those cameras and you can still get done for speeding if you go over the piezos over the limit but manage to brake hard for the lines. In your case it's a non issue if the camera was on the other side of the road.

[TTMKENT]

speedking31 said:

ncorrect, you chose to increase your speed. Reducing your speed is an equally effective antidote to a tailgater.

At the time I wasn’t thinking of that. I’m not perfect 10/10 drive but I know the Highway Code well and drive safely. I did reduce my speed but it kept going on. I don’t understand how your reply is making sense within the questions I asked. But all have our opinions so it is what is.

[Who me ?]

speedking31 said:

TTMKENT said:

I had driven right up my rear increases by speed as he was getting way to close.

Incorrect, you chose to increase your speed. Reducing your speed is an equally effective antidote to a tailgater.

After a few years of experimenting, I find that varying speed up to the limit and back down tells tailgaters that sitting on my bumper is not an easy job.Stick ( switched off ) camera in the rear window and they back off. All you have to do is hold your nerve and remember that a rear end shunt is mostly deemed down to the following car.
And our resident Speed Troll Pitsmanboots (or whatever he's calling himself this weather ) has told me elsewhere that this camera, is authorised to work both ways, BUT only with th correct markings.

Edited by Who me ? on Friday 6th March 15:25