Speed Cameras

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geodude
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Speed Cameras

Post by geodude »

From www.trafficsignsandmeanings.co.uk

The UK has a host of speed cameras but do you know the difference between a Gatso, Truvelo or a SPECS system? You’ll also need to know about the mobile detectors that the police use and Traffic Light Detectors that can be seen at lots of traffic lights in town centres.

According to figures from the Department of Transport, the UK has one of the best road safety records in the world and the Government claims that this is largely down to the role of safety cameras or speed cameras (as they are more commonly known to the public).

Speed Cameras come in an array of shapes and sizes, some are fixed like the Gatso and Truvelo and Traffic Lights Camera’s, some are mobile these are the ones the police patrols use and others work on the motorists average speed, these are called SPECS and work in a time-over-distance manner.

Gatso

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It looks like a square box on a long stand and is usually painted in yellow

The Gatso speed camera is the most commonly used safety camera used in the UK. It is a fixed camera and is rear facing, if the motorist is speeding the Gatso will flash to capture the image required for prosecution. The Gatso contains film, this means from time to time it needs to be changed, so rarely a driver will get flashed but not get convicted as the camera will be out of film. The Gatso camera can only take pictures of vehicles that pass on the side of the road that the camera is positioned on.

Truvelo Speed Cameras
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It looks like a square box with two eyes and is usually painted yellow or blue.

The Truvelo is forward facing safety camera. This means that it not only takes the front of the offending car it also will have a shot of the driver which should stand up in a court of law when the authorities come to prosecuting. The Truvelo will not dazzle the driver as it uses an infra-red flash, which cannot be seen by the human eye. This type of safety camera is becoming more common on UK roads.

SPECS Cameras

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Looks like a small CCTV, one faces forward and the other is rear facing and is usually on a stanchion and painted yellow

The SPECS system records motorists while their car is within the entry and exit points of the cameras. You must be under the average speed between the entry and exit points or you will be prosecuted for breaking the speed limit. As the cameras use Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) and infra-red technology the vehicle and driver will be recorded on the video footage. This system is usually found on Dual Carriageways and motorways and is a common sight to slow traffic when negotiating motorway roadworks.

Traffic Light cameras

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These look quite similar to the Gatso (above) but are positioned at junctions that use traffic lights.

This camera will be triggered if a motorist drives though a red light. This is achieved as sensors have been positioned under the road and activate when a vehicle goes through a red light. Not only does this camera take a reading of the speed of the offending vehicle it also records that the vehicle has been driven through a red light. That means the driver could be prosecuted for two offences, if the driver was also speeding when the vehicle triggered the camera.

Mobile and Handheld Devices

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Police forces use a wide range of mobile and hand devices to catch speeding motorists. A common device used by police forces has been nicknamed the hairdryer – the police officer aims the detector from a distance of 1000 metres at the vehicle number plate and using laser technology records the speed of the target vehicle.

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tony.mon
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Re: Speed Cameras

Post by tony.mon »

One tip: Gatsos need to take two pictures, and only with two pic's a fixed time apart can you see how far the vehicle's travelled, and so calculate the speed. So as long as you weren't over its trigger speed as you go over the fist of the series of lines in the road, you can safely accelerate as soon as you've passed the first one.
It'll register that you were speeding, but as there was no first picture there's no possibility of a prosecution.

So you can get the jump on other vehicles by accelerating as soon as you enter the lines.

Been doing this for years; appears to work fine.
It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.
chuxsta
Posts: 631
Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:36 am
Location: stockton on tees

Re: Speed Cameras

Post by chuxsta »

the SPECs cameras....

just an FYI for the ones that dont know... i thought it was common knowledge till my dad said he got done by them the other day..

most of them are front facing so not an issue to bikers but they do Point them on occasions to capture the rear..

but these cameras are only effective if ( heres the good part ) you stay in the same lane between shots..
if you move lane after every set of cameras they dont work...

also they tend to only aim them at the outside and middle lane.. this is more common when they are set up around road works on the motorways when the speed limit is down from the normal 70mph.
its easy to see what lanes they are monitoring by looking at the angle of the cameras as you pass them.
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geodude
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Re: Speed Cameras

Post by geodude »

http://speedcamerasuk.com/speed-camera-types.htm

Rules for siting speed cameras
The DfT’s ‘Handbook of Rules and Guidance for the National Safety Camera Programme for England and Wales for 2005/06’ includes the following rules:
• Fixed camera housings must be yellow or covered with retroflective sheeting, both front and back.
• No camera housing should be obscured by bridges, signs, trees or bushes.
• Cameras must be visible from 60 metres away in 40 mph or less areas and 100 metres for all other limits.
• Camera warning signs must be placed within one kilometre of fixed camera sites, and in advance of the point of entry to a route with mobile camera sites.
• Mobile speed camera vehicles and operators must be clearly visible to drivers, though there is no specified livery.
• Camera sites should be reviewed on at least a six-monthly basis to ensure that conditions on conspicuity, visibility and signing have not changed, or do not require alteration or maintenance.
• There is no requirement for red light cameras to be conspicuous or visible.


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