New Speed Camera on Test on the A24

[Godot]

http://btst.co.uk/A24/
From a Colleague on another Forum I frequent, today posted :
As the camera is not yet type approved (hence the test) we have to make some guesses, so I consulted my camera "Guru" Sxxx Wxxxx.


You'll notice in the pictures that there are three poles rather than the normal one. We believe this extra equipment is part of the testing of the device and it's being used to assist the evaluation for Home Office Type approval.

There appears to be an extra infra red device facing the traffic.

We do know that the camera is manufactured by Robot and both myself and Steve are going to go and find out more at the Traffex show at the NEC this week. If they are there we will go and find out more!

 

[verytalldave]

I suspect that the front AND rear cameras are there to catch all motorists, including motor cyclists with rear number plates only - and probably going in both directions on two way traffic roads.
It looks a fairly remote spot....................

 

[GH421]

sonofa.....

Big brother strikes back

 

[maxg]

There is one of these on the start of the A3 coming out of London. Been there for a good year.
Worse than Big Brother they got voted in......

 

[sylvester]

Same type of camera on test on the A272 in west sussex been in place for several months now

 

[robert.saunders]

We do know that the camera is manufactured by Robot and both myself and Steve are going to go and find out more at the Traffex show at the NEC this week. If they are there we will go and find out more!

Ooh let us know; we're banned from Traffex this year as we have no money

 

[Mr E]

It's a Watchman camera and has been on test at that location for over a year. Recently an automatic "Slow Down - 60" sign has been added, although travelling at 55 triggers it off. It can rotate (it does this about once per week) and can therefore cover either two carriageways (in opposite directions) or front/rear facing on a dual carriageway. Also a very large "camera on test" sign, not just the little one on the pole.

From the info I've seen, the other equipment is part of the camera system and measures speed prior to arriving at the marking on the road. There are two sets of these, either side of the camera.

See this link for more info.

Positioned after a kink in the road? No, the whole carriageway curves away from the traffic lights approx 1/3 of mile that proceed this location. The reason for the 60 limit is the junction about 150 yards south of the camera location. I live further down that lane.

It may be anecdotal, but there has been no serious accident at that junction since the camera has been located there. Having personally witnessed some of the aftermath, I won't use that junction to turn north and personally believe (as do the emergency services) that the gap in the middle should be closed.

 

[robert.saunders]

Very useful info; I had seen it the last time I travelled the A24 to Goring by Sea (where the folks live; I normally go via M23/A27) and wondered what it was

 

[stevieb15]

I lived in Storrington which is 6 miles south for years and agree this junction is a nightmare.
Traffic from the junction on the left is allowed to turn both north and south onto the A24.
Going south its a bit of a problem because of the speed of traffic driving south that treat the traffic lights just up the road like a Grand Prix grid and cars coming from PG who are unbelieveably allowed to turn right across the dual carriage way on to the north bound A24, to "help" the highways dept have set up a farcical "giveway system in the middle of the junction.
Many lives have been lost here.
On a lighter note although in the vein of speeding, about 18 months ago a Ferrari 599 pulled up along side me at the aforementioned lights and drove away at unbelievable speed which I vainly tried to match. Just past the point where the camera is now a startled police motorcyclist with a camera missed his target completely and immediately started his bike and set off in hot pursuit. By this time I had gone past him and vigorously flashed a warning to the fast dissappearing 599 which slowed down.
The police bike caught the 599 at the local garden centre and presumably issued a few words of advice because he had nothing else available, although I would have thought the 599 was doing way over a ton when he passed him.
The next day I went to Goodwood for trackday and another 599 turned up.
On Sundays Top Gear JC talking about the 599 said there were only 4 in the country, and I had seen two of them in two days in sleepy old Sussex.