Police Speed Camera Van Parked in Bus Stop

[Rose Chap]

What I think this forum needs is more threads about speed cameras!

As much a warning for members as something to talk about:

Police speed camera van parked in a bus stop on the A4 monitoring traffic leaving Reading heading towards Twyford heading up the hill towards the roundabout with the Volvo dealership. 40 mph limit. Urban dual carriageway.

Isn't it illegal to park in a bus stop? Do two wrongs make a right?

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Off topic, but in the interests of public safety...

I heard yesterday that every one of the gantry cameras on the variable limit stretch of the M42 are active. About 130 IIRC!!

So take care.

PS Anyone ever been caught speeding in the variable stretches of the M25?

 

[Mozzer]

Off topic, but in the interests of public safety...

I heard yesterday that every one of the gantry cameras on the variable limit stretch of the M42 are active. About 130 IIRC!!

So take care.

PS Anyone ever been caught speeding in the variable stretches of the M25?

How's 130 divisible by 3 ?

 

[BlackC55]

Off topic, but in the interests of public safety...

I heard yesterday that every one of the gantry cameras on the variable limit stretch of the M42 are active. About 130 IIRC!!

So take care.

PS Anyone ever been caught speeding in the variable stretches of the M25?

Best get some insurance!

 

[Alps]

in that case on sunday there was a speed trap setup on the ipswich road near the colchester VW garage, very sneakily hidden behind a phone booth! this is a regular place for them so watch out if in the area!

 

[recycled]

Time to go for the speeding insurance then?
or is it points insurance

 

[Alfie]

How's 130 divisible by 3 ?

Some filter lanes make the carriageway upto 5 lanes wide in places so there aren't strictly 3 per lane hence the circa 130.

I've been flashed on the M25 early one morning but the variable limit wasnt operational at the time! No nip appeared though. I was told by a senior officer that the only camera's that actually take a picture are the ones on the gantry's that have a 10 foot aerial on them

 

[BTB 500]

I was told by a senior officer that the only camera's that actually take a picture are the ones on the gantry's that have a 10 foot aerial on them

Yup the TomTom safety camera alerts only sound for some of the gantries (maybe 50%).

 

[comports]

I was told that the M6 toll had the average speed checks on them. I hav'nt seen anything. Does anyone know...?

ps. I hope not - Now where did I put that number for the license insurance..

 

[DieselE]

How's 130 divisible by 3 ?

On certain stretches the hard shoulder is used during times of high congestion so there are four cameras on each side.

Every gantry in the variable speed limit stretch has "gatso bars" painted on the road but nothing like all the gantries are fitted with cameras.

 

[DieselE]

Off topic, but in the interests of public safety...

I heard yesterday that every one of the gantry cameras on the variable limit stretch of the M42 are active. About 130 IIRC!!

So take care.

Just out of interest, was your source reliable. I only ask because I use this stretch of motorway regularly and I've never seen any of the gantry cameras flash.

Would it be in the interests of public safety to post the means by which you can recognise which gantries are fitted with cameras or might that be seen as encouraging speeding.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

Just out of interest, was your source reliable. I only ask because I use this stretch of motorway regularly and I've never seen any of the gantry cameras flash.

Would it be in the interests of public safety to post the means by which you can recognise which gantries are fitted with cameras or might that be seen as encouraging speeding.

More reliable than me!! He was a senior driving instructor for the Police.

I too have never seen one flash and I also use the M42 fairly regularly, however I have noticed that the camera units appear to have only one opening (unlike a GATSO with two), and so maybe doesn't have a flash?

 

[crockers]

A flash indicates a photo being taken - if it has film in it - what about digital photos downloaded by wire - do they need a flash ???

 

[BlackC55]

A flash indicates a photo being taken - if it has film in it - what about digital photos downloaded by wire - do they need a flash ???

The digital ones we have in Portsmouth flash.

 

[DieselE]

More reliable than me!! He was a senior driving instructor for the Police.

I too have never seen one flash and I also use the M42 fairly regularly, however I have noticed that the camera units appear to have only one opening (unlike a GATSO with two), and so maybe doesn't have a flash?

I was on M42 last night in the variable limit area when it was nearly fully dark. I was approaching one of the gantries with the gatsos so double checked that I was doing 70. This guy in an Audi passed me going a good 15-20mph faster. No flash.

BTW, while you're right that the camera unit only has one opening (though I have no idea what the opaque white panel is for), there is a separate unit visible between the variable limit signs (which is how you tell which gantry is camera fitted. ). I think that this is a digital camera and the unit behind the variable limit sign might well be a light source not the actual camera unit.

 

[BTB 500]

Many (most?) digital cameras use infra-red flash, which isn't visible to the eye. AFAIK front-facing cameras aren't allowed to use normal flash (to avoid dazzling the driver).

 

[davidpavey]

I was told that the M6 toll had the average speed checks on them. I hav'nt seen anything. Does anyone know...?

ps. I hope not - Now where did I put that number for the license insurance..

No average checks that I`m aware of, I`ve been up and down the Toll (at a spirited pace), several times a week for over a year and haven`t been done. However for the first time ever today I saw an unmarked cop car, he`d pulled over a turquoise C220 this morning, and a silver Pug 407 this afternoon. It was a dark blue Volvo S80, reg VX07 GXP, double passenger wing mirrors and double interior rear view mirror. Keep you eyes peeled!!!

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

It was a dark blue Volvo S80, reg VX07 GXP, double passenger wing mirrors and double interior rear view mirror. Keep you eyes peeled!!!

Speaking of which a silver 06-reg BMW 5-Series Touring was cruising the M40 around Oxfordshire/Warwickshire borders, with all sorts of concealed kit front and rear - no aerials. Just the driver - no passenger, which I thought odd

He was keeping pace with the traffic at 75-90 mph. He religiously returned to the centre lane when all other cars stayed out in the fast lane, which caught my eye.

Didn't pull anybody, so could it be for simply recording and posting penalties rather than pulling over on the spot? Or maybe ANPR?

Any thoughts what he was doing?

 

[comports]

I've seen a couple of unmarked ones on the Toll before.

"Keep em peeled"

Bobby Dazler - You don't tend to see extra ariels on unmarked cars these day either. I guess the days of digital makes them much easier to conceal. Gone are the days when they had 12 or so arials on them. Not so inconspicuos..!

 

[Dieselman]

Any thoughts what he was doing?

Trying to get you to come past so he could get you as well.