Speed cameras

[Liam]

A ground breaking move to adapt cameras to double their intensity by photographing vehicles from the front and rear began in Northamptonshire this week with the first becoming operational in Wellingborough Road, Northampton. Police in Northamptonshire where the experiment is taking place have welcomed the introduction of the new system.

Northamptonshire Police said in a statement: "To date, the familiar yellow boxes at the side of the road have only been able to monitor traffic approaching, with drivers exceeding the speed limit being flashed as they reach the camera.

"The inclusion of rear facing photography will mean that drivers may now get flashed after they have passed the camera, with a photograph taken of the rear of the vehicle."

Traffic police have called for the double operating cameras following problems identifying motor cycles that exceed the speed limit.

[adhawkins]

Northamptonshire Police said in a statement: "To date, the familiar yellow boxes at the side of the road have only been able to monitor traffic approaching, with drivers exceeding the speed limit being flashed as they reach the camera.

That's not correct is it? I thought there were only a few fixed cameras that could photograph approaching cars (Tuvelo are they? The ones without a flash, cos flashing a driver in the face probably isn't a good idea)...

Andy

[Eastern_Westie]

Truvelo uses a Piezo strip across the road, and has an infrared flash, so as not to blind the driver.

I didn't really understand what these new cameras did...the Gatso's take a photo of the rear of the car and use K-band radar to measure the speed of the vehicle.

Are they saying that the new ones will measure the speed of an approaching vehicle before it gets to the camera, and then take a photo of you from the front? If so, it sounds like a mix of Gatso and Truvelo.

[adhawkins]

The inclusion of rear facing photography will mean that drivers may now get flashed after they have passed the camera, with a photograph taken of the rear of the vehicle

That sounds like exactly the way Gatso works to me...

Or do they mean they will detect the speed both before and after the camera?

Andy

[Liam]

I think they might only use the Tuvelo type in Northampton. As to whether these flash or not, there are conflicting reports. They are supposed to be infrared and therefore do not rely on a flash(?)

However, I believe I triggered one in Bedfordshire, the only reason I knew that was a that the whole place lit up with a pinkish light and no, I hadn't been smoking something exotic. I also believe I witnessed someone else trigger one, but only in my rear view mirror. However, I will bow to more informed opinion on this.

Stella and popcorn at the ready

[scoobydevil]

all in favour of cameras if

they are put in the right places , i have never seen one near a school or hospital, they all seem to be on fast roads which have no real need for them from a safety point of view.

there is one i used to go past on the down side of a 1/4 gradiant hill on a bend ? only purpose was to make money the limit dropped to 30 for  500yds then back to 50 after the camera.

have gps detector to help me know where the accident black spots are.

why does the A14 have cameras on it?

[Martin Keene]

However, I believe I triggered one in Bedfordshire, the only reason I knew that was a that the whole place lit up with a pinkish light and no, I hadn't been smoking something exotic.

I've triggered one before, and they definately flash that pinky colour. I suspect people with little knowledge of the subject think it's infra-red because it's not as bright as a gasto and the pink tinge to it.

[Camel_Landy]

I thought that the front facing cameras were on dodgy ground as taking pictures like that breaches European human rights or something... The example that was given to me was: If you were out with your bit-on-the-side, photo taken of you speeding, posted to your home & missus sees it.. Boom, done up like a kipper.

As an asside, I thought this was interesting on Pistonheads the other day....

Mark.

[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

If you were out with your bit-on-the-side, photo taken of you speeding, posted to your home & missus sees it.. Boom, done up like a kipper.

[Eastern_Westie]

I've triggered one before, and they definately flash that pinky colour. I suspect people with little knowledge of the subject think it's infra-red because it's not as bright as a gasto and the pink tinge to it.

Nope, they are *definitely* infrared flashes. See this from the Speed Trap Bible:

Fresh from late 1998 Home Office Type Approval comes the TruVelo Combi S, a camera unit that can monitor both speed limits and red lights! It looks like a cross between the grey GATSO box we all know and hate, and a traffic light. The main pole is grey, with the outrigger painted blue. The camera box has two circular holes in the front of it and faces oncoming traffic. The red/purple coloured 'hole' is actually an infra-red flash which means that it flashes, but you don't see it because your eyes aren't tuned to see infra-red. (The flash has a power of 360 Joules and can cycle in half a second - which means 2 pictures per second). The camera film, on the other hand, is very sensitive to red in an image, and the reflected red light from an IR flash provides more than enough image detail. The system uses Truvelo's MPC (Multi Piezo Circuit - see below) speed measuring instrument and a 35mm camera. One system, installed in temporary or permanent sites, can photograph speeding vehicles or vehicles jumping a red light. A single front photograph, taken just after the vehicle has crossed the piezo sensors used for speed measurement, includes all the secondary check information needed for reliable operation. Piezo sensors have the distinct advantage over radar or other speed measuring equipment, in that they are very efficient in high traffic volumes and cannot be detected by any of the detection devices currently on the market. The Multi Piezo Circuit can either be buried in the road, or laid across it as rubber strips for a temporary setup, so watch out!

[pistonbroke]

I dont know why you dont all write to your MP and tell em where to put the cameras .

The country has gone to the dogs IMO  

Just about everyone I talk to agrees that scameras are just revenue raisers and provide nice little quangos for the operators .

Road safety partnership my    

[Martin Keene]

I've triggered one before, and they definately flash that pinky colour. I suspect people with little knowledge of the subject think it's infra-red because it's not as bright as a gasto and the pink tinge to it.

Nope, they are *definitely* infrared flashes. See this from the Speed Trap Bible:

The red/purple coloured 'hole' is actually an infra-red flash which means that it flashes, but you don't see it because your eyes aren't tuned to see infra-red.

Sorry, but that's crap... I've set one off, and I *definately* saw the flash. It wasn't anything like as bright as a gasto, but it was definately a flash. This particular camera was outside my last place of work and a *lot* of people saw it go off a *lot* of times. And it flashes... What I can't say, is that the dummy ones might flash and the lives ones might be infra red, but I'd be surprised.

The speed trap bible has a lot of useful information, but when there is a conflict of opinions between my eyes and a website, I'm always going to believe my eyes.

[bhouse]

It seems that someone's being a little economical with the truth regarding cameras: read this. It's a careful analysis of a bunch of stats that the government agencies have been trying to hide away from prying eyes (incorrect links on website, signs saying "beware of the leopard" etc).

Brian

[Willow]

I've triggered one before, and they definately flash that pinky colour. I suspect people with little knowledge of the subject think it's infra-red because it's not as bright as a gasto and the pink tinge to it.

Nope, they are *definitely* infrared flashes. See this from the Speed Trap Bible:

The red/purple coloured 'hole' is actually an infra-red flash which means that it flashes, but you don't see it because your eyes aren't tuned to see infra-red.

Sorry, but that's crap... I've set one off, and I *definately* saw the flash. It wasn't anything like as bright as a gasto, but it was definately a flash. This particular camera was outside my last place of work and a *lot* of people saw it go off a *lot* of times. And it flashes... What I can't say, is that the dummy ones might flash and the lives ones might be infra red, but I'd be surprised.

The speed trap bible has a lot of useful information, but when there is a conflict of opinions between my eyes and a website, I'm always going to believe my eyes.

Does this help?

http://www.speedcamerasuk.com/Truvelo.htm

http://www.truvelouk.com/intelligentflash.phtml

Looks as though Truvelos do use Infra-red, but they can also be installed with a dummy-flash, so you're both correct!  

[Martin Keene]

The Truvelo site is very interesting. It would appear that if a forward facing Truvelo 'flashes' at you then it is a dummy unit and intened to scare you, but the real ones are infra red. I know for a fact the the ones outside the factory have been live, because I have seen people changing films, etc and a factory supervisor also got busted in a Managers car... So they are obivously changing the unit between dummy and live as well.

This page, Secondary Speed Checks, was the most intersting bit, I have always wondered what they use the 3 little white lines for!