21 replies to this topic

[foggyjames]

I had a Gatso go off on me the other day. I was doing an indicated 70 (so about 67 on the GPS) on a NSL dual carriageway with no temporary limit. I was overtaking a van who had been doing 65 or so, but sped up approaching the camera. As we passed the camera, we were alongside each other, with our speeds perfectly matched...and it went off...

WTF?

cheers

James

[V70Ben]

Gatso's can differentiate based on Radar Return whether it was a HGV (and hence apply different limits) - maybe the combined return was enough...

Failing that, it was a dummy radar unit, which do seem more prone to doing this - Or they've set it low due to that...

Another reason, as they are radar based, the "right" frequency combined with the right doppler shift can also fire them.

Final reason, Fletch was playing again

[foggyjames]

My better is on Fletch tinkering. He's engaged the special "V70R with working gearbox" detection mode...

cheers

James

[FletchV70RAWD]

foggyjames, on 11 March 2010 - 18:54 , said:

My better is on Fletch tinkering. He's engaged the special "V70R with working gearbox" detection mode...

cheers

James

PMSL James -

I can only "tinker" between 1am and 4am though

However on the up side the 1/2 fluid change that Volvo did seems to have made my gearbox alot better and I now have 12 litres to do a proper flush which may be happening around 27th March hey Ben ???

[foggyjames]

Glad to hear it's behaving a bit better now

cheers

James

[Urban Tiger]

I've had an almost identical experience to James but this time it was a truvelo camera.

I was following a van in the OSL on a 70mph dual carriageway.  Saw the scamera signs, checked my speed and definately went over doing an indicated 70mph.  Shortly before we got to the camera lines the van pulled into the ISL and seemed to drop his speed to match mine, i.e. 70mph.  (He was pulling away from me earlier - we were both overtaking slower moving traffic).

Anyway the camera went off.  

What I'm worried is that I'll get done as they will see me in the OSL and automatically assume that I was speeding.  The van was only about 2-3 car lengths in front of me as we went over.  I was surprised that the camera went off at all tbh as we were both doing 70mph and the most the van was doing beforehand was 75ish.  

PS the passenger in the van was having a right go at the driver afterwards which makes me even more inclined to think it was the vans fault.

Should I be worried?  I have read somewhere that if two vehicles are in the photo then you can't get done - is that true?

[Exocet]

I don't know for sure, but I'd say it'd would be fairly difficult to prove who was speeding, unless they use the same system as the Gatsos, using the white lines marked on the road. Based on the two pictures that they take, and the distance travelled in the time between photos, they work out the speed that you were doing.

Therefore, you shouldn't get done if you weren't speeding. If it was me, and I had a letter, I'd go to court.

[Urban Tiger]

Exocet, on 13 September 2010 - 20:24 , said:

I don't know for sure, but I'd say it'd would be fairly difficult to prove who was speeding, unless they use the same system as the Gatsos, using the white lines marked on the road. Based on the two pictures that they take, and the distance travelled in the time between photos, they work out the speed that you were doing.

Therefore, you shouldn't get done if you weren't speeding. If it was me, and I had a letter, I'd go to court.

Been reading up on it on peepipoo.

Truvelos use sensors buried in the tarmac to calculate speed.  Having checked this camera out on streetview it has the sensors just before the white lines.  Apparently several things can confuse them and trigger a flash however the test (for the 1st prize of £60 fine and 3 points) is if your tyres are over the middle of the 3 white lines.  There is no way that mine were so I'm 99.9% certain I'm in the clear and that the van driver is probably going to get a letter if anyone does at all.

If I do get a letter I will definately contest it as I was doing dead on 70mph on the speedo so probably 67-68mph actual speed.

[Mongo]

I didn't think that a prosecution was sent out if 2 cars where in the picture?Maybe i'm wrong?

[deathrider311271]

Right where do i start:

speed limit for a non motorway duel carrageway ie green signs (A  Road) for a van upto and not above 3500kgs is 60mph unless towing then drops down to 50mph for a car its 70mph, ALL speed cameras detect the axles on the vehicles and weight.

Motorway speed limits: for a van upto 3500kgs 70mph unless towing then 60mph obviously car is 70 and all are subject to other road signs including road works

As for not getting done for speeding when 2 vehicles r in the same shot, YOU WILL GET PROSECUTED IF YOU ARE SPEEDING.


Foggys original post the van was speeding so depending on the area and leaway in that area he will probably have been sent a fixed penalty

hope this helps

[V70Ben]

deathrider311271, on 03 December 2010 - 22:01 , said:

Right where do i start:

By providing accurate info one would hope

deathrider311271, on 03 December 2010 - 22:01 , said:

speed limit for a non motorway duel carrageway ie green signs (A  Road) for a van upto and not above 3500kgs is 60mph unless towing then drops down to 50mph for a car its 70mph,

Motorway speed limits: for a van upto 3500kgs 70mph unless towing then 60mph obviously car is 70 and all are subject to other road signs including road works

If your van has a maximum laden weight (Gross Vehicle Weight) of over 2 tonnes (2000kg) then you are restricted to lower speed limits on single carriageways and dual carriageways.

If your van or goods vehicle has a maximum laden weight (Gross Vehicle Weight) of over 7.5 tonnes (7500kg) you are also restricted to lower speed limits on motorways
You should check the Gross Vehicle Weight and “plated” weight of your van/goods vehicle.

That does NOT include the "new" regs on Speed Limiters for 3.5 tons and over which restrict to 56mph.

deathrider311271, on 03 December 2010 - 22:01 , said:

ALL speed cameras detect the axles on the vehicles and weight.

No they don't

Certain ones do, however a great many dont - and certainly don't "weigh" them.

deathrider311271, on 03 December 2010 - 22:01 , said:

As for not getting done for speeding when 2 vehicles r in the same shot, YOU WILL GET PROSECUTED IF YOU ARE SPEEDING.

Depends tbh - primarily on whether the camera has caught your plate... other than that - yes you will as thats what the secondary check is for.

[GazT4R]

Ben, don't some of the Gatso's use the size of the radar reflection to pick out whether it's a truck or car?

[V70Ben]

GazT4R, on 04 December 2010 - 02:30 , said:

Ben, don't some of the Gatso's use the size of the radar reflection to pick out whether it's a truck or car?

They do indeedy  -  however, they don't pick up on the number of axles and the weight

[GazT4R]

V70Ben, on 04 December 2010 - 04:23 , said:

They do indeedy  -  however, they don't pick up on the number of axles and the weight

Nah I knew that, there is no logical weight they could. Thought it had to be with the size of the radar return, easiest logical way and then any false triggers can be pulled out or disputed.

[V70Ben]

GazT4R, on 04 December 2010 - 08:27 , said:

Nah I knew that, there is no logical weight they could. Thought it had to be with the size of the radar return, easiest logical way and then any false triggers can be pulled out or disputed.

There ARE ways of doing "Weigh In Motion" from "piezo style" lines- which with certain systems is 95% accurate at speeds of over 60mph on HGV's (and yes, they DO measure weight, speed, and can classify the type, model, tractor and trailer units)

But Truvelo's don't do it.

And Gatso's can only go on the radar return, and any gatsos with inductive loops are only to pick up passing vehicles which then means the radar unit goes active - reason being to stop the backscatter detectors like snoopers.

[TheJoyOfSix]

Some cameras use sensors in the road just before them to determine the size & weight etc, some have additional camera like boxes at 90* to the road just before them (I assume these are the  radar type as mentioned above.)

For all you Lincolnshire peeps on here just watch the camera on the A46 Lincoln by-pass - the one on the downhill dual carriageway section heading SW between the A15 and A57 roundabouts. That bugger has sensors and 'did' me back in 2001 for doing 58mph in an Artic. I just assumed that it'd be set at 70mph and so ignored it, just holding the truck back on the exhaust brake as the road was clear. that'll teach me to try saving on brake shoes!!

FYI the camera on the A446 outside the Belfry Golf Course (heading away from the M42 and towards the A38 at Bassetts Pole also has weight sensors and catches a lot of van, truck and towing drivers

[V70Ben]

TheJoyOfSix, on 04 December 2010 - 13:22 , said:

Some cameras use sensors in the road just before them to determine the size & weight etc, some have additional camera like boxes at 90* to the road just before them (I assume these are the  radar type as mentioned above.)

Arrrrgh....

Erm, no they bloody well DONT.

TheJoyOfSix, on 04 December 2010 - 13:22 , said:

For all you Lincolnshire peeps on here just watch the camera on the A46 Lincoln by-pass - the one on the downhill dual carriageway section heading SW between the A15 and A57 roundabouts. That bugger has sensors and 'did' me back in 2001 for doing 58mph in an Artic. I just assumed that it'd be set at 70mph and so ignored it, just holding the truck back on the exhaust brake as the road was clear. that'll teach me to try saving on brake shoes!!

Thats a Gatso (Radar) Speed Camera - and can tell the size of vehicle based upon the radar return.

TheJoyOfSix, on 04 December 2010 - 13:22 , said:

FYI the camera on the A446 outside the Belfry Golf Course (heading away from the M42 and towards the A38 at Bassetts Pole also has weight sensors and catches a lot of van, truck and towing drivers

Once again... The ONLY cameras that can differentiate are the Gatsos.

[TheJoyOfSix]

V70Ben, on 04 December 2010 - 16:55 , said:

Arrrrgh....

Erm, no they bloody well DONT.

Sorry chap, misread your post!

Yes, both the A46 Lincoln and the A446 Belfry cameras are both Gatsos and both have what I now know are induction loops to arm them.

So what are the CCTV esq style cameras mounted at 90* to the road aimed at the road just in front of the Speed Camera? They look vaguely infra-red ish and I had assumed they were to differentiate between vehicle type, but obviously not!

[V70Ben]

TheJoyOfSix, on 04 December 2010 - 17:04 , said:

Sorry chap, misread your post!

Yes, both the A46 Lincoln and the A446 Belfry cameras are both Gatsos and both have what I now know are induction loops to arm them.

So what are the CCTV esq style cameras mounted at 90* to the road aimed at the road just in front of the Speed Camera? They look vaguely infra-red ish and I had assumed they were to differentiate between vehicle type, but obviously not!

If they are "teamed" with a Gatso, they are to grab a picture of the driver

Similar to the one here?




http://forums.pepipo...php/t13462.html

Failing that, find it on Google Streetmaps and let me have a look

[TheJoyOfSix]

No, they're on about a 3' high pole that is just behind the actual camera and are at right angles to the road and aimed at about a 30* down angle so that their focal point would seem to be the centre of the traffic lane just prior to level with the camera pole.

I've seen several about, but they're not paired with every Tax Camera. The trouble is that, being an HGV driver, I tend to travel about a bit and can't actually remember any specific locations, or indeed what type of camera they're paired with (Gatso, Truvelo etc). the next time I spot one I'll try to make a note of its location and the 'Streetview' it.