News0 min ago
Gatso Speed Camera
Does a speed camera only work in one direction?
I.e. If you drive toward a camera which is positioned on the opposite side of the road facing towards you, will it activate?
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About a year ago, I was driving towards a speed camera which was facing in the direction I was coming from. I wasn't speeding, but the car behind me was, and it overtook me in front of the camera, which flashed it. So, I would guess that these cameras are designed to catch speeders going in either direction. Hope that helps.
If it's the 'original' GATSO then not normally - it it's a TRUVELO then yes it does point towards you. See http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/gatso09.htm
I may be able to add something here. Approximately 18 months ago, a car in my locale was snapped doing over the speed limit in a built up area.
When it came to court, the owner of the car, a police officer of some seniority and rank claimed that he "couldn't remember if he was driving or not."
For this reason, the magistrates decided they could not charge him... This, as might be expected, caused a massive broo-ha-ha (one law for us and another for them etc. etc...) and actually led to one more motorist having his conviction overturned.
As a result of this, the police in our area decided that all cameras will only be used to take photos from the front of a vehicle so that the driver can (hopefully) be identified without question.
This may also now be the case in other regions...
The details may not be 100% accurate, but they are near enough, and anyway, why let details get in the way of a good story?!
GATSOs only get you as you move away from them. Sometimes they seem to flash you as you go towards them, but if it's a true GATSO, it's more likey to be a reflection from the flashbulb or a car setting it off in the other diirection. There is a safety issue with flashing at a driver going towards it.
A TRUVELO uses IR light and doesn't need a flash. It gets you as you drive towards it, so by the time you know it's there, it's too late. You don't even know if it's been activated as you cannot see the IR beam.
Worse still, the SPECS system measures the time you go into a limited zone and the time you go out, giving an average speed. Short of stopping the car for a bit, you can't just slow down by the camera. You can spot these on motoryways on gantries and roadside pylons as they resemble mickey mouse heads.
Most should be removed in my opinion, as they are only there to make money from motorists in many cases.
PS They have to fine you within 14 days of being pictured otherwise you can argue the fine in court (allegedly)
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