pani_k

iTrader: (1)

Hey all,

Just wondering, how sensitive are speed cameras. Not that I speed past them but went past a digital 30mph camera the other day at about 31-32mph. And also been past a 40mph and about 42mph too. Just wondering if anyone knows as to how sensitive these cameras are programmed to be?[/i]

Jimboxr4x4

As far as i'm aware the digital ones don't read instantaneous speed or speed at all in fact as they just read your number plate. A second camera a known distance down the road reads your plate again and from the time taken between the two points your average speed is calculated.

Speed = distance / time.

QED.

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

well it mustn't have been digital then cos I've seen this camera flash people before but it isn't a conventional speed cam, its smaller. Its got the lines on the road though and theres no camera in front so i guess just a normal speed cam that flashes. It didn't flash me though when I was going 31-32mph but I was wondering at how senistive they are i.e. what do they allow you to go up to before they flash you?

BigChuck

some cameras are set more sensitive than others, there's a gatso close to me which is set at 42 in a 30, but i know of a few which are set to 33. ain't sure what the policy is on setting them, i guess each area's police force will have different policies.

4x4

thats what i've been told too.

theres one near my mates house set to 36mph and i have been caught by it at 36mph.... the ones near mine have been through at 40mph and no flash

matts1

some in nuneaton have gone at 32mph, 2 people I know have been clocked, one at 32, one at 33

nilrem

dont they have to give a 10% variance?? coz speedo's are set to a tolerance of 10%... that was a few years ago mind... so i dont know if modern ones are spot on... i know my speedo wobbles about like a plate ful of jelly... but thats a cable one... but i could be doing 33 or i could be doing 27...

BigChuck

I'm sure a traffic cop with the radar gun is meant to give 10% plus 1mph, ain't sure about the cameras.

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

apparently, if you ever get caught by a speed trap, if you say your speedo has a 10% error and their gun has a 5% error then you can get away with it. been told this by a friend.

rssteve

im pritty certain thats its up to the individual police force what they set them too. The guidence was 10% plus 1 mph. But i think they can do you for 31mph in a 30 etc if they wish.

Also what calibrated devices did you have setup to calculate your speeds when you say you were doing 31-32? speedos are not exactly accurate in most cases. and nor are your average gps imo fo course.

rssteve

officer, i realise i was doing well over a ton in that 30mph limit, but i am aware my car speedo has a 10% error, and i have been told by a friend that your speed trap also has a 5% error. So therefore i can get away with this

OK sir, i will report you to court for speeding and also a defective speedometer

pani_k

iTrader: (1)

i meant that ALL speedos have a 10% error in their readings so if you were doing about 34 lets say there a chance you can get away with it. If you were fucking 70mph what do you expect!

Also, the speedometer in the car was reading about 32mph and I was just wondering whether thats enough for the cam to go off thats all.

BigMouthBillyBass

My dad got done on Otley Road at Headingley (Near Three Horseshoes/Woody's) doing 34mph in a 30

I got done at copy nook gate in Blackburn outside the garage doing 40 in a 30 so i've got no excuse whatsoever

rssteve

not all speedos have a 10% error i think there may be something in the mot that says your cars speedo must be accurate within 10%, a guess tho. And there over read rather than under read for this reason. No offence ment just thought your post was funny

BigMouthBillyBass

Yeah i was always told the speedo over-reads by about 5 mph - meaning even LESS of a defence about speed cams

tabetha

No speed gun is going to have ANY ERROR, it works on the DOPPLER principal and they are tested before use EACH DAY, so that they are accurate, a not also has to be made in the PC's notebook.
Newer versions of the speed gun are merely pointed at a REFFERENCE PLATE on a wall in the Police station yard, this has been measured by a SURVEYOR and a certificate of distance issued, from then point at where to Pc holds the gun and the plate he points it at, the gun then calibrates itself.
Detection tolerances vary and is up to each individual force to set.
All those that say they know are guessing or a PC as they do NOT give out this info as it defeats the purpose!!
It can be assumed however that it is the advised limit of 10% + 3mph, as a minimum.
The ones with cameras at each end are called SPECS, which measure your average speed through a particular place such as roadworks etc, changing lanes does NOT have any effect despite what some say.
These will become more widespread as they read plates and we can all be watched more closely, looking for evidence of criminals movement, hence why the gov are considering driving bans for offences not involving the road!!
There is a smaller version of the speed camera appearing, which is about 1/2 the size of a shoe box, these do NOT have to be painted etc.
tabetha