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Question for those in the know...


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OK, so I haven't been on in a while - mainly because I dont have a VR6 any more! (she went about a month ago, missin her like crazy already :( )

Anyways, the question!...

I want to know if any of you know the fatcs on speed camera VANS. I passed one today and I think I may have been doing very slightly over the limit - i.e. 34 in a 30 (according to speedo). Now first off, I didnt see any flashes - should I have? Do these vans actually flash when they take your photo?! Secondly, I passed it on the side of the road whereby I passed it nose to nose (if you know what I mean, I passed to fron of the van first?) with him on the other side of the road, can they take your snap from any direction? And thirdly the back windows were shut - no camera sticking out or window open - was it even in operation?

Thanks in advance for your answers folks - appreciate it :)

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Sounds like you're probably OK because:

1) Golf speedometers read a little bit high. When my Speedo is showing 30mph, my Origin B2's accurate GPS speedo shows a true speed of 28mph. If your speedo was reading 35mph, your true speed was about 33mph, which is unlikely to have triggered any cameras. I have never known anyone be prosecuted for doing less than 34mph.

2) Camera vans use Laser-based cameras that are pointed out of one of the van's back windows. Usually they trap cars coming TOWARDS the camera (trapping cars moving away from van yields less because most people moving away from the van have already slowed down). And they usually sit on the same side of the road as the traffic they're trapping.

[ Edited Tue Oct 12 2004, 03:23PM ]

[ Edited Tue Oct 12 2004, 03:24PM ]

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OK guys, you've put my mind at rest a little - I had kinda thought about the above mentioned points but didnt know exactly how the vans worked (i.e. type of camera's etc.) so needed a little re-assurance! Im pretty sure there was nothig pointing out of the back of the van and it was on the other side of the road - so hopefully I'll be OK. Annoying thing is the only reason I was slightly over is because the limit on that road has only changed within the last year or so and Im so used to driving slightly quiker on it... ah well - live n learn!!!

Thanks again for your help chaps.

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I got done for 34 in a 30' date=' by a mobile speed van (pesky lil shites!) it had the rear facing me though, so think you'll be ok.[/quote']

Damn, that's a bit excessive. Bloody copper was probably jealous of your tasty VR!

Has anyone here ever been done for less than 34mph?

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Thats horrendous!! They're obviously tightening up the rules to catch an increasingly aware driving population. T*ssers. Can't believe how many people I've seen lately driving dangerously whilst on the phone, if only there was a camera to catch them. :-(

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Speeding is termed an "absolute offence", which means that you could even be prosecuted for doing 71mph on a motorway.

The 10% + 2mph rule is not a rule at all, just a guideline that most Police forces use.

After all, it's not in the Government's interests to remove too many law-abiding drivers from the road, as this would put a dent in their fuel tax profits.

Anyways, those who are interested in the subject of speeding, cameras and detectors should check out these sites:

http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk

(explains how all speed cameras work and includes reviews on the most popular detectors)

http://www.pocketgps.co.uk/menu_speedcamera.php

(Reviews of the most popular GPS detectors)

http://www.abd.org.uk

http://www.pepipoo.com

(cover the legal angle. Explain how to get speeding fines dropped in some cases)

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