Speed cameras... Go off on their own?

[ScienceBoy]

If anyone where to describe my driving then it would probably be "methodical"...

But a strange incident happened just a few minutes ago, now being a worrier of course its playing on my mind!

Driving towards a speed camera, a car and a bicycle between it and myself. The camera is probably 200+yards away. The car goes beyond it and then it suddenly goes off, the cyclist is now at it and I am over 150 yards away doing what I recall as a legal speed.

Now I am no expert but I thought Gatso (the ones that flash) cameras took pictures of the back of cars.. but nothing was on that side of the road. As far as I know front facing cameras do not flash!

If I am right its pretty safe to say no one was speeding but it was weird that it just when off on its own!

Ghost car?

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Weird

As far as I am aware, the ones with the round lens catch you coming towards them AND after you have passed them.

The ones with the rectangular lens only catch you as you are heading away.

Thats some quick cyclist

Fragger

 

[AxelBenito]

I'm pretty sure they take photos of the rear of the car, else you may get blinded at night by a flash?

 

[CMAC]

assuming the camera is on your side of the road its probably been set off by a car on the other side exceeding 45mph.

I used to set them off frequently from the 'other side' when they first appeared

 

[ScienceBoy]

The camera was on the far side, with the lines between me and it, in other words it was a Gatso for cars on the other side only (it can be flipped around and then I would have been before the camera and the road markings, about 150 yards ahead).

I guess it just went off on its own, it was in a 30 and I was doing 30 or less from my recollection.

It seems a case of it just going off on its own

 

[CMAC]

If its on the other side you can set them off also

 

[ScienceBoy]

If its on the other side you can set them off also

Was probably the first car or the cyclist then. I was a long way from it, a good 7 iron I guess.

 

[Rooter]

Was probably the first car or the cyclist then. I was a long way from it, a good 7 iron I guess.

250 yards?! I wouldn't worry....

 

[Mattyboy]

Wen I was on my way to Ping to spy on the PYB winners I got done on the A1. Its a facing yellow camera 12 miles before the turnoff (northbound). It flashed and it was facing. I drove past it again on Tuesday and gave it the customery V sign. The authorities have contacted me regards my mis demeaner. To cap it all someone threatened to throw the selves off a bridge soon afterwards, so that cost me 3 hours.
A 7 hour trip to do 180 miles, missed the whole PYB thing and got done on route. NICE!

 

[mouth]

I'd only be worried if it had flashed twice TBH. Normally it would take a picture of you entering the markings and one at a pre-determined interval later. Based on how far through the lines you are in the time period given, it calculates the speed. One flash is nowt to be worried over. I have also seen them go off randomly for the sake of it.

Mattyboy, the customary v-sign could get you into some trouble. They also record and take pictures even if you aren't speeding sometimes. A guy round my way a few years ago went through a forward facing camera using both hands to make a double V (or is that a W?) sign at the camera. He was eventually prosecuted for due care since he had neither hand on the wheel.

 

[CliveW]

assuming the camera is on your side of the road its probably been set off by a car on the other side exceeding 45mph.

I used to set them off frequently from the 'other side' when they first appeared

What is the significance of 45 mph?

 

[RGDave]

If you're seeing flashes in the middle of the day, you need more stickle brick therapy.