Speed camera van advice needed

1637 Views 17 Replies 11 Participants Last post by Tigger Eeyore & Roo, Jun 26, 2005

WhiteNoiseMaker

Discussion Starter · Jan 17, 2005

Sorry if this has been covered a million times but I need some advice on speed camera vans

I was on my way home from work today and I was over taking a lorry on a duel carriageway on a bend. I couldn’t see the speed camera van because of the lorry until I just came out of the bend and as I was over taking I was doing between 78 – 83mph.

Now the van was facing the flow of traffic and I managed to get my speed down to 70 before I actually passed the van. So I’m wondering does the camera point out of the back of the van or the front?

I'm supposed to pick up my MCS on march 1st but the insurance with a clean license is bad enough, I couldn’t face the idea of paying more because I’ve got a speeding ticket (does that even matter to the insurance company I don’t know??).

1 - 18 of 18 Posts

Yellow/Black OneD

· #2 · Jan 17, 2005

The cameras usually point out of the side or the rear of the vans! You may be o.k if he didn't see you fast enough, because you were behind the lorry, and you weren't going that much over 70. you weren't doing 85+. Fingers crossed!

WhiteNoiseMaker

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jan 17, 2005 (Edited)

what happens at 85+?

To be honest i can't say exactly what speed i was doing when i first spotted it because i was paying more attention to the lorry and road. i just know as soon as i spotted the camera van my foot hit the break and then my eyes dropped to look at the speedo.

just hope it was pointing out the back or they we're just setting up. i couldn't see anyone in the driver or passenger seats so i hope they were looking out the back window at the time.

AMT

· #4 · Jan 17, 2005

Different police forces use different types of van - some actually sit outside the van with a camera on a tripod. However, nine times out of ten, the cameras operate out the BACK window, and target cars coming towards it. The operator sits just behind the camera in the back of the van. So I'm sure you'll be fine.

And 78-83 shouldnt set it off anyway, it'll more likely be calibrated to shoot people doing 83+

Gregg Chandan

· #5 · Jan 17, 2005

Nightmare topic this speed camera detection one.

Check out the following web site for all things relating to cameras, speeding etc etc. Its useful in telling what to look out for, what the legal implications, loopholes are, and what to do if you do get caught etc.

Not sure if its gospel, but its regarded as one of the more trustworthy sites.

www.speed-trap.co.uk

Hope you find it of use and Good luck

Yellow/Black OneD

· #6 · Jan 17, 2005

I said 85+ because you are alowed so many % mph over the speed limit, like you wouldn't get done at 71mph in a 70, 31mph in a 30 etc, etc.
And on motorways if you are stopped, I've know someone who was told by the cops to set his cruise at 80 mph and they wouldn't bat an eye lid. Its the folks doing 85 + theyre after, or as AMT says 83+.Try not to worry about it!!

WhiteNoiseMaker

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 17, 2005

Just went out again to see if it was still there to get a better look at it but its gone now. I would have gone back straight away to have a look but unfortunately I had to go pick someone up and didn't have time to go back. I’ll be dreading checking the post for the next few weeks!

It just looked like it wouldn't catch anyone speeding if the radar was in the back of the van so that’s why I’m so worried.

What are the implications on the insurance do they just want to know "real" convictions i.e. appear in court type stuff or do they need to know about speeding tickets too? Sorry if I sound like a total novice at this but I am!

Gregg Chandan

· #8 · Jan 17, 2005

Your insurance company will need to be notified normally. They will ask for any convictions which includes speeding fines/points.

Giving them an easy get out clause from paying up should the worst happen (ie not telling them) is not a great idea.

Lets all hope it doesn't come to that though.

WhiteNoiseMaker

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 17, 2005

Called the insurance company up to ask them. They said if i do get a fixed penalty and 3 points on my licence, the insurance will go up by just under £100 so its not too bad.

Like you say though hopefully it won't come to that in the end. it was looking like a last minute change to a mini cooper there. if i get cought speeding in a naff 1.2 Clio what's going to happen when i do get my MCS...

matt21

· #10 · Jan 17, 2005

i was in a same position just before i got my mini

i was on a two mine straight so thought id open it up. no cars for ages then i approached one doing 60mph i was doing 90mph and went to overtake when i spotted a camera van at the side of the road.

i slammed on my brakes and pulled back in behind the car passing the van at about 65mph in a 60mph

the ticket never came but i heard the take a pic further up the road which in this case was not true

Pobsey

· #11 · Jan 17, 2005

WhiteNoiseMaker which Newcastle are you in? The reason why I ask is that I know for a fact that Northumbria Police are reasonably lenitent when it comes to speeding (the future Mrs Pobsey is an ex copper), at least 10% +2mph margin, but it all depends how twisted or pi :bad: :bad: ed off the copper is in the van,

so you have the 14 day wait....

WhiteNoiseMaker

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 17, 2005

Well I work In Newcastle-Upon-tyne but i live in Blyth. They got me on the A189 just after the A19 round-a-bout

Red Devil

· #13 · Jan 17, 2005

WRONG - busted @ 80mph

Not on A303 in Wiltshire - these useful taxpayer-funded civil servants busted me @ only 80 mph last week - I guess they keen on showing an improvment in the crime reduction statistics, but can't be a55ed to look for real criminals

AMT said:
Different police forces use different types of van - some actually sit outside the van with a camera on a tripod. However, nine times out of ten, the cameras operate out the BACK window, and target cars coming towards it. The operator sits just behind the camera in the back of the van. So I'm sure you'll be fine.

And 78-83 shouldnt set it off anyway, it'll more likely be calibrated to shoot people doing 83+

laura f

· #14 · Jan 17, 2005

Pobsey said:
WhiteNoiseMaker which Newcastle are you in? The reason why I ask is that I know for a fact that Northumbria Police are reasonably lenitent when it comes to speeding (the future Mrs Pobsey is an ex copper), at least 10% +2mph margin, but it all depends how twisted or pi :bad: :bad: ed off the copper is in the van,

so you have the 14 day wait....

i can agree with that ^, having first hand experience of it

i hope you're one of the lucky ones

MaTTy_P

· #15 · Jan 17, 2005

a189...hmm is that the coast road?

Anyhow, hope ur ok, I did see a copper speed van at some point in the past few days doing the rounds.

Hope ur ok as far as getting caugh gos. Good too see a fellow geordie on aswell

Tonyt3

· #16 · Jan 17, 2005

WhiteNoiseMaker said:
Called the insurance company up to ask them. They said if i do get a fixed penalty and 3 points on my licence, the insurance will go up by just under £100 so its not too bad.

Like you say though hopefully it won't come to that in the end. it was looking like a last minute change to a mini cooper there. if i get cought speeding in a naff 1.2 Clio what's going to happen when i do get my MCS...

My insurance didn't alter when I got my 3 points - so £100 is a rip off.

Everyone has speeding points these days, insurers should ignore 3 points here or there...

Tigger Eeyore & Roo

· #17 · Jan 18, 2005

WhiteNoiseMaker said:
what happens at 85+?

To be honest i can't say exactly what speed i was doing when i first spotted it because i was paying more attention to the lorry and road. i just know as soon as i spotted the camera van my foot hit the break and then my eyes dropped to look at the speedo.

What on Earth you thinking of paying attention to the lorry and the road! You really ought to know that the only possible dangers on the road are speed related and as long as you stick to the speed limit then nothing bad will ever happen.

Interestingly, I had a rather nasty accident about 5 years ago. I was driving along a main road and I looked down at my speedo to check the speed. At just the split second that I took my eyes off the road ahead to do that, the car in front did an emergency stop and, you guessed the rest.... My fault, naturally. There was nobody hurt, but there was £5,000 worth of damage to my car alone!

At least I was able to put the speed at the time of the accident down on the insurance claim form (and, no, I wasn't even speeding)!

Tigger.

Tigger Eeyore & Roo

· #18 · Jun 26, 2005

WhiteNoiseMaker

Did you ever get the ticket in the end?

Tigger

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