Speed Camera encounter

[Al115]

Evening all.

Those who know me will vouch for my careful driving - not that I'm afaid of using the loud pedal in appropriate circumstances, but training for my IAM test has made me paranoid about speed limits.

However I was "flashed" by a speed camera this evening in a 50 limit (the link road between M/A40 and M4 that runs past Heathrow). This is bad news because if I do get points on my licence as a result, I will have to sell my much-loved T5 - I can only just afford the insurance as it is.

The event...

I passed the camera at 50mph, no more - I am sure of this. I have a police-calibrated speedometer which is supposedly accurate to +/- 0.5mph. I am also running slightly smaller tyres which makes my speedo over-read by about a percent.

Another car passed the camera behind me.

When I thought I was out of the "zone", I sped up to max 55mph (stupid, but no-one needs to point it out - I will be kicking myself for a while about this).

The camera flashed twice.

The obvious suggestion is that the car behind me (black beamer) set the camera off - however as far as I can tell we were travelling at the same speed, if anything he was going slower. I am guessing that the camera detection zone was "longer" than I predicted, and I got caught at the far end. I don't know the triggering position / criteria.

Of course it is possible that the camera is out of calibration and taking photos of everyone... unlikely though.

Questions -

1. to what tolerances do cameras operate? I know that technically I can be "done" for driving at 51mph... but presumably there's a "goodwill" / inaccuracy band?
2. what is the typical % increase in insurance premium for collecting 3 points?
3. HOW LONG until I find out???

As ever, thanks for taking the time.


(An unhappy) Alastair :-(

cops have 10 days on a normal case to notify you. after that your in the clear. a speedcamera will normally be gauged @ 10% +2/3, so you're in the clear even at 55. if you were past the white lines (the rear of your car) then it cant be uses in prosicution. it may have flashed at something coming towards you.

And in any event, your insurance may not go up. Many insurers ignore the first (and sometimes even the second) FPN.

If you do get a ticket though, make sure you inform your insurers.

Regards

Andy

[Al115]

Interesting... thanks guys.

I will of course post back here after 14 days!


Alastair

[doorman]

If it was a Gatso, and not a Trevelo, it could have been triggered by a vehicle on the opposite side, in which case you wont be logged, and neither will he. I triggered one the other day like that, and a little old lady on her push bike was in the frame. Te he he Lol.
Dave
V70 'R' AWD

[steventoon]

If you've been captured then you will receive notification within 14 days and not ten.
Gatsos are now set up to take photos of vehicles travelling away from them and are not set up to measure speed of vehicles travelling in both directions. ( except mobile cameras which normally are set up to take pics of the car as they approach the camera).
If your out of the white line area then I wouldn't have thought that it was you the camera flashed. The only purpose of these white lines, which act like a large ruler ! is in case of a driver disputing he was speeding then both photos can be compared and the speed can be worked out from the distance travelled.

[NugentS]

Goto www.pepipoo.com to get all the latest info on what to do when you get that irritating bit of toilet paper (called a NIP) through the door.

Sean

[Al115]

PePiPoo... now lodged firmly in my "Favourites" folder!

I suspect now that it was the vehicle behind me that set the camera (gatso) off. But we'll have to wait and see.

Thanks guys.


Alastair

[Peter Milnes]

If pepipoo advises not telling them who was driving at the time take no notice of that advice. It will cost you at least £100 AND three points for not advising the police plus the fine/points/loss of licence arrising from your court appearance for speeding. As owner/registered keeper you are liable as if you were the driver, so if it was your lad/lass driving you must tell the police so that they can place the charge at the appropriate person's door. Why collect fines/points/licence revocation when it was not you. Just a cautionary tale about "advice".

All the best, Peter

>If you've been captured then you will receive notification
>within 14 days and not ten.

i meant 10 working days :) under normal circumstances, if you're from abroad or moving house or something then they're allowed longer

>Gatsos are now set up to take photos of vehicles travelling
>away from them and are not set up to measure speed of vehicles
>travelling in both directions.

there are a LOT round here that will flash you in either direction - i dont know *why* (according to some websites, there is no known case of a gatso picture taken from the front being used in prosicution), perhaps its impossible to stop them going off?


incidentally, i believe a truvaleto (sp) doesnt flash as it takes photos of the front of the car, thus flashing would blind a driver. i'm not sure on this thou