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Tom59 Lifetime Member
Joined: Aug 05, 2006 Posts: 407 Location: Alconbury - UK
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Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:10 pm Post subject: Faulty Gatso in Cambridge |
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I was driving towards a Gatso (1275@30) earlier (16:25) today when I saw it do a double flash.
It was on the opposite side of the road, pointing towards me. There was no vehicle in its "Line of Sight", apart from me approaching it. I know that I was not speeding at the time.
If anyone gets "Done" by this camera, I am willing to testify that I have seen it working incorrectly. _________________ TT Go 720 (T)
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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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Not necessarily as GATSO cameras can be set to trigger a flash for either direction or both directions (there is a switch setting for this option in the back of the camera) so there may well be nothing wrong with it - Mike |
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Tom59 Lifetime Member
Joined: Aug 05, 2006 Posts: 407 Location: Alconbury - UK
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Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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This particular camera is mounted on a post in such a way that it could be swiveled through 180°, also, the road is marked on each side with graduated lines.
Is it normal practice for them to be recording while facing oncoming traffic? _________________ TT Go 720 (T)
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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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Tom59 wrote: | Is it normal practice for them to be recording while facing oncoming traffic? |
Probably not, but it is possible for the camera to be set for bi-directional use - Mike |
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Andy_P Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 19991 Location: West and Southwest London
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Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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Another example is the camera just to the south of Kew Bridge in London, which always flashes when motorbikes shoot past it in the opposite direction.
The equipment does have a switch to allow it work front-facing, rear-facing or both - it's the red switch on the left of the control panel here:
AFAIK, in the UK they are only type-approved to be used rear-facing for enforcement, but there's nothing to stop them being set 'both ways' just to scare people!. |
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253 Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 1058 Location: The green bit between the M40, M4 and M25.
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Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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Further to this, camera 2111, a 30mph single direction in Talbot green.
This sometimes flashes approaching cars as well.
My old man would always slow down as he said he knew blokes from the golf club that had been caught. can never remember if there are road markings on both lanes, but will check tomorrow and report back. _________________ Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100. |
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Andy_P Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 19991 Location: West and Southwest London
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Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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Normally, you don't see a Gatso with lines painted on both sides of the road on the same side of the camera.
If it's a reversible camera, the lines will be staggered, on either side of the post.
I.E. this layout....
_________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________
not this....
__________________________________________________
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------------------------CAM-----------------------------------------
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__________________________________________________
But there ARE a few examples of the second layout, which people here think is to catch cars overtaking or just driving on the wrong side of the road, rather than to catch oncoming cars.
But then we know that the powers-that-be like to play games with us by painting lines where there isn't a camera at all (e.g. the M25), so I wouldn't put it past them to paint lines simply to put doubt in people's minds as to whether the cameras can catch approaching cars too.
Of course if it DOES flash as you approach it, one simple solution would be to be going so fast that you are past the camera when the flash goes off. |
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Skippy Pocket GPS Verifier
Joined: 24/06/2003 00:22:12 Posts: 2946 Location: Escaped to the Antipodies! 36.83°S 174.75°E
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:11 am Post subject: |
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Andy_P wrote: | Of course if it DOES flash as you approach it, one simple solution would be to be going so fast that you are past the camera when the flash goes off. |
Or ride a motorbike
Yes, many Gatsos do flash at vehicles coming towards them but often the second flash fires when the vehicle would be out of the picture. Or so I'm told by a fellow biker who has set a few off. Allegedly. _________________ Gone fishing! |
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Andy_P Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 19991 Location: West and Southwest London
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:40 am Post subject: |
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Andy_P wrote: |
AFAIK, in the UK they are only type-approved to be used rear-facing for enforcement, but there's nothing to stop them being set 'both ways' just to scare people!. |
To be more precise...
They are type-approved only to be used rear-facing when used unattended.
If attended by an operator (as in the mobile Gatsos on tripods) they can be used for enforcement in both approach directions. |
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253 Lifetime Member
Joined: Mar 05, 2007 Posts: 1058 Location: The green bit between the M40, M4 and M25.
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Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Andy,
Can confirm your example 2 for the camera I mentioned, also drove past another 2 like it today as well.
No idea how/if they work for the oncoming cars.
The back of one of the cameras was well and truly burned, with a 2" gap showing at the bottom of the housing, been like that for a couple of months now. _________________ Triumph Tbird 1700. And now a Bonnie T100. |
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roadrash-uk Occasional Visitor
Joined: Apr 24, 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Cambridgeshire, Uk
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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I am always being flashed when aproching a gatso on my motorbike. Its a shame because if there is a car passing the camera at this time then it may be falsly charged for speeding. |
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M8TJT The Other Tired Old Man
Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 10118 Location: Bexhill, South Sussex, UK
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 4:50 pm Post subject: |
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roadrash-uk wrote: | I am always being flashed when aproching a gatso on my motorbike. Its a shame because if there is a car passing the camera at this time then it may be falsly charged for speeding. | Then stop speeding and then no one will be 'falsly charged' |
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PaulB2005 Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 04, 2006 Posts: 9323 Location: Durham, UK
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: | I am always being flashed when aproching a gatso on my motorbike. Its a shame because if there is a car passing the camera at this time then it may be falsly charged for speeding. |
Not likely. The road markings are there to verify the speed the camera says the vehicle is doing. |
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DennisN Tired Old Man
Joined: Feb 27, 2006 Posts: 14901 Location: Keynsham
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Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:00 am Post subject: |
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Andy_P wrote: | Normally, you don't see a Gatso with lines painted on both sides of the road on the same side of the camera.
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------------------------CAM-----------------------------------------
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Beg to differ Andy. I find them like this all over the place.
My local ones are setup this way (see Streetview). 67491@30, 1610@30, 278@50. etc. In these cases, the camera is at the roadside, not in the centre as your example. Maybe it's rural ones? I was flashed head on by 1610 at 4am one day in pitch darkness, not a thing on the road except me. _________________ Dennis
If it tastes good - it's fattening.
Two of them are obesiting!! |
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Andy_P Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jun 04, 2005 Posts: 19991 Location: West and Southwest London
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Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 12:14 am Post subject: |
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Noted.
In my defence, I did follow my beautiful ASCII art drawing with:
"But there ARE a few examples of the second layout..... " |
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