Speed cameras?

[Wak]

On a road near me, on the stretch with the most speed cameras in the country for its distance (A34 between Bloxwich and Cannock if you're curious), there has appeared in the road sets of two rectangles. These look like the inductive loops they sink into the road at traffic lights to detect when cars are waiting. Some of these rectangles are near existing speed cameras and some are not. Each set of rectangles has a grey box at the side of the road. The box looks large enough to house a fair bit of electronic gubbins.

Anyone have a clue what they are?

A friend knows the owner of the company who dug the road up to install them and they weren't even told what they were for.

:confused:

[dunc]

Sounds scary, I'm afraid I can't help out much. They could be there to sense the amout of traffic that passes this area?

[JackaL]

Lets just say it wouldn't be there if it couldn't earn the government some cash :mad:

Must be a trial of a new camera - I heard of some using loops in the road to sense speed - doing away with radar :(

[Bean Bandit]

If those two sets are close (about one car lenght) they could measure speed as well but as long as there's no camera the only wood know that someone was too fast but not whom;)
It's just a logical possible idea so don't take it for shure

[Filmidget]

Could be to do with phasing/control of the traffic signals.

Certainly one system had 'scoot loops' as they were called.

I know 'cos I had just finished supervising a road job, when somebody decided they wanted them cutting into the brand new surfacing.

Or could be something more sinister. They are out to get us.

Cheers, Phil

[Mr_Sukebe]

Maybe it's the revised penalty system.

The process is like this:

1. The first loop detects you and photographs your number plate
2. The plate is compared centrally against your license details and any previous payments that you're outstanding on
3. If adding 3 points to your licence would result in your being banned, or you have any outstanding fines unpaid, the second loop simply microwaves you to death

[amcluesent]

Obviously this is hush-hush, but it's a test of new sensors to detect if you are using a mobile phone while driving along. The first loop picks up your 'phones signal and symulates a base station to trick your phone into sending the unique ID burnt into its SIM card which is picked up by the second loop.

£60 fixed penalty then added to your phone bill (once the 'proposed' new legislation is put into force)...

[JB]

It's most likely to be to do with traffic flow management through traffic lights. But as you rightly say, that stretch of road has so many speed cameras that I wouldn't be surprised if it was something deeply sinister being prepared to trap us evil criminal motorists.

Maybe you could plead insanity if caught (looks like others are able to get away with murder on that one :mad: ).

[dunc]

Maybe when you are breaking the speed limit the bump where they are installed opens up like a trap door leaving a pot hole which puts a great big dirty buckle in the alloys of cars with low profile tyres! Or in Kevs200sx's case rips your strut clean off :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Wak]

:D Great answers guys, since there's no traffic lights on the road apart from a couple of pedestrian crossings I'm leaning towards the new type of speed camera theory. But, if you already have cameras why change them? Maybe for digital types that need no film and can therefore maximise the amount of money flowing into the coffers:mad:

[Bean Bandit]

Here in Zurich we have a top scorer speed camera which if you average the numbers flash every 10seconds! and it's followed by two others within 1/2 mile:eek:

[barryjdart]

They are the latest speed detectors. The boxes at the side of the road can be plugged into a"hidden" police car. They measure your speed over a distance. Have a look here

www.originbluei.com (http://)

[XEB]

Wouldn't it be a terrible thing if a group of motorists who favour freedom cut the wires, painted the lenses, hacked down all these speed cameras. I think that it would be a terrible thing to happen. It would be terrorism of the highest degree, almost on the par of what Saddem has done to the Marsh Arabs, or what happened in the former Yugoslavia.

It would show the public just how dangerious and anti social motorists are. How dare such a group stand up for themselves and their beliefs by causing untold damage to the infastructure of the nation.

After all these cameras are there to protect the public and are always put in places where they can prevent accidents. The income from these cameras help to provide decent roads and help the motorist.

Any damage done on a wide scale across the country would show the government that a large number of motorists disagree with current trends. But as we all know goverment is there to govern and can not always take on board the views of minorities such as motorists. The greater good has to be considered when controlling the movements of the public.

[Wak]

take a look at this :D

http://www.speedcam.co.uk/gatso2.htm

[XEB]

very interesting stuff. Cheers

[JB]

Just driven down this from Bloxwich to Great Whyrley on the A34 in my friends Seat Toledo V5. We were on our way to Halfords to get some number plates as it has none on at the moment.

Drove like a fcuking lunatic through every speed camera, setting the active ones flashing like nobody's business :D

Childish I know, but I've always wanted to do it :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[red_s14u]

in my friends Seat Toledo V5

Can't they find out how many of these vehicles are registered in your local vacinity in that particular colur etc ? :eek:

[JB]

Originally posted by red_s14u
Can't they find out how many of these vehicles are registered in your local vacinity in that particular colur etc ? :eek:
Dunno, don't care, she wqas driving not me :D :D :D :D :D

[Wak]

They could, but if there's more than one (probably) how do they prove it was you?