Mobile speed cameras

[JuST Peter]

I passed a mobile speed camera set up in Castle Hill area last Friday evening and was surprised
to find two warning signs well before the camera car.
Prior to this I had only seen the one sign AFTER passing said van.
What's changed the minds of the powers that be?
Why are we being given advance notice now?

[hobs]

I think you will find that they have already recorded your speed by the time you read the signs.  Possibly done to alert you they you will be recording you if you are speeding. Do not think it is a courtesy sign.

[Totgas]

That's strange because last week just out of Tenterfield there was a sign about 100 meters before the radar van and then another at about ten meters. Two things were interesting 1) that they were giving a hell of a warning and 2) when did NSW change to private contractors doing radar fines (yes, it wasn't a police van)?
A.

[Chatty]

Consider yourselves lucky that you get warning signs - here in SA usually the first you know about being "done" is the expiation notice (infringement) in the mail.   
Given that on some of our better bike roads they are now hiding cameras inside wheelie bins and similar dirty tricks, it can be next to impossible to actually identify a camera location.

I know our cameras here (usually mounted in the front passenger seat of a car) can get you coming and going, so if that is the case in NSW, the notices you saw could actually have been for you driving away from the camera, not towards it...

It's been contractors here for quite a while now - apparently more cost effective for the government, not that they are revenue raising at all! 

[Totgas]

No, definitely towards the van and that's not to mention the twenty or so headlight flashes I saw as well.........

[Biggles]

Yep- saw the same thing on the notorious New England Highway on the northern outskirts of Tamworth NSW yesterday afternoon.  I thought it very odd that there were so many warnings, and that the vehicle was in such an obvious location.

[Chatty]

No, definitely towards the van and that's not to mention the twenty or so headlight flashes I saw as well.........

Oh well, count your blessings - at least you're getting some warning.  The cops here have also been known to drive up and down the road in unmarked cars waiting for people to flash their headlights to warn of the radar - they then pull you over and book you for that too 

Chatty

[JuST Peter]

No, definitely towards the van and that's not to mention the twenty or so headlight flashes I saw as well.........

Oh well, count your blessings - at least you're getting some warning.  The cops here have also been known to drive up and down the road in unmarked cars waiting for people to flash their headlights to warn of the radar - they then pull you over and book you for that too 

Chatty

That's the same as us (buses with 2-way) saying where the HP guys are. We were sternly warned off by our control room to desist with such warnings.
We now use terms like "Mr Whippy's selling ice creams north of XYZ" 

[alans1100]

Sometimes in SA they just set the radar up to see what the speeds are like then a week or so later they'll come back and start booking people. Not much use setting up on a road where there's very few speeding offences.

As for warning other drivers it seems that it's not an issue in SA. This question was asked on radio a few years ago and the police spokes person said that they don't have a problem with that because it slows people down. But on the other hand they can't respond otherwise or the implication of revenue raising is confirmed (Catch 22).

[Biggles]

Oh well, count your blessings - at least you're getting some warning.  The cops here have also been known to drive up and down the road in unmarked cars waiting for people to flash their headlights to warn of the radar - they then pull you over and book you for that too 

As Alan wrote, the Police should be thankful we're saving lives- just doing our bit if that's what the radar is supposed to be doing.  I guess the charge they make is "Interfering With Police In The Course Of Their Duty", so that one would stick.  Seems pathetic, though.  Anyway, I don't see very many people flashing these days.  Maybe they just figure that they just got away without a fine, so why should they help their fellow driver?  Me, I just like helping people...

[Sean]

It used to be a policy in NSW to have permanent warning signs in locations the cameras may be used. Thye civilian operators had taken over some time ago.

As for the flashing, consider it if you would like someone flashing motorists speeding down your street where the kids play. Consider how your opinion may change.

It's funny how some people comment about how bad the hoons are but still feel it is their right to travel at the speed they see fit. Really if you get caught speeding then you are the one that has done that, time to eat humble pie.           

[Chatty]

As for the flashing, consider it if you would like someone flashing motorists speeding down your street where the kids play. Consider how your opinion may change.

It's funny how some people comment about how bad the hoons are but still feel it is their right to travel at the speed they see fit. Really if you get caught speeding then you are the one that has done that, time to eat humble pie.           

Funny you should say that.  We used to live on a main road where the speed limit changed from 80 to 60 about 200m from our house.  The camera used to set up right outside our place (we had some overhanging trees for cover) and I never really had a problem with it because I got fed up with the idiots doing warp 9 past our place because the higher speed limit was just down the road...

[johnnyYTED]

 
thanx guys for the sightings  on the route I'm taking on Friday to Cooroy.   it dont matter  coz I aint in no hurry  .
   if get me speeding ,,I juST cop it sweet...  buSTed .
  havent had a ticket for looong time,    touch wood 

[ST2UP]

I"ll just go restock the emoticon vending machine Johnny   

[johnnyYTED]

 
                                                              SORRY 

[ST2UP]

The top end of the New England Hwy is saturated with the stationary private radar cars at the moment....but they do have signage just prior.....even been operational after dark 

[Totgas]

Might be worth buying a radar gun, seeing as I have the bike      

[tremarg]

I do not disagree with Police checking speed limits, I have a huge problem with the way speed limits are set. The police at least in Qld do not set speed limits, they may have input but there is a dogs breakfast of authorities settings these limits and what criteria are used to determine these. An example the Gateway Southbound at Nudgee, used to be 100 now 90 with a speed camera. That for me is OK because the design of the pavement near the golf course includes a negative camber. However just past this point the 2 lanes become 3 and straighten. The speed limit remains at 90 for around 1 klm of perfect road with no issues that require a reduced limit. How many have been caught here. Having said that, I know of places that the limit should be reduced.

Maybe a topic should be started detailing limits that do not make sense including roadworks.

[Old Steve]

I think if I was stopped for flashing my lights in warning of a camera car on the side of the road, I'd state that I was warning people about the possible hazard of a car parked close to the road with people in the car who could get out of the vehicle and increase the hazard to passing traffic.  That's a valid use of lights isn't it, especially if you're flashing bikes who are in much more danger of injury if pedestrians move out onto the roadway.

[Lionel]

At least in the ACT the mobile camera vans stand out like dog's bits.
They are large white vans with huge signs on top, parked on the median strip or on the side of the road, and generally visible for hundreds of metres.