Speed camera van

[tk338]

Was on my way home from work this morning, only had an hours sleep last night (just couldn't sleep) and was exhausted! So I went to make my way home onto a 30 road which has hundreds of speed camera signs on it and the odd van every now and then, but its very rare!

Thing is is the van was on a bend, I'll take a good look at it tomorrow, but it really caught me by surprise when I finally saw it, came round the bend and there it was, I was probably less than 50 meters from it... At the point however I'm not sure I was speeding.

A car had just pulled out on me, I'd hit the brakes, and being only a little 125, by the time I'd hit 30 was probably when the van first saw me. The point at which I saw the van though I was almost ontop of it just across the road from me and it was then I saw myself doing 36 :@ so i slowed...

Being only weeks into a full license I'm seriously annoyed with myself, just a lapse in concentration, but it was the third car that had pulled out on me and I was so busy watching for all the concealed exits that they come from the van went unnoticed.

Aah well a 2 week wait now, will be spent kicking myself as I can't actually afford the fine either just having put down the deposit for a cbr600f. I'm also annoyed as I stick rigidly to speed limits, and often finishing work at 2am I could well speed and get away with it and home a lot quicker, but no... This one lapse in concentration

I came here to ask, this though. Its back was facing me, it was hidden behind the curve of the bend and some bushes not sure what its line of sight would be, but would it be looking for traffic going in both directions? Could it have caught my 36 mph as was parallel with it?

[DrDonnyBrago]

The cameras point out the back and get the traffic coming towards them. The new laser cams basically get you as soon as you are in sight, they keep it on you for a while to get your speed so if you saw 36mph, they would probably have that at least. They probably also target the right hand lanes and bikes as these are the most likely to be speeding.

Sucks if you did get caught, when the vans hide in bushes like money thieving doggers then getting caught is pretty much down to luck. at 36mph you might still be ok, guidlines suggest 10% +2 so 35mph and most speedos read high.

On a positive note, its only a few quid and you will have a shiny new CBR soon, they are awesome first big bikes.

EDIT: Did you say you were caught at 2am? How can they justify their presence at 2am!

[angryjonny]

So you were facing the van doing 36? Unless you have a number plate on the front you should be ok. Even if you got spotted, an indicated 36 is more likely 33-34 - so borderline NIP territory.

I had a similar experience but doing a ludicrous overtake at 80something in a 60 zone, 2-up. Never heard a peep.

[panrider_uk]

I got a NIP in Friday's post for speeding on Thursday tea-time - keen or what?!

Was doing 35 in a 30 so was ever so slightly annoyed

Will have to start looking at the speedo instead of the road in future (or drive at 25 in town)

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[DrDonnyBrago]

[panrider_uk]

[angryjonny]

I find myself going through cameras looking in the mirror to see if they flash, rather than looking at the "hazards" they're trying to slow me down for.

[tk338]

Thanks guys!

DonnyBrago Noo I passed the van this morning, after the bend of a long straight which the van could have been facing, but no it had to be my direction. Me doing the road at this time is different though, 99% of the time I do it at 2am

its the fact its half way to the 6 meaning on the cbr I'll have to ride to perfection if the did get me to avoid anymore points still I guess that can't be a bad thing

If I do get an NIP I'll stick to 5mph below the speed limit I cannot loose my license, the only other thing I could hope for is a speed awareness course.

angryjohnny, you make a good point, I don't have a front number plate, but I was under the impression if the saw someone coming on a bike at over the limit they had a camera in the opposite direction too to get the plate?

Also at the time the whole area was very bumper to bumper cars, presumably either they were all slightly over, or I was the only muppet doing over the limit.

panrider_uk, sounds like I won't have to wait that long either! Obviously I'd rather not get anything, but if I was too I'd much rather have it sooner than later, unlucky on that one mate

And on a final note, theres a road near me which has 5 fixed cameras on at least, its a loooong A road, but for each one of them I slow riight down and have one eye on my mirror for a flash.

[supZ]

[panrider_uk]

[tk338]

After much searching of the internet at least I'll sleep tonight, from memory the back, heavily tinted windows of the van were closed, as was the side hatch, so I'll just have to hope I got away with it, tell you what though, speeding ticket or none I'm going to be a lot more careful in the future!

[Willson]

[pits]

[itsallgood]

They are manually operated - I flew past one (in the car) doing well over the 40mph limit, only clocked it at the last minute.

I braked hard but it was too late.......until wifey pointed out there was no one in the back operating the thing.

Drove past again an hour later (not speeding this time!) And could clearly see the guy in the back operating the camera this time....

That was over a month ago and nothing in the post so I guess I'm a lucky lucky bastid!

Years ago when I first got my car test I managed 3 points after about a week, fairly scares you when any more could mean a ban :s

[panrider_uk]

What happens at the speed awareness courses you can do (maybe) instead of taking the points?

I assume the £75 cost for the course is on top of the fine?

Mark
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Current bikes: Honda ST1100 Pan European. Moto Guzzi V85 TT Travel

[itsallgood]

Think its £80 for the course instead of the fine and points, good deal I guess if you don't mind being patronised by some road safety f**kwits for half a day or whatever it is

[bencav]

[Paxovasa]

If it was a modern speed camera they have cameras on the side and one in the front facing forward as well as the rear facing one, so they can get your number plate as you pass.

https://www.reflexdesign.uk.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/sycamera/dscf2716.jpg

You will just have to keep checking your post for two weeks.
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Suzuki GSF600 K3 (in the fastest colour, black).

[bencav]

The sign on the van door makes me laugh - safer??? Like blindfolds make you a safer driver??

One hell of a set up though, must make roads super 'safe'!!

[panrider_uk]

[tk338]

Just had my first ride since and it was horrible :s, I normally love it but I spent the whole time watching the speedo and looking out for anything that might be watching my speed...

On the plus side day 1 has gone by and no letter :p but with the possible threat of 3 more points being my last its ruined riding for 2 weeks, maybe 2 years :/

[Darth]

[MinhDinh]

Are the vans all like that?

Kinda obvious I guess.
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Hit the G spot.

[G]

[panrider_uk]