GATSOs - Clear this up for me once and for all

Outpost

Can you honestly drive towards one of these badboys over the limit, get flashed with it facing you, and nothing happens (in a points/fine sense, not in a getting dazzled by the flash and crashing your car sense)?



If you're minding your own business driving towards one at night and the thing flashes at someone coming the other way doesn't that strike anyone else as a pretty severe threat to a person's continued well-being? The things go off like floodlights straight in your face!

Hammyman

The flashes are too quick to destroy your night vision.

jase1

The Gatsos quite frequently seem to flash oncoming cars -- I've been flashed 5 or 6 times on the A68 in Scotland while travelling under the speed limit by cameras on the other side of the road. Nothing ever comes of it of course.

I have little sympathy for people who get caught by fixed cameras -- not only have they been travelling over the limit (not necessarily unsafe in and of itself), but they've also been inattentive enough not to notice the camera as they went by. It's the lack of attention that is likely to cause an accident; the speed merely makes the mess harder to clear up.

forgotmyname

I have seen them flash when no vehicles have gone passed them, I doubt they are as reliable as they make out.

mustrum_ridcully

Just out of interest anyone know if forward facing GATSOs (like they have in Germany) are approved for use here?

Paradigm

Gatso is not approved for forward facing use in this country!

Truvelo, however, is!

Strider590

jase1 wrote: »

I have little sympathy for people who get caught by fixed cameras -- not only have they been travelling over the limit (not necessarily unsafe in and of itself),

I think we need to add a BUT to that statement :rotfl:

Unless it's a hidden camera (behind a sign or tree's) at night and the person doesn't know that road, it's not always obvious what the speed limit is when you turn onto another road, or just after a traffic island. Most local authorities get it right (signs), but there are several which don't.
Then you also have the camera's hidden inside wheelie bins and horse boxes.... Which i've heard still happens.

wealdroam

Strider590 wrote: »

Then you also have the camera's hidden inside wheelie bins and horse boxes.... Which i've heard still happens.

Fixed cameras?

B00st

Outpost wrote: »

Can you honestly drive towards one of these badboys over the limit, get flashed with it facing you, and nothing happens (in a points/fine sense, not in a getting dazzled by the flash and crashing your car sense)?



If you're minding your own business driving towards one at night and the thing flashes at someone coming the other way doesn't that strike anyone else as a pretty severe threat to a person's continued well-being? The things go off like floodlights straight in your face!

As mentioned GATSOs are not approved for forward facing operation in the UK and should only be set to take photos from the rear.

If they do operate from the front (either set up incorrectly or deliberately) then only the first of the two photos will show the car so no secondary evidence / back up calculation of the speed will be available.

sarahg1969

jase1 wrote: »

I have little sympathy for people who get caught by fixed cameras -- not only have they been travelling over the limit...

That's quite an assumption to make.

Harry_Flashman

jase1 wrote: »

I have little sympathy for people who get caught by fixed cameras

My my - the holier than thou brigade are quick today - only post three and a preacher appears