Braking before speed camera registers speed and number plate

brutal_deluxe

Question. How quickly does a mobile speed camera (in a camera van) register speed and record number plate? Is it possible to brake quickly enough to change speed before it does this?

Thanks!

BD

redux

I have no idea, but I imagine it is possible for the device to do both things several times per second.

Aretnap

Once the operator presses the trigger the device takes around a third of a second to measure your speed, so by the time he presses the trigger there's certainly not much point braking. (That's why laser detectors are a waste of money). Obviously the length of time it takes the operator to point the speed gun at you and press the trigger depends on the operator.

The other thing to consider is that the devices have a range up up to a kilometer or so (assuming clear line of sight), and will often see you well before you see them.

Strider590

brutal_deluxe wrote: »

Question. How quickly does a mobile speed camera (in a camera van) register speed and record number plate? Is it possible to brake quickly enough to change speed before it does this?

Thanks!

BD

Using lidar it's about 300ms, or roughly 1/3 of a second.

They typically pan/follow you and take 3 readings to get an average though.

It depends a lot on the operator and traffic density, if there's a car in front he'll probably be focused on that, which gives you a little bit more time to react.

It's better to know where they're likely to be and watch your speed (or at least keep the brakes covered).

Basically, you can drive like a lunatic past a school, but not on a long straight dual carriageway on a nice dry summers day.

Kaimoo

I've always wondered what the range was, if it's about a kilometer it explains why I've never been caught.

Check your speedo against a GPS speed, our speedo is about 4mph out at 70mph so we sit with cruise control on at 77mph and never been pulled over or had a ticket. We use cruise control all the time now to help avoiding speeding plus it's laser controlled so slows down and speeds up by itself if a car is slowing down in front which makes driving much less tiresome on long distances

IamNotAllowedToUseMyName

brutal_deluxe wrote: »

Question. How quickly does a mobile speed camera (in a camera van) register speed and record number plate? Is it possible to brake quickly enough to change speed before it does this?

Thanks!

BD

Those cameras record continuous video and then the speed is taken instantaneously.


Simply put, they will have seen you before you have seen them, hard braking is pointless.

brutal_deluxe

Thanks for the info guys, it does indeed seem they record speed + plate pretty quickly. Are they usually automatic then or is it dependent on the operator pulling a trigger etc? Are there likely to be times while the van is parked that the camera is inactive, i.e. obvious times such as setting up / packing away? Asking anyone in the know here. Thanks again!

BD

brutal_deluxe

IanMSpencer wrote: »

Those cameras record continuous video and then the speed is taken instantaneously.


Simply put, they will have seen you before you have seen them, hard braking is pointless.

Yep, thought this might be the case

Kaimoo

Unless your going round a bend and there is heavy traffic in front of you.

Also if you get a fixed penalty notice it's a legal requirement to fill out the form however it is not a legal requirement to sign the form. I read an article recently that people were using this method and the form was rejected they can't force you to sign it. I'll try and find the article

Strider590

IanMSpencer wrote: »

Those cameras record continuous video and then the speed is taken instantaneously.

.

Yes, but the laser has a very small spread, is manually targeted and only targets one vehicle at a time. It needs to be aimed at the number plate (or a flat surface) and they normally take 3 readings, so if your doing only 1 or 2 mph over (over the ACPO guidlines) and you brake in time, there's a good chance you'll be ok.

The reaction time of the average Joe is typically 150ms to 500ms, so it's really borderline, depending on whether you see them quickly enough.

If your driving well over the limit, then nothing is going to help you.

RuthnJasper

Please don't speed. You might hurt someone; or yourself. The emergency services have got enough to do without having to sponge you off the road as well.