help - was I zapped by camera

Stephen_Leak

tote_alley_stressed wrote: »

why did it flash twice?

I takes two photographs, with one flash each. The time between them is fixed, so you can then calculate the vehicles speed from the distance it has moved betwen the two pictures. Distance / Time = Speed. This can be used to double-check the speed recorded by the sensors in the "back" of the camera (I am assuming that it is a Gatso).

roddydogs

A route i regularly take has a Gatso on the other side of the road, it reguarly flashes as you drive TOWARDS it, with no cars whatever travelling on that side of the road (A217 towards Banstead) its been like this for YEARS, you CANNOT get a ticket when going TOWARDS a GATSO! (The Police regulary travel this road and must know) its is very distracting, and dangerous!!

wolfehouse

i feel just like you about these cameras. if they did take a picture they will have a picture of you NOT speeding, so you will be alright.
i have seen one of my local cameras flash without anyone even being on the road.
I don't think it is right to scare people who are not breaking the law.

vikingaero

Most flash (not infra-red) cameras seem to "flash" cycle at random. Not sure if it's a testing mode or if something sets them off.

Advocate

Calm down! The worst that could happen is a £60 fine and 3 points. The 3 points will hardly have any effect on your insurance, as insurance companies have found there's no correlation between having a few points for speeding and being an accident risk.

Don't take it personally if you end up having to cough up - it's just a tax on motorists and you are just another one of many millions who've been stung - it doesn't make you a bad person or dangerous driver.

But as others have said, you'll probably be ok if the camera was on the other side of the road.

blue_monkey_2

Round here the Gatso's used to flash the stationary lorries sitting at the traffic lights!! The operator will see you were within the lines and not sent the NIP out. Don't worry about it now - IF you get one then worry about it. It's not the nicest thing but you can always always appeal against it. If they have the pictures to show you WERE speeding then you'll have to accept it and get your car checked out. they reckon every speedo is anything up to 10% out and never 100% accurate and a 10% allowance is made for this with the cameras. I was told that by a traffic cop. Could be wrong but that is what I was told so in that case you'd have to be doing 33mph.

I am sure that there is no way it would falash in your drivers side though, it would have to be in the passenger or rear view mirror surely? Do you have the front or rear facing cameras where you are? it is not the end of the world if you get one though - sure the fine is not nice, but it means you'd have to get your car checked out as your speedo could have a problem if it said you was only doing 26mph.