What is this mounted above the VAS sign?

RealBobbyDazzler
RealBobbyDazzler Posts: 78 Forumite
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in Motoring
Spotted this mounted ontop of a VAS in Tewkesbury on the A46 in a 30 yesterday.

What is the secondary camera on the top? I know the VAS has a camera built into it already.

Had to post photos here as upload wasn’t working - https://imgur.com/a/TARoHjp

Thanks
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Comments

  • shaun_from_Africa
    shaun_from_Africa Posts: 12,858 Forumite
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    Some of them do appear to have an external sensor to detect:

    http://www.pwssigns.com/vehicle-activated-signs#!prettyPhoto
  • RealBobbyDazzler
    RealBobbyDazzler Posts: 78 Forumite
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    I've been looking for 2 days now as slightly concerned.. I've never seen anything like it but have stumbled across this identical looking one used as a speed camera in Stroud (20 minutes away from Tewskesbury) in the typical yellow speed camera colour. Looks same shape/size to me... just this one's black and more discreet.

    https://www.stroudnewsandjournal.co.uk/news/14382929.hi-tech-a46-speed-camera-should-be-used-at-a-better-spot-says-stroud-mum/

    It seems to say it's a speed camera, but possibly not able to prosecute with it.. maybe due to no secondary check or accuracy. Strange how I find nothing else on it apart from that one post.
  • DUTR
    DUTR Posts: 12,958 Forumite
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    RealBobbyDazzler wrote: »
    Spotted this mounted ontop of a VAS in Tewkesbury on the A46 in a 30 yesterday.

    What is the secondary camera on the top? I know the VAS has a camera built into it already.

    Had to post photos here as upload wasn’t working - https://imgur.com/a/TARoHjp

    Thanks

    It just looks like an infra red torch to me.
  • unholyangel
    unholyangel Posts: 16,863 Forumite
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    Isn't it just the sensor it uses to determine speed and therefore whether it should light up the sign below and warn the driver to slow down?
    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
  • RealBobbyDazzler
    RealBobbyDazzler Posts: 78 Forumite
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    unholyangel wrote: »
    Isn't it just the sensor it uses to determine speed and therefore whether it should light up the sign below and warn the driver to slow down?

    No, that's mounted within the sign if you look closely. I've spent a few days looking myself now and believe it's this in black - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-35835674

    Looks like it is a speed camera, but one that doesn't issue fines only warnings on 'educating' drivers - perhaps why it's black here not yellow as not for enforcement.

    Learn something new everyday.
  • CardinalWolsey
    CardinalWolsey Posts: 713 Forumite
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    Surely speed cameras should be larger, more visible and prominently mounted? I've always understood their purpose to be speed reduction, and not revenue generation. Whilst they are only sending warning letters at the moment, the implication is they could start issuing NIPs. For me, this comes across as a cash cow rather than safety measure.
  • RealBobbyDazzler
    RealBobbyDazzler Posts: 78 Forumite
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    CardinalWolsey wrote: »
    Surely speed cameras should be larger, more visible and prominently mounted? I've always understood their purpose to be speed reduction, and not revenue generation. Whilst they are only sending warning letters at the moment, the implication is they could start issuing NIPs. For me, this comes across as a cash cow rather than safety measure.

    I agree, it's all revenue based regardless of what's said. I don't condone speeding, and believe they should monitor speeds outside schools etc.

    Speed camera vans parked catching people going from a 60 to a 30 right on the start of the 30 in a low risk zone is what bugs me, if it was for safety - flashing other motorists to alert them of a camera van wouldn't be illegal as you're actually slowing people down, the whole idea right.. sadly not when no £ collected haha.
  • Bonniepurple
    Bonniepurple Posts: 572 Forumite
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    I wondered whether the speed camera on the A38 at Cambridge (tiny village in Gloucestershire, not the University City!) had competition for a minute. The Cambridge camera currently has Tigger, a Nutcracker, a decoy duck and some mistletoe as accessories.!
  • Ergates
    Ergates Posts: 2,108 Forumite
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    RealBobbyDazzler wrote: »
    I've spent a few days looking myself now and believe it's this in black - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-35835674

    Look again, they're different. The camera has it's "spots" (lenses, lights etc) position in 2 almost horizontal lines - like the spots on a dice. The "thing" on the sign has it's "spots" positioned symetrically around the edge. Also, the spots on the camera are much larger.
  • unholyangel
    unholyangel Posts: 16,863 Forumite
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    RealBobbyDazzler wrote: »
    No, that's mounted within the sign if you look closely. I've spent a few days looking myself now and believe it's this in black - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-35835674

    Looks like it is a speed camera, but one that doesn't issue fines only warnings on 'educating' drivers - perhaps why it's black here not yellow as not for enforcement.

    Learn something new everyday.

    What is a speed camera, if not a speed sensor?

    It needs to be able to measure that speed to know when to display the message.

    https://trl.co.uk/sites/default/files/TRL548.pdf
    Public opinions
    Nearly 450 drivers took part in opinion surveys at three
    locations in Norfolk and one in Wiltshire. Two locations
    had a speed limit roundel (20mph and 40mph) and two had
    a junction sign. Most of these drivers drove regularly past
    the relevant sign. Opinions were sought about the four sign
    types, some of which might be thought to be associated
    with enforcement, by showing photographs of each type of
    sign. (The roundel signs were pictured with and without a
    microwave detector head, which could be thought to be a
    speed enforcement camera    .)
    You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
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