I've started to notice lots of grey boxes appearing round here on the sides of the road. They are of two basic types, both about one metre high, mounted on posts, but one comes almost to the ground, and the other type is about 50cm of box, the rest is post. They are both about 40cm wide, and seem to be accompanied by a network of parrallel lines, with some running at right angles, buried in the road.
I noticed them because there was a young lady doing something to one of them near my house this morning. The box was open, but I couldn't make out what was inside. She was not in uniform, and was driving a red van.
Does anyone know if these are even more speed traps, and if not, what they are?
Alcazar

There are a few ice sensors dotted around the roads up north that sound kind of like these boxes.

Although the ice sensors usually also have a wind speed thingy on a pole next to them

Don't think they're ice sensors. There are no displays nearby, no wind speed thingies, just parallel lines and at right angles in the road.
We're not that far North anyway!:):

I think I know the ones you are talking about. Are they by traffic lights? Could be control units for lights?

Nope. Not near lights or any other road signs. The one the girly was messing with was near the entrance to a small town, but there are others near here, some right in the middle of a straight stretch of road.....you know, "an accident black spot".([img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img])
Most of them seem to have slightly arched tops.
Alcazar

alcazar,
sure it wasn't a 'Postie' :):) (red van!)
they've started using grey boxes to store mail. postie finishes his round, then goes to grey box to collect another load ??
alternatively - its for plugging in a speed camera :(
a cable is plug into box, then run to a small camera on a tripod
several yards away - thats how I was caught last time !!

alan

From what i have been told in the past these boxes collect data for whoever investigates accident blackspots. They simply detect what speed a car is doing as it drives over the 2 lines and then records it. No record is taken WHAT car or WHO was driving. Its just so that they can see if more people drive over the speed limit than is designated for that road. Apparently then this helps them to justify putting in speed camera's and other 'traffic calming' measures.

So if you see them, slow down if you don't want another speed camera putting up!


Marc :)