Hi,
I do quite a lot of driving every day and most is either on the A3 or A316/M3.

Recently I have noticed new blue cameras springing up, and rumour has it that these are Digital speed cameras (they face towards you, don't flash, no markings on the road, don't run out of film...). They are about 15ft tall with two areas on top.
Does anyone know if these are speed cameras, and if they are, are the blue cameras on bridges also speed cameras?
Can radar detectors pick them up and can anyone recommend a detector to me?

Thanks
Stu

They have also sprouted on the bridges over the A3 (Petersfield for example), not just on poles. Also, I've seen quite a few on the Newbury By-pass too.

I believe that they are CCTV cameras only (ie, no speed sensors) but they are closely monitored. If you are doing any serious speed and are noticed, then the controller will call for a car to intercept you!
I am checking with a friend at one of the cop-shop's along that route. Will post more info as soon as poss.

Ross.

PS - The A3 (M3 too) corridor is patrolled by a Scooby Impreza Turbo which is unmarked! Maroon in colour I believe... Rumour has it they may be getting another soon.

The blue cameras on the bridges also seem to be located next to the traffic master sensors. I guess if they detect a high speed vehicle it'll automatically notify with video as well. I'll get Al to check with the friendly bods that come into A&E.

cheers

Andy

Taken from traffic masters website:-

****************

Blue Pole Mystery Explained

They are not speed cameras! … but part of a £10
million expansion programme which will triple
Trafficmaster’s existing network. This has involved
the installation of over 5,000 infra-red sensors and
3,500 roadside beacons on over 7,500 miles of the
country’s motorways and trunk roads. When the
system goes live later this year, it will be the most
comprehensive, nationwide, live traffic monitoring
network in the world. In addition to providing
information on traffic conditions, it will also provide
the motorist with

real-time information on journey times on over 95% of
the country’s main roads. A further enhancement of
the system’s software is that it will be able to predict
when traffic is at its worst and therefore the best time
to travel.

It works by using specially developed infra-red
sensors, installed approximately four miles apart, to
measure the time taken for a vehicle to travel
between each sensor site. Computers at each site
continuously transmit this information back to
Trafficmaster’s National Control Centre in Milton
Keynes, where it is processed and transmitted directly
to vehicles fitted with Trafficmaster receivers.

Trafficmaster’s own quarterly statistics show us that
year on year, congestion is increasing, affecting an
average of 570,00 vehicles each and every day on
motorways alone. Over the next ten years this is likely
to rise to 623,000 at an annual cost to the economy of
£7.7 billion!

David Martell, Chief Executive, Trafficmaster Plc,
commented:-

"In the absence of a comprehensive road building
programme, Technology can play

a key role in helping to reduce both the cost and time
wasted in congestion. By providing accurate, high
quality, dynamic information directly to motorists in
their cars, journey times and stress levels are
significantly reduced."

He continued …… "This increasing need for
information has been recognised by many motor
manufacturers, and it is expected that within the next
3 years, over half of all new cars will be fitted with an
on-board driver information system as standard".

-end-

For further information, contact either Michele Murphy
or Clare Schofield on 01908 249800

Damn, and I knew that one!

http://bbs.sidc.co.uk/smile.gif I have heard a rumour also, that they do have cameras in, that register the middle 3 characters of the reg number, so they can actually say how long a particular vehicle took to do the 4 mile run in between the masts. Otherwise how would they know? The other trafficmaster system just used to count the number of cars that went past the sensor in a fixed time period and flashed up if the road was busy or not.

Hmmm Big Brother again http://bbs.sidc.co.uk/wink.gif

Guys,

Take a look at the following website:

http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/2195/speedtrap_bible.html

Its very interesting reading explaining what are speed cameras and what are not. There's also a lovely picture of a Prodrive Impreza police car fully loaded up.

Stuart,

I'm due to have mine fitted (detector fitted near the radiator, detector fitted behind the rear-view mirror and the control panel fitted to the dash) next week.

There seems to be some mixed responses to it all. I looked at it this way :

If it detects one Gatso that I didn't see, one laser gun or any other radar device then its paid for itself.

I'll let you know next week.

I guess that with the thing bleeping here there and everywhere it will make me more alert and hopefully a better driver.

Tony - Would you like to add anything here ?

Thanks for all of the responses on the blue cameras, I have found the most relevant site:
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/2195/notatrap.html#traffic2

I have also written to trafficmaster and the response was very reassuring:

-------------------------------------------------------------
I understand that the new blue cameras springing up on roads are courtesy of you. What I would like to know though is how much do they watch us?
I have been informed that they recognize number plates and work out the time taken for a journey (i.e. average speed). Great, if it is information that is kept confidential. However that puts certain drivers at risk of being caught speeding. Does that mean that drivers that are prone to a heavy right foot will be reported to the police? Is it legal for you to pass that info on to the police?

I look forward to your reply,

The Reply….

Thank you for your recent email.

Our cameras recognise part of the vehicle registration number but immediately lose the information once the speed between cameras is measured.

We are therefore not storing the information for any purpose.

If you require further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us on
01908 249808.

Trafficmaster Customer Service
-----------------------------------------------

So the panic is over for now, but I would still like to hear from anyone that uses radar detectors – do they work and are they worth it?