DJB

Sorry if this has been covered before but I've noticed new cameras springing up EVERYWHERE. From never having seen these b****rs before I now see about 10 a day. They are painted blue and fixed to a blue lamp-post (sawn-off one anyway). They don't appear to have a flash. Oh and they frequently have two mounted, pointing in apposing directions.

What are they?

I'm dreading lifting the post daily in case there's a series of fixed penalties since I'm sure I've speeded past these unawares previously.

D.

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like TrafficMaster thingies - harmless (by law).

There's a load of them on the A75 (Gretna Green to Stranraer) along with speed camera signs. Never yet seen a speed camera

PhilBennett

Whoa!!!

Yeah these are the new digital camera's - They have some around Junction 1 & 2 South bound on the M5 in the road works.

They take your time that you travelled in between the two camera's - and then do you if your average speed is too high.

Nightmare as when you pass one you don't know if you missed the other one!!!

IWatkins

D.

By your desciption they are as PTMW says, TrafficMaster. They have been about for quite a while down south but I guess the spread is finally reaching you

All they do is monitor the speed of traffic passing them and use that info. to build a picture of traffic flow on that section of road.

The TrafficMaster system is a voice warning system fitted to some Vauxhalls as standard but I believe you can buy the kit for any car.

Phil, you scaremonger

Cheers

Ian

Puff The Magic Wagon!

iTrader: (2)

Ian

Yes if you have one of these things fitted to your Vauxhall - don't renew the subscription!

Annoying, waste of time if you're stuck in it, not totally accurate & I don't think it has yet given me a warning enough that I could avoid it

BarryK

So if it is tantamount to useless as a driving aid, the only way they can recoup their investment is to sell it to the government as.........

DavidRB

I had a TrafficMaster-equipped Vectra for 2 1/2 years. I thought it was great. Helped me no end of times. Usually if I arrived at a jam without any warning, I knew that I was at the head of the queue.

Now I use the mobile phone:
1800 for Vodafone
1200 for Cellnet
177 for Orange

AWD

As Ian and PTMW said these definitely sound like the TrafficMaster things. I have read that this information is not passed on to police forces so although they do monitor traffic flow and speed you will not be booked for speeding past them.

Not that any of you guys would ever consider speeding... ;-)

IWatkins

PTMW,

I don't have a Vauxhall (thank the lord), but often have them as hire cars from Avis for work.

I think the TrafficMaster system is OK but as you say, the warnings usually come too late.

And why is there always a warning just as your current favorite tune comes on the radio ? Never did learn how to switch the TM system off

Cheers

Ian

DavidRB

I think you double-click the button and the voice replies "Manual Mode". The unit stays like this until the engine is switched off, when it reverts to Automatic. The only warning you get in Manual Mode is that the light changes from green to red.

To get an idea of the coverage, try

alistair

Be careful with the description - if they're all blue and the box on the top of the pole is small then they're Traffic Master.

However, if the box on the top of the blue pole looks like a Gatso without the flash then its a new forward facing digital speed camera ! Forward facing so the picture shows the driver. Some work by using strips under the road, so just like a Gatso, a single camera 'does' you, but radar detectors do not work.

crusher

Apparently in Nottinghamshire the Police are using the trafficmaster type info to calculate speeding offences via time/distance ....apparently it's a pilot scheme...

DavidRB

Only a matter of time, despite repeated assurances that it would never be used for this. Interesting though, as TrafficMaster admit themselves that the system is not 100% accurate.

BarryK

Yeah, Crusher, it is called SPECS. Do a search on this BBS forum using that as a keyword. All will be revealed.

[This message has been edited by BarryK (edited 07 September 2000).]

RichS

For those still in doubt, this site