GATSO Flash

[mrharrod]

Good job on the new site. Lookin gooooodddd...

Now then... Driving home last night, pulled onto a Dual Carriage way.
Talking to my wife at the time and while driving noticed a GATSO (never driven on this DC before) looking right at me.

Wasn't to concerened about it as I was doing about 36-7mph.
Yes, the bloody thing flashed me (once)!.

I coulnd't believe it! driving on and saw a 30mph sign! bit late for that isn't it! It's nice of them to let me know, after the camera flash

How unfair is this. Whats likley to happen? fine, penalty points??? grrrr!

I feel like a have been really unlucky.
*spelling mistakes for artisic impressions only*

[nykS5]

:rolleyes: I work for police...sorry....

Think probably a fine and penalty points....plus insurance will go up....



Nyk xx

[mrharrod]

Hey, it's not your fault at all!. Thanks for the simpathy

I blame the goverment. Do you think maybe the Gatso is fake. It only flashed me once. Is there a way to find out?

Cheers,
Chris.

[MattB]

Tough luck

I don't know much about the cameras but if it's old it may not have any film in.

Lots more info here: http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/side.htm

[Rally Annie]

One flash probably means you won't get a fine. Normally the system needs two flashes, i.e. two photos, in order to prove how far you travelled in the set period of time, to calculate how fast you were going.

Was the camera front facing or rear facing? There's a camera near us which regularly gets triggered by cars approaching it fast on the other carriageway, which don't get fined but do trigger a flash.

Anyway, the authorities are obliged to write to you within 14 days if they intend to issue you an NIP, though a court would say about 17 days to allow for the post.

And no, I haven't been caught, yet!

[tiranova]

I heard they could only get you if they caught you from behind!

[Robbie]

You sure it was only the one flash? Usually the two come in quick succession.

Yep then it does sound like the GATSO's not working correctly, it would need two flashes to calculate your speed as has been said previously.

Two flashes capture 2 stills within the white marked lines, the distance covered between the 2 stills calculates the speed travelled.

Sounds like the Gatso has done no more than take a rather nice photograph of your vehicle.

No need to worry.

Robbie.

[mrharrod]

Thanks for the vote of confidence.
I'm pretty sure that the camera only flashed once, although it happended so quick. So I guess I cant be to sure.

The Gatso was facing me. It was so bright! I should have crashed the car soon after the flash and then sued the GOV or who ever init!

I borrowed a full can of petrol and a box of matches last night. Drove back to the camera and slammed my car into it forcing it onto the ground. Tipped petrol all around the top of the camera and created a very..big.. fire :rolleyes:

No.. wait, that was all a dream!

[Huu]

:rolleyes: I work for police...sorry....

[nykS5]

:sawery: But nothing to do with traffic...or speed cameras or anything like that....

Nyk xx

[Pauline]

I heard they could only get you if they caught you from behind!

Gatsos get you from behind with 2 flashes and rely on the stipey road markings which show in the photo as evidence of your speed.

Truvello get you from the front with NO FLASHES and NO STRIPES IN THE ROAD Actually, there are 3 very tiny thin lines (total about 1ft wide max?) a few feet before the camera and these check your speed then trigger a photo shoot

The website mentioned before covers all types (there are others eg SPECS I think).

And yes, I've been Gatso'd (April 2002) but didn't get a NIP, ever, so sometimes it's right that they don't have film in etc.

[Nobby]

I thought they flashed twice so that they could tell who was speeding if there were two cars side by side. On the first flash they wouldn't be able to tell who was speeding, but on the second flash the picture would show one car ahead of the other.

[Duncan]

Had great fun winding my boss up over this one. He was accompanying his L driver daughter when a camera flashed in front of them doing less than the speed limit.

Convinced him he'd get a fine and points as well as his daughter.

Had checked my facts first. Established if you see the flash in in front of you you're safe. Backward facing ( i.e. in front of you) cameras do not flash. To distracting to drivers. I guess your camera was on the central reservation pointing at cars on the othe carriage way.

[Alex LS]

I thought they flashed twice so that they could tell who was speeding if there were two cars side by side. On the first flash they wouldn't be able to tell who was speeding, but on the second flash the picture would show one car ahead of the other.

No. They take two pictures a fixed time apart and then do a simple distance/time calculation to show in court that you were in fact speeding. One picture would only prove that you went past the camera, not how fast you were going.

[charlieannear]

There's a speed camera in Chideock, Dorset (the camera on the Devon side of the village, a little village which the single carriageway main road runs through, a little village with TWO Gatso's!!) that will routinely flash you in the face if you are 'speeding' towards it.
Anyone who knows that spot knows it's at the base of a VERY steep hill that you're about to climb, and if you're not speeding you're about to tackle it from 30mph with no run up
Anyway, my point is that I guess it knows you are speeding, but isn't able to take photos as evidence (because you are coming towards it)- instead it flashes to make you aware the you are 'speeding'.
You can actually feel the heat through the windscreen!