Scameras on trial (again)

Post by **simon** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:29 pm

The one I've done a few times is when I've been overtaking on a dual carriageway and there's someone sitting right on my arse. If you time it right, you can pull-in and brake for the scamera and watch as the other car accelerates past to get their photo taken

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:52 pm

You are all bad people and probably eat children, I stick to 40 mph all the time in my Lada/Fiesta/Volvo as it's where the pedal sits nicely and doesn't rumple my trowsers, there is also a worn spot on my shoe heel which makes doing any other speed difficult. At 40 mph I know how long it takes to get home from the pub when I've had a few and I also know how many miles I can get to a tank before pension day.

Tsk, young people these days

hendeg · Post by **hendeg** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 5:51 pm

robin wrote:White vans hidden on the roadside are a nuisance and IMO dangerous to boot (people over compensate and pay more attention to the van than the road). Traffic cops are fine - they will chase after you and pull you over if doing silly speeds, but are unlikely to bother otherwise.

A friend of mine was driving along the straight from the Westhill roundabout to Carnie Crossroads (outside Aberdeen) past a well-known spot where the Fuzz (showing my age?) sit behind some trees. The next thing, a cop jumps out with a hand held. He's all in black, no luminous vest and no hat.

My mate was within the limit for a change and carried on mis merry way. When he got home he phoned up the HQ and complained that he almost crashed because he thought that a madman had ran out of the trees and was pointing a gun at him.

Needless to say, the high-ranking officer said that it wasn't on and would give them a dressing down. Whether that actually happened or not, I suppose we'll never know.

robin · Post by **robin** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 6:03 pm

hendeg wrote:
Needless to say, the high-ranking officer said that it wasn't on and would give them a dressing down. Whether that actually happened or not, I suppose we'll never know.

I reckon they will have had a word - if for no other reason than they're wasting their time - I am 90% sure you would not get prosecuted under these circumstances.

Master [camera] baiter

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 10:36 pm

I was up to Aberdeen lastWed and passed 4 camera vans and 3 traffic cars waiting to pounce. To me that is a poor use of police resources in an effort to punish otherwise law abiding public based on a speed limit from 1968 based on cross ply tyres and drum brakes etc.
When the police start paying as much attention to middle lane hoggers (driving without due care and attention - you didn't notice that you were not overtaking anyone!!)
Fog lights on clear days etc etc then i may hve some time for them but at the moment the focus seems very skewed.

2p

dezzy · Post by **dezzy** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 8:56 am

Totally agree Stephen. Two of my biggest pet hates: middle-lane hoggers and fog light f@ckers (as I like to call them!

). I've seen police cars drive right past cars coming the other way with their fog lights on, blinding everyone on the opposite side of the road (which is very dangerous) and they don't even give a toss!

Regarding the speed limit, was the 70mph limit not introduced due to a recession in order to save money and cut fuel consumption? I'm sure someone told me that once, but not sure if it's true. Regardless of why it was introduced, it is completely inappropriate for modern cars and roads and I've met several traffic cops who think it should be increased to 80mph.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 9:39 am

From t'internet
The first British motorways did not have speed limits. However, after a series of multiple crashes on motorways mainly in fog, an experimental speed limit of 70 mph (112 km/h) was introduced in December 1965,[3] and made permanent in 1967. It was reduced to 50 mph (80 km/h) in response to the 1973 oil crisis and restored to 70 mph (112 km/h) in 1974. The Association of British Drivers has called for the limit to be increased. The opposition Conservative Party is proposing to raise the limit to 80 mph (130 km/h) where appropriate. The speed limits were established based on the performance of a selection of typical British 1960s vehicles, as evaluated by the UK Transport Research Laboratory. It is argued that modern cars and drivers are far more capable than those of four decades ago.

I was told that the limit was introduced after Jaguar started using the M1 to perform speed tests with the E type.

RDH · Post by **RDH** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 11:30 am

I thought it was a journalist being driven in an AC Cobra at over 180mph and reporting it in the papers that caused the outrage - and subsequent limits?

I could be wrong..

From t'internet also
"Some say the resulting Cobra is the reason the Uk has a 70mph speed limit as in 1963 a coupe version of the car was recorded at 185mph on the M1. The following year a 70mph limit was introduced on all British Motorways. The guiness book of records also listed the Cobra as the fastest production car in the world. "

robin · Post by **robin** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:55 pm

180 in a 60's cobra!? better odds playing russian roulette

Robin

RDH · Post by **RDH** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 6:02 pm

robin wrote:180 in a 60's cobra!? better odds playing russian roulette

Robin

That's what I thought - t'internet isn't always the fountain of knowledge!