IndigoJo:
When going up to Burton-upon-Trent on a PalletForce night run, I was warned that the camera on the A446 just after leaving the M42 for Lichfield, avoiding the M6 Toll, is designed to trap trucks doing over 40.
yes thats the one outside the belfry golf course
mentioned earlier on in this thread
Yes, it’s very old technology used for years on GATSO. WW2 technology in fact. Uses the principle of RADAR. Essentially radio waves pulsed out. The time return interval dictates the speed, based on multiples of the speed = distance /time equation. The additional feature of sizing vehicles used the strength of the return not weight sensors on GATSOs.
GATSO using radar loops would record based on a trigger that sensed a vehicle of HGV size vs sensed speed. Only in post development of the image and human consultation of vehicle details using DVLA records would it be determined if that vehicle was say a 7.5 tonner so no further action taken. These days it’s moved on a bit.
Some of them also use a system of lines in the ground (As mentioned.) called Piezo sensors iirc.
Ken.
The camera on the A15 between Lincoln and Sleaford at Meg heath has weight sensors in the road.
ajs68:
Yes they can differentiate between vehicle types. The VOSA testing site at Sleaford weighs vehicles prior to them being stopped and directed into the site. They use a strip in the road prior to the testing station.The DOT had this weighing system on the A38 N on the climb up from the Tamar Bridge at Plymouth 25 years ago.
Toonarmy:
Morning all. I was wondering if anyone has come across anything like this at all? As we all know the national speed limit on a single carriageway road for an HGV is 40 mph, but 60 mph for a car. But if you were to go past this camera at 50, would the camera go off?Basically, are there speed cameras that can tell between an HGV and a car?
SOME say there are ways that VOSA can examine your digidata and tell on which bits of driving you were speeding or not… 
098Joe:
‘…■■■■■■ on the A420 by the Land Rover dealer…’
This ‘enjoyable’ road between Oxford/Swindon was mentioned re average speed calculation on TNUK about 4-5 years ago 
No smoke without fire, chaps: Perhaps beware 
So how do they tell the difference between a truck and a coach?
bobertk:
So how do they tell the difference between a truck and a coach?
I think the limit for coaches is 70mph so its irrelevant. A truck and coach is going to set off most cameras in most speed limited area’s. I’ve never seen a “limit” of 70 being displayed anywhere on the road. Its always been 60 or less.
bobertk:
So how do they tell the difference between a truck and a coach?
Specs average speed cameras read the numberplate, so they know what the vehicle is.
Gatso cameras go by how much of the radar signal is reflected back (they can’t measure the height/length) so can’t differentiate between large vehicles with different speed limits. That will either mean they produce false results which are have to be sorted out by the person issuing the tickets, or it could have the large vehicle trigger set above the limit for buses.
Just seems odd that Ive never had a flash yet.
I drive for Megabus currently and always wondered why they never flash when we go through at 62. And I drive the deckers with trailers so we weigh in over 25+ tons, same length as some attics (14.2m + trailer) and 5 axles
bobertk:
Just seems odd that Ive never had a flash yet.I drive for Megabus currently and always wondered why they never flash when we go through at 62. And I drive the deckers with trailers so we weigh in over 25+ tons, same length as some attics (14.2m + trailer) and 5 axles
Coachs have different speed restrictions compared to trucks. Go through one of the speed traps on the A15 north of Lincoln at 50 in a truck and you’ll set them off, do the same in a coach at 60 and nothing will happen.
Aye I know the limits are different just never understood how it knows that I’m in a double deck with trailer and not an artic if you get what I mean
Radar19:
bobertk:
Just seems odd that Ive never had a flash yet.I drive for Megabus currently and always wondered why they never flash when we go through at 62. And I drive the deckers with trailers so we weigh in over 25+ tons, same length as some attics (14.2m + trailer) and 5 axles
Coachs have different speed restrictions compared to trucks. Go through one of the speed traps on the A15 north of Lincoln at 50 in a truck and you’ll set them off, do the same in a coach at 60 and nothing will happen.
The one at Meg heath, south of Lincoln would flash for coaches but I presume when they look at the picture they can see it is a coach not a truck.
villa:
bestbooties:
When my son was driving a high cube 7.5, he went through the speed camera near to the Belfry at 48 mph and he saw the camera flash and was worried for a bit, but he heard nothing about it.i got done by that camera doing 46 mph,and it is one of those cameras that knows the difference between hgv and cars
maybe 7.5 tonne can do more than 40 on a single carriage way ,i dont know
About 10 years ago there were many letters in the trucking mags about the speed cameras on the A556 Chester road at Tabley,(Just off J19 of the M6).
I was done there myself in the stretch where there are two lanes in each direction with a double white line down the centre.
It is posted at 50mph, but of course many truckers fell for it, myself included, it is NOT a dual carriageway and the same Gatso could flash a truck doing over 40mph and cars doing over 50.
Gatso speed cameras use radar technology to measure how fast a vehicle is traveling. If a motorist is driving above the speed limit for that road then serveral photos are then taken of the vehicle. The Gatso uses a powerful flash to show the rear of the vehicle, its registration plate, and calibration lines on the road. Gatso speed cameras are always rear facing.
It is a legal requirement to have a secondary measurement for speed. This is why at every Gatso speed camera location there are white lines painted on the road. The distance between each line represents 5mph so there can be no dispute over how fast you were driving. If there is any dispute over whether the radar technology captured the correct speed of the vehicle that was speeding the white lines are there as a secondary measurement.
The Gatso can differentiate between different speed limits for different vehicles. For example cars, caravans and HGV’s have different speed limits and the camera will measure the vehicles length and impose the correct speed limit for each vehicle.
Since we are on the count down to the big 5-0 mph, its likely these HGV specific speed cameras would be changed over the next few weeks to take in the new limits, so just keep the speed down for now.
A 5 near MIRA knows I was done years age and tried to front it out but they can detect !
Glen A9:
Specs average speed cameras read the numberplate, so they know what the vehicle is.
They read the plate but not sure that it’s always referenced to a database of vehicle type. Know van drivers who sit at 60 from Perth to around Aviemore but no NIP’s to date.
If I was to tell you that A9 system isn’t actually issuing tickets yet I’d have to kill you… oops
Glen A9:
If I was to tell you that A9 system isn’t actually issuing tickets yet I’d have to kill you… oops
So how is the Scottish Government going to fund the duelling of the A9?