Safe Speed Forums

Hi All,

Was just coming back from a meeting in Birmingham city centre (don't go in often as it's a nightmare!), but on my way out about to join the A38M, I believe my next turn to the left was the A5127, I hit a road, dual carriageway with speed camera signs, looked to my left and positive the sign said 40mph, as all of the other roads in the area. But when going past the gatso on my left, it flashed the once (I only saw it the once, but from what I have read it flashes twice very quick?).

I was doing about 39mph, in what I was sure was a 40mph zone (if I get anything through I am going to go back there and check!) - what does a single flash signify? I have never had a speeding ticket in my life, and whenever I see camera signs I always drive the speed limit.

My GPS also warns me of all camera's, of which it warned me of the one I was flashed by (doesn't warn of speed though unfortunately). So whenever I drive by a speed camera, I always look in the rear-view mirror to see if it flashes, as I hate knowing that I may have picked up a ticket somewhere and not realised, so looked in the rear-view and saw a single flash.

If I was driving say 40mph in a 30mph road and I read the speed sign wrong, how quick should the two flashes be - it was reasonably dark, so I would imagine the flash would be required. From what I have read, two flashes are required for the two photo's that are taken (of which they are compared against the markings on the road to indicate the speed) - but if only one flash was taken, does that mean it has still taken a photo? Perhaps it malfunctioned or I was indeed driving the correct speed and that it wanted to "warn" me?

There was another car to my right, which was going slightly slower than me, probably 35mph, maybe a little more - and a concrete verge, so I don't think it would have picked up anyone speeding on the other side of the road.

I rely on my car for my business, and although this would be the first ticket, if in fact I was in the wrong and get caught doing 39mph in the 30mph zone, what would be the penalties and can I not just accept a higher fine instead of getting penalty points?

Also, a little confused about how long penalty points last on the licence - the Met Police site says 3 years, but last for 4 (confusing enough?), but I have heard this has been upped to 5 years - but cannot find any online resources to suggest what is correct.

I appreciate your help on this one!

It would be £60.00 and 3 penalty points.



Link to on line reading

Hope this helps. I'm sure more will add their views.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

A few points.

1. Gatsos flash twice, at half second intervals.

2. Gatsos can't pick up people "speeding" in the opposite direction.

3. Whilst there is a legal cut-off time for penalty points, many insurance companies require you to declare points received for longer than that. And some (notably Direct Line) will increase your premium for any points.

4. Speed limits change regularly. Are you certain the limit really was 40? It's easy to miss speed limit changes - especially if you are looking at the speedo to make sure you are not exceeding the limit.

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Brian

Thank you for the replies. I am certain that the gatso only flashed the once - I looked in the rear view, saw the camera, it flashed the once and that was it. In relation to the speed, there are 30mph zones around there, but the distance between the 40mph sign (or what I am sure was a 40mph sign) and the gatso camera was only 50ft or so. I was looking at the speedo when I saw the sign, then spotted the camera.

Why would a camera flash only once though - was it a malfunction, scare tactics or perhaps a "dummy" camera?

Sorry to bump this up, but any ideas in relation to the single flash from the Gatso?

It's possible this would have flashed twice, but I was looking in the rear-view at the camera, it flashed, heart sunk and didn't see it flash more than once, as I was expecting it to after the 1st flash.

Haven't had anything through yet in the post (awaiting post this morning), but will let you know should something come through... I did however take some pleasure yesterday evening in viewing some galleries of speed camera's that had been destroyed by the public

I can understand your feelings, and there are allot more people out there feeling the same way. As you say you can only wait for the post to drop through the door and hope nothing arrives from the revenue collectors.

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Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

This thread is in the wrong forum, incidentally..!

Duly moved.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice in relation to the single flash that came from the Gatso?

Just to confirm, I am very sure it only flashed the once, I always look in the rear-view when passing Gatso's, saw it flash and that was it. If I saw it flash, how long would it have been before it were to flash again and would it have been too quick should, say, I have blinked?

could it have been a dummy camera? (see link to PDF file, letter on page 7 suggests dummy cameras give a single flash)

http://www.abd.org.uk/otr/otr15web.pdf

not evidence per se, but corroboration from another source:

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Speed_Cameras__Review_5100822

Although this source suggests that traffic light cameras only flash once as well:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/ ... =i&t=30920

Happy to help.

Andy

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COAST Not just somewhere to keep a beach.

A young loner on a crusade to champion the cause of the innocent, the helpless, the powerless, in a world of criminals who operate above the law.