Speed cameras

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Speed cameras

kingdragonfly

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#169694 23-Mar-2015 13:18

Before I begin, I'm not a scofflaw. I've had one speeding ticket, 56K in a 50K, in decades of driving.

Since 1993, New Zealand's gone from 13 speed cameras to 200. I know when I pass one, I stop looking at the road and concentrate on my speedometer.

I'd bet that if you mapped the most dangerous roads, and mapped the speed camera locations, you'd see little correlation.

I think it's safer to have more police on the road rather than revenue-generating machines.

Anyhow the new cameras no longer have visible flashes. Instead they use a non-visible infrared flash.

From the NZTA: "Your registration plates must be clearly visible, and you can only display approved plates on your vehicle. It is an offence to have obscured, misleading or unauthorised plates on your vehicle."

You may find it amusing that there are clear plastic license plate covers that are visible to people, but infrared opaque. ("IR" = infrared)

Alternatively it's also amusing that there are kits that allow you to surround your plate with infrared LEDS. Again even powered high-powered IR lights look unlit to people.

Both approaches would allow any person to see the tag unhindered.

Perhaps the NZ should update the law to specific mention non-visibly obscuring a tag, specifically infrared.

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#1265752 23-Mar-2015 13:39

http://mythbustersresults.com/episode73

sbiddle

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#1265758 23-Mar-2015 13:47

Some plate covers do work, which can clearly be seen when you look at them on an angle. Mythbusters did confirm this, but did point out they're illegal, which is also the case here.

Interestingly when they became really popular over here in the late 90's the Police set up a speed camera at Ohakea (from memory) and tested this for a TV news story. The only problem was that rather than having the camera configured at the usual 22.5 degrees to the road they chose a narrower angle so the plate was still visible, rather than being invisible. Despite the glaringly obvious flaws in the testing by the Police it achieved what they wanted it to do - it killed the market for plate covers as people thought they didn't work.

kingdragonfly

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#1265808 23-Mar-2015 14:07

In the aforementioned MythBusters episode, two methods did work, but were given a fail to discourage use. I'm having trouble finding the link.

The two that worked was the shiny spray, that overexposed the photo, and the glitter cover, which underexposed.

They didn't cover targeting the infrared spectrum, the infrared flash

Boeingflyer

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#1265871 23-Mar-2015 14:43

does anyone know at what distance the speed and photo is taken from the camera?

scuwp

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#1265900 23-Mar-2015 15:01

(Most) plate covers that are designed to obscure the number plate are illegal.

You will have to be very careful attaching LED's to a vehicle as there are strict lighting requirements for vehicles. Any direct ancillary lighting facing forward or rearwards is more than likely going to be illegal also.

If a persons attitude to speeding is that they need to go to such nefarious means to avoid a ticket (inferring the intent to speed) then perhaps it's best they took the bus and eliminate that possibility altogether. The rest of us may also be safer.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

frankv

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#1265945 23-Mar-2015 15:53

gmckinnell: http://mythbustersresults.com/episode73

It's pretty desperate to cite MythBusters as proof of anything.

a) They *never* do anything illegal, nor show how to do anything illegal. It goes without saying that if there was an effective anti-speed-camera device, they wouldn't publicise it.
b) MB is pseudo-science at best... typically a single result is taken as proof that something does/does not work. It's not uncommon, they set up straw men to prove/disprove.
c) It used to be entertaining before it got all PC.

Boeingflyer

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#1265946 23-Mar-2015 15:54

Not that i have done this but the method i have always thought to work would be attached your number plate so that it swings from the top, then as you drive along the plate swings up and towards the back with the wind out of the way, when a cop stops you, the plate is back in its original position, ha ha

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frankv

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#1265951 23-Mar-2015 15:58

scuwp:
You will have to be very careful attaching LED's to a vehicle as there are strict lighting requirements for vehicles. Any direct ancillary lighting facing forward or rearwards is more than likely going to be illegal also.

IR is not lighting... it is heating.

If a persons attitude to speeding is that they need to go to such nefarious means to avoid a ticket (inferring the intent to speed) then perhaps it's best they took the bus and eliminate that possibility altogether. The rest of us may also be safer.

:rolleyes:

Aredwood

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#1266161 23-Mar-2015 20:21

What about all those diesel trucks and utes that have the rear plate near the exhaust? Doesn't take long for it to become unreadable due to soot.

freitasm

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#1266170 23-Mar-2015 20:31

kingdragonfly: Before I begin, I'm not a scofflaw. I've had one speeding ticket, 56K in a 50K, in decades of driving.

Oh yes, you are. You posted this in the wrong subforum.

scuwp

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#1266247 23-Mar-2015 21:07

IR is not lighting... it is heating.

My mistake, I didn't notice the IR part of the LED proposal.

You can roll your eyes all you like. The physics of a vehicle impact doesn't give any mind to a magical disappearing number plate...but I digress from the OP topic.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Zippity

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#1266285 23-Mar-2015 21:39

Years ago, it was believed that copious layers of hairspray from an aerosol can would "hide" number plate details :)

MikeB4

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#1266289 23-Mar-2015 21:48

It is crazy that people go to incredible lengths to avoid speeding tickets when they are so easily avoided without effort or expense.

michaelmurfy

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#1266324 23-Mar-2015 22:51

I can see the flashes from the speed cameras they use these days quite clearly (even from the corner of my eye) - are they really that invisible?

Also as a rule - don't speed then you don't have anything to worry about except those pesky speed cameras sitting on a steep hill in a 50km zone (damn those ones).

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Zippity

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#1266334 23-Mar-2015 23:47

michaelmurfy: I can see the flashes from the speed cameras they use these days quite clearly (even from the corner of my eye) - are they really that invisible?

Bet you won't see the flash on the new cameras being set up in Wellington.

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