Wellington: LTSA sponsored Speedo check

[XP@]

Was coming off the motorway at the Murphy Street off ramp, there was a nice space in the traffic so i thought i whould practice a bit of braking.
About halfway through the braking i noticed a new speedo checker mounted on a lamp post. Looks a bit like a permanent fixture...

[Beemer]

... new speedo checker mounted on a lamp post. Looks a bit like a permanent fixture...

aka speed camera? If so, thanks for the warning, I'll have to remember to be doing the right speed once I come off the motorway in future!

[Monsterbishi]

no, probably a actually speed checker, a radar unit connected to a display panel that tells you how fast you were going.

Although I find them too much of a temptation, had one outside a mates work one day, so we spent the day locked in fierce competition finding out who could get the highest reading(it told you the fine amount too) from a 2 lamp-post standing start...

[skelstar]

Yeah I saw one on the Tawa-Porirua road the other day (heading south). They must be expensive.

[madboy]

I came across an LTSA sponsored speedo check a couple weeks back. Judging by the haste of his u-turn, I think my speedo was accurate. :chase:

So is this a new pole-mount? If so, don't worry about them on a bike. They don't pick up the weight of a motorcycle, contrary to what someone was trying to tell me the other day. I pass two every day on the way to and from work, so if they worked they would be getting front and rear (plate) shots every day. Granted they might not always be in there, but surely over 2 years I woulda had a ticket by now?!

[Beemer]

I haven't seen those speed checkers, only the freestanding ones they sometimes have on the side of the road that give a digital readout of your speed.

As for pole mounted speed cameras not picking up bikes, I think you could be dreaming there, Madboy! You can avoid the sensor patch (you can see where they are cut out on the road) but I am pretty sure the weight of a motorcycle would trigger them if you are in the right spot. You may have just been very lucky that the camera wasn't operational or everyone else was going a lot faster than you. But one day... they will get you!

[Monsterbishi]

And also worth noting, they're not weight sensitive, they're field effect, so unless your bike is predominantly plastic(engine included), it will pick you up, no worries.

[madboy]

It was explained in an earlier thread why they didn't pick bikes up, I thought it was weight but on reflection I think you could be right. Either way, whatever they sense there is not enough on a bike (at least a sportsbike anyway) to pick them up.

If they do, then I can't understand how I have never received a ticket. My bike is registered to my address and most of the time I have a plate on (like 98%). Front facing I can understand cos no front plate. But IF they picked up bikes, I would be up for a rear facing shot once per way. That's 10 chances per week. You can say luck plays a role cos cameras aren't always in there - but one of those cameras I pass is the one on Ngauranga Gorge, downhill. If you know the area, you'll know that it's a very productive camera, and is frequently in there.

Allow for some days I'm not going more than 10k over, and very infrequently I'll take the car. Out of those 10 chances, I might meet the revenue criteria 6 out of 10 times. 60% chance each week, if the camera was in there. What are the odds they haven't been in there in the 60% range over the last 18 months?

[Beemer]

Maybe you have a guardian angel... just thank your lucky stars whatever the reason for your lack of tickets!

[Wellyman]

I haven't seen these lampost ones yet.Only the old ones.sounds intresting would someone take a pic of one so would can figure out what they look like?

[bungbung]

The lamp post speed checkers are radar driven. Bikes return a reading. You're getting confused with pole mount speed cameras, which have magnetic induction loops set into the road surface.

[madboy]

The lamp post speed checkers are radar driven. Bikes return a reading. You're getting confused with pole mount speed cameras, which have magnetic induction loops set into the road surface.So these are different to pole mount? Oh great... out to the garage to work on that plate tilt thing I've been talking about for years now... it was too stressful riding completely without a plate.

[Grinner]

I passed one near johnsonville about a fortnight ago and tried to use it to confirm my speedo. 10 Km past the limit and it wouldn't display my speed just told me to slow down.

[bungbung]

So these are different to pole mount? Oh great... out to the garage to work on that plate tilt thing I've been talking about for years now... it was too stressful riding completely without a plate.

They are just information displays. You can't get pinged by them.

[XP@]

It ain't a ticket producing device :-)
It just has how fast you are going as you pass the 50k sign.

[madboy]

Okay, I'm with ya now... like those trailer mounted things? Cool... I keep coming across them in inconvenient places, like outside schools at 8.30am, which make it impossible for me (well, stupid in my opinion) to test their upper limits.

If it's a semi-permanent sorta thing I might have to try that one out :devil2:

[LB]

.
.
We noticed this one yesterday morning - we use that exit every week day and I'm certain it wasn't there on Friday.

It's in the most stupid place - it's hard to see because it's not large, and it's got green figures, in the middle of a group of trees therefore isn't easy to notice. It is situated on a bend.

I'm sure some people will probably crash because they notice it and turn to look at it....
.
.

[Dafe]

Theres two or three of these in Tawa already. Been there a couple of months now.
Problem with the one on the Murphey St offramp is that the vehicles are still slowing by the time they hit the top of the ramp, thus the readout always says "Slow Now". What a stupid place to put it. Should've just put a piece of cardboard up saying "Slow Now"

[skelstar]

Woo Hoo!!! Theres one just down the road from me in Ngaio. Between the Ngaio shops and Crofton Downs. Pity its in a 50km/h area (test speedo cal), but no schools MB...

[XP@]

Found it really useful this morning, started braking at 120 on the line where the seal changes, got down to 52 when i passed the 50k sign :-)

Found it a lot easier than trying to watch the speedo and brake ...