Mobile speed camera

[slofox]

Passed what must have been a mobile speed camera today.

Returning from morning coffee in Raglan, heading south on SH39 from Whatawhata towards Tuhikaramea Road. Noticed a van parked way up high on the grass above the road. Thought "What the hell is that van doing way up there?"

Then the K band on the RD goes chirp chirp and the penny finally drops - camera van.

As fortune would have it, I was at a stately 103km/hr, being as how I wasn't feeling that crash hot this morning. But it did illustrate the fact that the RD is useless against these cameras since it didn't chirp until I was pretty much alongside the van - same as last time I passed one. But I daresay we all know this already, yes?

I was briefly tempted to loop back around and then scream past it at warp factor nine to see if I could make it go off (no front plate and all) but I thought better of such folly as totally unbecoming of a sedate senior citizen such as myself, all law-abiding an' all that I am...


Yeah - it's another slow morning...

[Spyke]

haha that would of made for one angry camera man, no one likes to let the bad guy get away.

[javawocky]

If I were braver I would carry around a sheet of sticky paper and stick it over the back window to obscure the camera

[Gremlin]

The new vans use a very tight beam, hence almost no warning

[slofox]

The new vans use a very tight beam, hence almost no warning

And are they not "instant on" as well?

I've been past two now and neither triggered the RD until alongside...fat lot of good that would do.

Guess I revert to the organic RD - eyes - look out for any parked van.

[Gremlin]

No, I don't believe they have any instant on. The old vans had wide beams that reflected off objects a lot. The new ones are so narrow that sometimes my RD doesn't even trigger. The only way you usefully catch the new ones is having a bounce detection from another car.

[boman]

The STI dosn't get a hit either. I have turned it off. Rely on eyeball mark one..

[NinjaNanna]

Taken from radardirect.co.nz

DRIVER INFORMATION NOTICE JANUARY 2009 - NEW POLICE MOBILE RADAR SPEED CAMERAS

Redflex Traffic Systems of Australia won the New Zealand contract to upgrade the old film cameras with the latest in digital speed camera technology.

These new radar units started appearing on our roads in January 2009.

Unlike the speed cameras that we have been used to (which operated on the Ka band frequency) these new cameras operate on a low frequency K Band signal around the 24.100GHz range (normally K band radar is 24.150GHz).

Because of this ³off² frequency point and a very low power output, detection is difficult for many radar units. Those without pulse detection systems are unlikely to give any warning. The Radar Detectors with K and K Pulse
detection will give some warning range that is variable depending on what side of the road the Camera Van is parked on.

Testing indicates range can be 80-150m.

Since NZ had not used this frequency for over five years most detectors have had K band deactivated.

Proposed action:

Activate K band on your detector to detect the new cameras. If equipped also de activate POP mode.

Activation of the frequency will mean false alarms being detected from the likes of Petrol Station and shopping mall doors.

The benefit in reactivating K Band is that your unit will detect the Safety Warning System transmitters being installed in New Zealand and roadside speed warning signs that are often placed close to road works.

If your detector has GPS, re-read the manual and start using this useful feature to cancel out known false alarms. If your upgrading these GPS enabled units are fast becoming a must have feature. The NEW Toyota and Mitsubishi vans of any colour are also more difficult to identify, so watch your speed and drive safe!

If in doubt on how to programme your detector, give us a call.

[spookytooth]

Yes they save alot more lives now they are hard to pic up on rd's

[pritch]

Don't expect too much warning, the beam is pointed across the road rather than down the road. Of course my chances would be even better if I turned the K band back on.

Plan A was to turn the K band on for trips. So far I haven't remembered and have had to rely on the eyeballs. Hope I don't get the big reminder...

[rastuscat]

Don't expect too much warning, the beam is pointed across the road rather than down the road.

Since 1993 the beam has always been across the road. Google 'slant radar'

Nothing has changed in that regard.

[Bass]

And are they not "instant on" as well?

Question:-
How can a static camera have "instant on"? To know when to turn on, it must detect you and to detect you it must transmit surely?
Mark 1 eyeball is the timing detector for mobile units but static ones...........nah!
I know that I'm pretty antique, but I can't fathom that one.

[Voltaire]

Think of it as a form of sport, Bikers who want to do what they like Vs the Police who want to save lives using financial incentives.
Sometimes you loose and somtimes you win.

I got pinged at the top of Bombays at midnight doing over 115kmph.....in my work van...... second one of those in 10 years...bugger.
Got stopped just North of the Bridge last year doing " over 80" on the bridge....like I was the only one.....but I only got a telling off.....at least I don't get the " Sonny" bit any more.

[MarkH]

In a car you can spot a van as it takes your photo, I've had this happen on the southern motorway when the van was parked in a place where it couldn't be seen until it was too late.

On a bike you don't have to worry about vans on the motorway because they are facing into the oncoming traffic and you don't have a numberplate on the end of the vehicle that the cameras are taking a pic on. For cameras facing the back of traffic you need to use your eyes and notice the van before passing it so that you can slow down before it can take the pic. Overall bikes are WAY better than cars when it comes to mobile speed cameras.