Busted on the Bridge

[MarkH]

I don't know who else has noticed but there's been a HUGE increase in amount of cops in Auckland over the last couple weeks.

I live close to Mission Bay and like everytime I commute on Tamaki Drive, there's a cop.

Might have to give up riding sprots bikes and get in scootahs..

It played a big part in my choice of 2 wheeled vehicle TBH. I originally looked at a few options and thought an older GSX-R750 would be a good bike at a good price, then I thought about speed fines and a loss of license and decided not to be riding a sports bike on a daily basis. But I may buy a sports bike next year for weekend fun, keeping the scooter for the daily commuting around the city.

It's just too easy to open the throttle and pass some slow idiot and then realise you are going 90kph in a 50 zone

[Voltaire]

I was practicing my countersteering today...but my printed off notes from that thread kept blowing off the tank.....

I was doing 100kmph on the motorway this arvo...trying to get some speed credits and guess what....apart from a Morris 1000 and Hillman Minx everybody was doing about 120.....
I don't want to put ideas into their heads but...
How come I wonder are there not fixed speed cameras on the motorways....would be a nice little earner....

[Sellout]

Red is the first colour in the spectrum that reflects radar and laser signals so it always appears you are going faster than everyone else.

And I think blue is at the other end of the spectrum and therefore appears to approach the eye slower.

However, this works in reverse as vehicles go away from you! So a red vehicle looks like it is coming at you faster than a blue one, but the blue one looks faster if they are going away!

[swbarnett]

Red is the first colour in the spectrum that reflects radar and laser signals so it always appears you are going faster than everyone else.

And I think blue is at the other end of the spectrum and therefore appears to approach the eye slower.

However, this works in reverse as vehicles go away from you! So a red vehicle looks like it is coming at you faster than a blue one, but the blue one looks faster if they are going away!

Are you talking about the "Red Shift" technique that's used to measure how fast a star is moving relative to earth?

I doubt very much that the affect of red shift is significant even at race speeds and even if it were I think radar designers would've taken account of this. I honestly don't believe that colour makes any difference to the radar unit. To the human eye, maybe, but not to radar.

[Big Dave]

To the human eye, maybe, but not to radar.

Doppler or nothing.

[Sellout]

Are you talking about the "Red Shift" technique that's used to measure how fast a star is moving relative to earth?

I doubt very much that the affect of red shift is significant even at race speeds and even if it were I think radar designers would've taken account of this. I honestly don't believe that colour makes any difference to the radar unit. To the human eye, maybe, but not to radar.

But, but, but.... It sounds so cool!!!

[gtr boy]

Can't say for sure about bikes, but a survey carried out some years ago found that red cars got the most tickets, and by some margin. Dark green got the least.

sweet just bought a british racing green bike............

[firefighter]

On the other hand it could be because red attracts attention more than any other colour and green will tend to get ignored.

We're programmed that way by evolution because of the colour of blood and foliage.

and that's why the stop light/signs are red, firetrucks are red, and flashing emergency services lights are also red.(unsure why the blue light for the cops I could only speculate)

[devnull]

and that's why the stop light/signs are red, firetrucks are red, and flashing emergency services lights are also red.(unsure why the blue light for the cops I could only speculate)

Though red is the worst colour to use for flashing lights - depth perception for red is very poor. Blue, on the other hand, is much better (shorter wavelength).

If you were to redesign signalling now, using scientific data, blue brake lights makes much more sense than red ones

[swbarnett]

If you were to redesign signalling now, using scientific data, blue brake lights makes much more sense than red ones

How so? The first thing you want is for following traffic to know you're stopping and recognise the danger. This would be quicker with red than blue. Depth perception comes from the view of the vehicle itself, not the lights.

I would agree, however, that perhaps tail lights should be blue.

[Patrick]

and that's why the stop light/signs are red, firetrucks are red, and flashing emergency services lights are also red.(unsure why the blue light for the cops I could only speculate)

Red lights good during the day, blue good during the night - or is it the other way round????

[firefighter]

Red lights good during the day, blue good during the night - or is it the other way round????

reds great at night, average during the day, I would have guessed it was just blue because people associate that colour with police, hence a blue light.A total guess, but just what iv'e always thought- definately red is seen more clearly at night (well of course) but traffic moves out of the way much much quicker at night- the horn/siren is used alot less at night I find.

[Patrick]

reds great at night, average during the day, I would have guessed it was just blue because people associate that colour with police, hence a blue light.A total guess, but just what iv'e always thought- definately red is seen more clearly at night (well of course) but traffic moves out of the way much much quicker at night- the horn/siren is used alot less at night I find.

But the horn you guys use makes everyone shit themselves and get outta the way damn quick!!!! Our ones sound like a strangled goose......

[Wenier]

Other thing to remember from earlier is if the cop was parked up he would be using his laser not the radar so there wont be anyway strongest and fastest signal. There will only be the one speed that the laser was targeted at.

[Patrick]

Other thing to remember from earlier is if the cop was parked up he would be using his laser not the radar so there wont be anyway strongest and fastest signal. There will only be the one speed that the laser was targeted at.

Or he is in "stationary mode" on the radar????? Front or rear, approaching or going.....