Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[zirk]

Not that I would condemn speeding at below 0 degrees but this was emailed to me today, Im not totally convinced that electronics slows down below 0 degrees but I let you make your minds up on that one, interesting reading though if it saves points on the Licence.

As you can see from my Avatar Im not a big fan of them.
 
Chris 

As we get closer to the cold season, you need to know that Gatso's can allegedly give false readings when the temperature is below 0c because the timing circuitry can be slowed down.

This means that as you pass the camera, the normal half second pause between the two flashes can be delayed.

So it gives the impression that your car or bike has travelled further over the guide lines painted on the road, which are used to calculate the distance you travelled in the half second...

...thus giving a higher speed reading.

If you get caught on a Gatso over the winter and you are confident that the temperature was below 0c then you can argue that the electrical components are only calibrated between 0c and 70c, and so can not be proven to work below freezing.

[mantahatch]

Assumption on my behalf but I suspect the temparature in the box will still be above 0 degress. I assume if it had been turned off far any length of time it may cool down but electronics are reasonably stable these days.

And it is in a very safe enviroment.

Just my useless thoughts.

[Kevin Wood]

Well, if the half second delay is influenced significantly then it's a truly sh1te design. 

Yes, if a schoolkid designed it, but the environmental requirements would have been known, and easily met well below 0 degrees by a competent engineer.

Besides, I wouldn't mind betting they heat the enclosures during cold spells to keep the damp out and stop the lens fogging up.

[aaronjb]

Besides, I wouldn't mind betting they heat the enclosures during cold spells to keep the damp out and stop the lens fogging up.

With a simple element heater I bet, too.. very inefficient. Maybe we can get all the GATSOs removed on environmental grounds?

[zirk]

True enough, plus most outdoor cameras have a heating element near the glass and together with the power supply heat should keep it nice and cosey.

Damn.

[zirk]

True enough, plus most outdoor cameras have a heating element near the glass and together with the power supply heat should keep it nice and cosey.

Damn.

Slow Keyboard! 

[Kevin Wood]

Besides, I wouldn't mind betting they heat the enclosures during cold spells to keep the damp out and stop the lens fogging up.

With a simple element heater I bet, too.. very inefficient. Maybe we can get all the GATSOs removed on environmental grounds?

What amazes me is the temporary ones they site at road works. Each with a diesel generator and a massive tank of diseasel next to them. Must be rich pickings in the speed-triggered-driver-taxation business.

[Osprey]

Well, if the half second delay is influenced significantly then it's a truly sh1te design. 

Yes, if a schoolkid designed it, but the environmental requirements would have been known, and easily met well below 0 degrees by a competent engineer.

Besides, I wouldn't mind betting they heat the enclosures during cold spells to keep the damp out and stop the lens fogging up.

Definitely 

Moreover any sensible design would use the ticks from a real time clock/calendar so any extended half-seconds would show up in the long term as an incorrect time and date. 

However if the units really haven't been tested below zero (which I doubt) then you could still try to use that as a legal argument in court even though the thing was no doubt working fine.   

[Kevin Wood]

Compared to the cost of the overall GATSO unit, it would be very cheap to lock them to GPS as a timing reference if you really want to avoidance of doubt.

[CaptainZok]

Compared to the cost of the overall GATSO unit, it would be very cheap to lock them to GPS as a timing reference if you really want to avoidance of doubt.

Why do I get visions of you walking out of your shed clutching a gps alarm clock Kev?

[Debs.]

What amazes me is the temporary ones they site at road works. Each with a diesel generator and a massive tank of diseasel next to them. Must be rich pickings in the speed-triggered-driver-taxation business.

.....and seemingly always sited on downhill gradients too!

[Terbs]

If they need keepeing warm, how about some wood and paper around the base and the assistance of a Swan Vestas

[Kevin Wood]

If they need keepeing warm, how about some wood and paper around the base and the assistance of a Swan Vestas

I believe an old burning tyre over the top is the usual method.

[geoffr70]

What amazes me is the temporary ones they site at road works. Each with a diesel generator and a massive tank of diseasel next to them. Must be rich pickings in the speed-triggered-driver-taxation business.

.....and seemingly always sited on downhill gradients too!

Now that you mention it, how true.

My dad is in some sort of advanced driving group and at their meets they often get some sort of expert speaker. One was telling them about all the different kind of speed cameras, there's lots btw.

Apparently the old GATSo ones i think, if they only flash once they haven't got you, but twice and they have, which seems to fit in with the two pictures for speed calculation. So I wonder why it flashes once if it hasn't got you (no film etc). Could it be to make you think you've been caught so you squirm while waiting for a non existent NIPS? The spiteful sods. or is that just me being cynical.

I'll tell ya what's daft aswell. The stupid signs that flash up and tell you your speed as you're approaching them. Green for upto and including the speed limit, and red for above. As if I don't know my own speed! What a load of cocc!

I regularly set off a speed camera on a main road into the city centre when at work, sometimes it flashes once, sometimes twice. We have to tell control when we do. Still expecting a NIPS at some point though even though they'll see a big red thing with flashing blue lights in the picture.

[Terbs]

I trust, Geoff, that if called to a lighted camera, you do not rush