Speed Trap Detectors

[X111]

I am about to drive approximately 1500 miles around the UK. I have fallen to wondering whether I should protect my licence by purchasing a camera alert system. Does anyone have experience of these and feel able to impart knowledge, please? The type under consideration is a Snooper S4.

[Jenny Tools]

I have the cheaper Snopper SD815 and I am very pleased with the purchase, its helped me (so to say) on a number occasions and its also great fun watching other people braking at the last moment because they have only just spotted the camra and I can tell its not in operation. Only two down sides, it also picks up a lot of false alarms esp. in town ie supermarket auto door sensors, pir light sensors, traffic light sensors etc etc and will not give warning of the new forward facing camra that is becoming more common in my area as they are operated by sensors in the road and not by radar.

[Jenny Tools]

Just checked out some facts about forward facing camras they are called Truvelo and I believe the S4 detects them but that maybe only if their in it data file.

link for Truvelo details

http://www.kentandmedwaysafetycameras.org.uk/psnew
s04_new%20truvelo.htm

[becks]

You could always protect your licence by driving at the speed limit. Just a thought :p. Anyway my friend has a shop that do all these things so thought i'd shamelessly plug him with his website:http://www.uniquecarsound.com/ and they are also very knowledgeable about all thing car-ish.

[Gef]

Whatever you buy I hope it doesn't work and you get caught speeding!

[BenDToy]

Just ignore all the self righteous and smug gits who always respond to questions about speeding. Anyone who thinks they can avoid speed cameras by adhering to the limits clearly doesn't do many miles. I defy anyone to know what the limit is on many stretches of road near me -unless they completely ignore all other information. Which is what I suspect many of these people do - I come across them almost daily! I have an S4 and although expensive, it is a very good system. It warns of all types of camera, and tells you what road they are on, and what the speed limit is at their location. A laser detector picks up mobile cameras and I don't get too many false alarms. First 6 months are free but then you need to pay �4.95 a month for updates.
As a comment for the previously mentioned, I am forewarned of hazards, (because cameras are only located at accident black spots aren't they?) and therefore I am less likely to be involved in an accident. Or at least less likely than those people who drive around staring at their speedo all the time, rather than driving safely! They may not have many crashes, but they see dozens!!!

[sft42]

I wouldn't say telling someone to obey the rules of the road is being smug or self righteous......Quite obviously you CAN avoid speed traps by travelling at the limit as they ae designed to catch speeders not those observing the limit. A quick read through the rules of the road will give you the sensible advice that in a built up area the limit is most likely 30...if not there are normally repeater signs every couple of 100's of yards.....in the country National speed limit applies and the same applies as above.....Perhaps when you have seen at first hand the trauma and carnage that a speeding motorist can do to a small childs body you wouldn't be so glib as to dismiss off-hand a potential killer......Let's hope Nadia isn't doing 40 (or higher) in a 30 zone, happy in the knowledge that she isn't going to be caught, cause of her elctrical gizmos, when she slams into your child then eh?

[inferno]

BenDtoy- I do at least 20,000 miles a year. Anyone who doesn't understand speed limits and the raods they apply to and who can't read the very clear signs should not be driving! I am no angel, by the way - I have received a speeding ticket from a mobile camera. I was doing 72 mph on 60mph stretch.

[BenDToy]

I just wrote a detailed response here but it got lost! I do not condone irresponsible use of speed. I am condemning speed cameras and limits which are designed to confuse and extort drivers. The A523 between Leek and Ashbourne is a case in point. A country road which passes through a number of hamlets. It appears that it should be National Speed Limit but much of it is 50, and with no overtaking, especially on the straight stretches. Many slow vehicles (NGVs, tractors, caravans) use this very hilly route, and often their speeds can get down to around 20mph or less. Every time a few houses appear, the limit drops to 40 OR 30, with no apparent logic as to why they are different. Numerous cameras are located behind sign and bushes, on the few longish straight parts of the road where safe overtaking is possible, or near to the end of the lower limit location. There are about 15 limit changes in the space of about 20 miles. This is clearly designed to catch drivers off guard, or overtaking very slow vehicles, and not to address safety. Speed does not kill, contrary to spin. Inappropriate speed is only one aspect of road safety, and cameras allow the authorities to abdicate the responsibility to address the others. I am not naive enough do not claim to be a great driver. I do however know the rules of the road, and their application better than most. I am a high mileage driver, with a clean licence, and accident free record for many years. I am daily faced with stupid, arrogant and selfish driving, some of which involves excessive speed, much of which doesn't, which is all highly dangerous. For a reasoned and factual debate on this please refer to the ABD web site http://www.abd.org.uk/

[Gef]

Many thanks to sft and inferno for their sensible answers. BendyToy's answers are just mince.

[X111]

Many thanks, Jenny, and the link was very interesting. I am grateful for your valuable recommendation, Ben, which was very helpful. What brought this on was a cross-country journey from the M1 to Sidmouth passing 27 cameras, some of which could be seen and several which were totally obscured and finding great difficulty in places as to what the speed limit actually was, 30, 40 or 50, due to an absence of signs and repeaters and some that were totally obscured by foliage or parked vehicles. To add to it all, the Sunday Times reported that one ticket also = 10% increase in insurance premium !

[X111]

You are a very, very evil person, sft42, with your spurious, vicious and atrocious child slamming allegation.

[Today's]

Spot on Nadia

[Gef]

I'll leave sft to defend himself although I agree entirely with his sentiments. Speed limits are set for very good reasons even though I do admit that they can be frustrating ie 50 mph on a quiet bit of urban motorway at 2 in the morning. I shall now return to being a self-righteous smug git!