14 December 2012

Speed camera van

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speed camera

This speed camera van was parked about two hundred metres from the 80 kmh sign at the end of a long down hill stretch on the Monaro Hwy just before Isabella Drive north bound.

Do Rioters know what guide lines are used to determine the positioning of such vans?

And no, I didn’t get done.

I stopped to take the photo.

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Isn’t that speed limit change sign-posted a long way in advance “80 ahead”? The speed limit applies from the point where the signs are positioned, very much like traffic lights, STOP and GIVE WAY signs, etc. Saying you were in the process of slowing to 80km/h is a bit like saying you were in the process of stopping as you flew past the STOP sign.

thebrownstreak699:36 am 18 Dec 12

There’s no doubt it’s revenue raising, but given they are targeting the people who speed and don’t watch out for cameras it’s a bit hard to feel sorry for people getting caught.

Most people in Canberra speed on a regular basis. I see it every time I drive. But if you watch out for the vans and fixed speed cameras you’ll never get caught, because there are no cops on the road booking people.

voytek3 said :

In less than a week I have been hit with over $500 worth of “speeding” fines because of these revenue raising vans. All on 50km suburban streets around blind corners at peak hour it is nothing more than ACT government sanctioned highway robbery. How can it be justified penalising someone for going 59km and hour down a hill on a quiet suburban street on their way home from work by fining them $167 per “offence” and taking a demerit point each time? It is overkill to the extreme and near criminal. If these scum actually targeted Canberra’s genuine bad drivers with the same obscenely large fines we’d have a quarter as many cars on the road than we do now.

Whilst I do generally believe that speed enforcement in Canberra is revenue raising, in your case however all I can say is good job. Luckily it was a speed camera van around the blind corner on your quiet suburban street rather than some kid or oldie who may have ventured on the road. Quiet suburban streets is where these things should be.

cranky said :

voytek3 said :

In less than a week I have been hit with over $500 worth of “speeding” fines because of these revenue raising vans. All on 50km suburban streets around blind corners at peak hour it is nothing more than ACT government sanctioned highway robbery. How can it be justified penalising someone for going 59km and hour down a hill on a quiet suburban street on their way home from work by fining them $167 per “offence” and taking a demerit point each time? It is overkill to the extreme and near criminal. If these scum actually targeted Canberra’s genuine bad drivers with the same obscenely large fines we’d have a quarter as many cars on the road than we do now.

This revenue raising conduct certainly upsets the troops, but can Govco show any benefit from this over the top enforcement?

Has even one local road fatality this year been as a result of a driver exceeding 50kph in a local limit?

I think not. It is simply revenue raising!

are you saying this year it is all about revenue raising – but next year when there are speed related fatalities… will you tell the families?

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd9:23 pm 17 Dec 12

voytek3 said :

In less than a week I have been hit with over $500 worth of “speeding” fines because of these revenue raising vans. All on 50km suburban streets around blind corners at peak hour it is nothing more than ACT government sanctioned highway robbery. How can it be justified penalising someone for going 59km and hour down a hill on a quiet suburban street on their way home from work by fining them $167 per “offence” and taking a demerit point each time? It is overkill to the extreme and near criminal. If these scum actually targeted Canberra’s genuine bad drivers with the same obscenely large fines we’d have a quarter as many cars on the road than we do now.

LOL 9 km over a 50 km speed limit is almost a 20 % over the limit.

voytek3 said :

In less than a week I have been hit with over $500 worth of “speeding” fines because of these revenue raising vans. All on 50km suburban streets around blind corners at peak hour it is nothing more than ACT government sanctioned highway robbery. How can it be justified penalising someone for going 59km and hour down a hill on a quiet suburban street on their way home from work by fining them $167 per “offence” and taking a demerit point each time? It is overkill to the extreme and near criminal. If these scum actually targeted Canberra’s genuine bad drivers with the same obscenely large fines we’d have a quarter as many cars on the road than we do now.

Dont do 59km/h & you will be right………

Every time I do 50 where I am supposed to I get tailgated. It seems that people forget that residential areas are 50 unless otherwise signposted.

voytek3 said :

In less than a week I have been hit with over $500 worth of “speeding” fines because of these revenue raising vans. All on 50km suburban streets around blind corners at peak hour it is nothing more than ACT government sanctioned highway robbery. How can it be justified penalising someone for going 59km and hour down a hill on a quiet suburban street on their way home from work by fining them $167 per “offence” and taking a demerit point each time? It is overkill to the extreme and near criminal. If these scum actually targeted Canberra’s genuine bad drivers with the same obscenely large fines we’d have a quarter as many cars on the road than we do now.

So wait, you were going over the speed limit and caught, not once but at least 3 times in less then a week? Seems like maybe you should rethink the way you drive, 50km/h limits are there for a reason, you could just do 50km/h and not give the speed camera vans a reason to sit in that spot?

I must say, if the speed camera van was in the same place each time, and it wasn’t until receiving the first ticket, which I’m guessing took 3 or 4 days, you could write in and say that the only reason you continued to break the law, was because you were not aware you had broken it originally and that after the first ticket you would have slowed down if it was an on the spot fine, as opposed to having to wait up to a week to receive the infringement? Always worth a shot.

voytek3 said :

In less than a week I have been hit with over $500 worth of “speeding” fines because of these revenue raising vans. All on 50km suburban streets around blind corners at peak hour it is nothing more than ACT government sanctioned highway robbery. How can it be justified penalising someone for going 59km and hour down a hill on a quiet suburban street on their way home from work by fining them $167 per “offence” and taking a demerit point each time? It is overkill to the extreme and near criminal. If these scum actually targeted Canberra’s genuine bad drivers with the same obscenely large fines we’d have a quarter as many cars on the road than we do now.

This revenue raising conduct certainly upsets the troops, but can Govco show any benefit from this over the top enforcement?

Has even one local road fatality this year been as a result of a driver exceeding 50kph in a local limit?

I think not. It is simply revenue raising!

voytek3 said :

In less than a week I have been hit with over $500 worth of “speeding” fines because of these revenue raising vans. All on 50km suburban streets around blind corners at peak hour it is nothing more than ACT government sanctioned highway robbery. How can it be justified penalising someone for going 59km and hour down a hill on a quiet suburban street on their way home from work by fining them $167 per “offence” and taking a demerit point each time? It is overkill to the extreme and near criminal. If these scum actually targeted Canberra’s genuine bad drivers with the same obscenely large fines we’d have a quarter as many cars on the road than we do now.

If you are doing 59 on ‘blind corners’ in suburban streets then you are definitely one of ‘Canberra’s genuine bad drivers’

Enjoy your ‘obscenely large fines’…

It is you who are ‘scum’. I hope you are taken off the road soon.

In less than a week I have been hit with over $500 worth of “speeding” fines because of these revenue raising vans. All on 50km suburban streets around blind corners at peak hour it is nothing more than ACT government sanctioned highway robbery. How can it be justified penalising someone for going 59km and hour down a hill on a quiet suburban street on their way home from work by fining them $167 per “offence” and taking a demerit point each time? It is overkill to the extreme and near criminal. If these scum actually targeted Canberra’s genuine bad drivers with the same obscenely large fines we’d have a quarter as many cars on the road than we do now.

troll-sniffer said :

Alderney said :

Jono said :

Oh dear, my apologies to the thinking ones among us for my brethrens pathetic attitude. As a cyclist I am more than happy to cut motorists some slack. It’s no skin off my nose to move to the edge of the vehicular lane to pass a stopped vehicle.

And while we’re on the subject, since when have these shoulder/breakdown/whatever lanes become cycle lanes? I think you will find they allow cyclists to ride along them left of the traffic while vehicles cannot, but it doesn’t give exclusive ownership or rights to cyclists unless clearly signposted as a dedicated cycle lane, which i don’t believe this one is.

Pathetic?

If you don’t want the reaction, don’t do the action.

Simple scientific equation really.

Even the dumbies should be able to get the gist of that one. No need to apologise to ‘the thinking one’s’. If ‘the thinking one’s’ thought about it, they wouldn’t stop in a cycle lane.

Why is it always the person who points out another’s indiscretions that is the bad guy? False logic!

troll-sniffer said :

Oh dear, my apologies to the thinking ones among us for my brethrens pathetic attitude. As a cyclist I am more than happy to cut motorists some slack. It’s no skin off my nose to move to the edge of the vehicular lane to pass a stopped vehicle.

And while we’re on the subject, since when have these shoulder/breakdown/whatever lanes become cycle lanes? I think you will find they allow cyclists to ride along them left of the traffic while vehicles cannot, but it doesn’t give exclusive ownership or rights to cyclists unless clearly signposted as a dedicated cycle lane, which i don’t believe this one is.

You’re a cyclist, but you haven’t the slightest understanding of why there are dedicated cycle lanes, or why there are road laws preventing motorists from stopping in them.

So, I’ll explain. Dedicated cycle lanes are there to separate the cyclists from the generally faster travelling motor vehicles. If motor vehicles are allowed to stop in dedicated cycle lanes then the cyclists have to move into the faster moving traffic to get around them, which is obviously more dangerous. Hence the Australian Road Rules make it absolutely clear that it’s illegal to stop in a dedicated cycle lane, except in a few circumstances (buses stopping at a bus stop, for example).

I don’t drive or ride along the Monaro highway, hence in my post I wasn’t sure if this is a dedicated cycle lane at that point, but according to the TAMS website it is. If the TAMS website is to be believed, and if the OP has parked there, then he’s breaking the law.

mooo_cow said :

I wonder if anyone still has a copy of the original mobile speed brochure/guidelines produced by the ACT Government when the mobile speed cameras where introduced into Canberra. It has not been published for many years but if memory serves me correct, contained some guidelines as:

Operate 200m past a posted speed sign.
Can only operate for up to 30 minutes in one spot.
Out of the 30 minutes the automatic mode should not be used more than 15 continuous minutes at a time etc.

Wouldn’t matter if anyone did – it would likely be completely inaccurate by now. This government’s approach to introducing potentially unpopular laws is to start with them completely watered down, then incrementally toughen them over the next few years.

They assuaged early mobile speed camera fears by telling us they’d only be permitted in a handful of “black spots”. Then, once everyone was used to seeing them, they expanded that list of sites until it included pretty much everywhere. Monaro Hwy, Dairy Rd to Johnson Dve? That’s basically the entire Monaro Hwy.

Same approach worked a treat when it came to reducing the default speed limit to 50; start off with a handful of “black spots”, then incrementally expand until it’s everywhere.

I don’t have a problem with these laws per se, but it troubles me that this government’s default mode of operation is sneaky and/or deceptive.

troll-sniffer1:55 pm 17 Dec 12

Alderney said :

Jono said :

I assume/hope that the OP wasn’t actually stupid enough to park where he took the photo – that is a bike lane at that point isn’t it?

Agreed, and a very good pickup.

You wouldn’t believe how many people I see who think that, because there is enough room to pull over, that they are entitled to stop in cycle lanes. Mostly on the phone. Here’s a tip, turn the f(*^en thing off.

As a cyclist, I stop and tap on their window and educate them to the laws of the road. Bent the mirror back on a security (brambles or the like) van one day. Bet they thought it was a stick up . Sod them I say.

If you don’t want cyclists to be on the road, stay off of theirs.

End of rant.

Oh dear, my apologies to the thinking ones among us for my brethrens pathetic attitude. As a cyclist I am more than happy to cut motorists some slack. It’s no skin off my nose to move to the edge of the vehicular lane to pass a stopped vehicle.

And while we’re on the subject, since when have these shoulder/breakdown/whatever lanes become cycle lanes? I think you will find they allow cyclists to ride along them left of the traffic while vehicles cannot, but it doesn’t give exclusive ownership or rights to cyclists unless clearly signposted as a dedicated cycle lane, which i don’t believe this one is.

Jono said :

I assume/hope that the OP wasn’t actually stupid enough to park where he took the photo – that is a bike lane at that point isn’t it?

Agreed, and a very good pickup.

You wouldn’t believe how many people I see who think that, because there is enough room to pull over, that they are entitled to stop in cycle lanes. Mostly on the phone. Here’s a tip, turn the f(*^en thing off.

As a cyclist, I stop and tap on their window and educate them to the laws of the road. Bent the mirror back on a security (brambles or the like) van one day. Bet they thought it was a stick up . Sod them I say.

If you don’t want cyclists to be on the road, stay off of theirs.

End of rant.

I wonder if anyone still has a copy of the original mobile speed brochure/guidelines produced by the ACT Government when the mobile speed cameras where introduced into Canberra. It has not been published for many years but if memory serves me correct, contained some guidelines as:

Operate 200m past a posted speed sign.
Can only operate for up to 30 minutes in one spot.
Out of the 30 minutes the automatic mode should not be used more than 15 continuous minutes at a time. etc.

AsparagusSyndrome2:25 am 15 Dec 12

Did you stop by at the van and ask the nice man for a boiled lolly?

RB78 said :

dks00k said :

So according to the list of camera sites, providing it is still current, that camera van is operating out of the guidelines…..

Monaro Highway – Dairy Road to Johnson Drive

How so? The van is parked between Dairy Road and Johnson Drive

Yes my apologies. Didn’t read it properly and a cursory glance had me thinking the van was parked south of Johnson Dr rather than Isabella Dr. Classic case of engaging mouth before brain.

Also I have no idea how it was construed that I think it acceptable to ignore the limits and “hammer it down that hill to the roundabout”. In fact I deal with morons doing exactly that each afternoon negotiating that roundabout into Isabella Dr. I’d be happy if the van was there everyday..

However if you’re going to play the game, you need to play by the rules. Applies to both sides. Again, in this case, they were….

mcharlton said :

From the ACT Gov site http://www.justice.act.gov.au/page/view/3057/title/act-government-safety-camera-program
•Fixed and mobile cameras should not be positioned to detect vehicle speeds within 200 metres of a change in speed zone.

If the camera is front facing then it is likely to be compliant.

While I don’t have any problem with speed cameras, this is interesting; quite often (including the other day) speed vans are placed just after Woodcock Drive changes from 60km/h to 80km/h. Never knew that was a problem (although since its an increase in speed limits it’s hardly going to disadvantage any drivers).

I assume/hope that the OP wasn’t actually stupid enough to park where he took the photo – that is a bike lane at that point isn’t it?

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd9:31 pm 14 Dec 12

tommo said :

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Pretty basic really. You can see the sign from a distance. Slow down so you are doing the limit before you pass the sign.

And if you’re being tailgated make sure your doing at least 20km/h less than the limit on the sign well before you pass it, right?

Sure, but only if the tailgater is too half witted to stop tailgating before I get to 20 kms under.

dks00k said :

So according to the list of camera sites, providing it is still current, that camera van is operating out of the guidelines…..

Monaro Highway – Dairy Road to Johnson Drive

How so? The van is parked between Dairy Road and Johnson Drive

Alderney said :

Dairy Road is to the north of the van, and Johnson Drive to the south. So, whilst not smack-bang in the middle of where it is allowed to operate, it is within the guidlines.

A bit devious mind.

Not really. A speed drop on a downhill slope seems like a supremely obvious place to put a speed camera, and as you mention its entirely within the zone as defined. I’ve often seen one on the Barton Hwy (eastbound) just around the corner past where 100 becomes 80 as you approach the GDE.

Of course, a little Google Earth-ing says that 200m from that sign is about halfway through the rumble stripping, and that van itself seems barely at the rumble stripping.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd said :

Pretty basic really. You can see the sign from a distance. Slow down so you are doing the limit before you pass the sign.

And if you’re being tailgated make sure your doing at least 20km/h less than the limit on the sign well before you pass it, right?

schmeah said :

The van is parked as traffic comes up to a round-a-bout .. if you’re still doing 80++ you deserve all you get.

not necessarily. unless you are a really conservative driver (nervous nelly) or the traffic is really heavy, you should still be doing 80kmh as you pass the van. my braking would occur after I had passed the van.

Comic_and_Gamer_Nerd5:58 pm 14 Dec 12

Pretty basic really. You can see the sign from a distance. Slow down so you are doing the limit before you pass the sign.

dks00k said :

So according to the list of camera sites, providing it is still current, that camera van is operating out of the guidelines…..

Monaro Highway – Dairy Road to Johnson Drive

Dairy Road is to the north of the van, and Johnson Drive to the south. So, whilst not smack-bang in the middle of where it is allowed to operate, it is within the guidlines.

A bit devious mind.

harvyk1 said :

It used to be that they had pre-approved positions which they could set up the vans. These days it’s where ever they feel like it…

or

http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/sl/2000-10/default.asp
Section 108.
Only 177 approved locations to set up wherever they like.

dks00k said :

So according to the list of camera sites, providing it is still current, that camera van is operating out of the guidelines…..

Monaro Highway – Dairy Road to Johnson Drive

So you should be allowed to just hammer it down that hill and into the roundabout? A guideline beats an appropriate speed anyday.

Sometimes the speed limit is common sense and should be the case even if a “guideline” is there or not.

So according to the list of camera sites, providing it is still current, that camera van is operating out of the guidelines…..

Monaro Highway – Dairy Road to Johnson Drive

It is also worth noting that the 200m distance referred to on the ACT Government website is a guideline – there is no legislation to say you can’t be next to a sign.

Also, the guideline is only for camera vans, so cops using laser and radar detection don’t have to follow any sort of 200m thing.

The van is parked as traffic comes up to a round-a-bout .. if you’re still doing 80++ you deserve all you get.

NoImRight said :

So…..how far after a sign saying 80 do you have to do 80?

About 1 mm, give or take.

From the ACT Gov site http://www.justice.act.gov.au/page/view/3057/title/act-government-safety-camera-program
•Fixed and mobile cameras should not be positioned to detect vehicle speeds within 200 metres of a change in speed zone.

If the camera is front facing then it is likely to be compliant.

NoImRight said :

So…..how far after a sign saying 80 do you have to do 80?

Pretty sure you are supposed to be doing the speed limit from the moment you pass the sign.

The placement looks pretty fair to me. It is visible from a long way back, on a straight bit of road, and there is a great big speed sign visible so you can be certain that you are doing the correct speed. Also, that bit of road (or just down hill from there) is one where carrying a bit of extra speed really is quite dangerous (unlike many of the place that fixed speed cameras have been placed….).

So…..how far after a sign saying 80 do you have to do 80?

shirty_bear said :

davo101 said :

LMGTFY.

yeah, thanks – remarkably unhelpful results and a smattering of outright lies;
“whenever possible, a camera will operate in both directions (both sides of the road, vehicles approaching or departing)”. I don’t recall *ever* seeing two camera operating in tandem.

A single speed camera van can operate in both directions at the same time if they choose to and if the sides of the road are close enough to each other (ie median strip isn’t too large). No need for 2 vans.

thebrownstreak6912:23 pm 14 Dec 12

It would be hard to argue you didn’t know the speed limit if you got caught!

It amazes me that people get caught at all by these things. They are out in plain view!

davo101 said :

LMGTFY.

yeah, thanks – remarkably unhelpful results and a smattering of outright lies;
“whenever possible, a camera will operate in both directions (both sides of the road, vehicles approaching or departing)”. I don’t recall *ever* seeing two camera operating in tandem.

Years ago there seemed to be an unwritten rule that speed checks wouldn’t happen on significant downslopes. This was completely kiboshed when I saw one at the bottom of Springvale Dve.
No idea re. closeness to speed limit changes, but it seems dumb to be at all close, given that they can be targetted any old distance from the van itself.

Not knowing the laws of speed camera placement, i actually think that’s good positioning.

It used to be that they had pre-approved positions which they could set up the vans. These days it’s where ever they feel like it…

I believe there is some sort of unwritten rule that after a speed zone sign change they need to allow a reasonable distance for which you need to be doing the new speed (I think it’s 100m). That said that it is but an urban legend and I would not be putting too much faith in that.

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