Scotland puts speed camera movement on two wheels
Scotland's motorists had better keep their eyes peeled for a certain 'brightly marked' Honda 650 Deauville motorcycle. Those passing through Edinburgh at extralegal speeds had better beware, because local authorities have just outfitted a speed camera to the aforementioned motorbike, and it works in much the same way as the pole-mounted Gatsos and unmarked vans that litter Europe's roadsides.
The idea behind the motorcycle is that it can be quickly deployed to areas in which roadside conditions make it impractical and/or unsafe to use a van for revenue collection speed monitoring.
[Source: BBC News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Howard Kerr 7:18PM (6/03/2006)
Love the name for that 'cycle...the Honda Deauville. Imagine Harley coming out with a bike called Palm Beach?
I've heard that the U.K. has several mobile speed cameras, apparently it's not enough that they get you to slow down in high traffic/high accident areas. Now, the cameras can go mobile...ANYWHERE can be a speed trap, whether it needs to be or not.
Reply
nashua 7:58PM (6/03/2006)
So the Irish speed traps have gone mobile. Tough luck for them.
I'm from the small country of Belgium (we've got one of the best infrastructures regarding accessability= lots of roads :) ), and here too you can find these frickin' speed camera poles popping out like mushrooms, there are quite a lot now, and when you drive the E40 (our main highway from coast to the center of the country) on a friday, well you can be sure you pass at least 4 to 6 of them silly "civilian patrol car".
So I follow you on the revenue collection ;)
luckily for us civilians, it's broadcasted on national radio where the coppers are parked and they always tend to stake out at the same places, using the same cars.
Reply
Campisi 3:35AM (6/04/2006)
Sometimes, I envy countries with speed cameras. It's just like getting pulled over, except it's instantaneous and doesn't involve elitist cops.
Reply
Steve B 10:03AM (6/04/2006)
U.K. speed cameras are hardly "Speed Traps" in the US sense. The camera locations for the mobile cameras are published, the cameras are indeed "brightly colors." Note that the reason for these is to use in places where the vans aren't practical.... well, the vans (generally Mercedes Benz Spinters or similar large cargo vans) are painted in REFECTIVE YELLOW AND BLUE STRIPED PAINT. They stand out like sore thumbs.
They also, of course, use stationary speed cameras, which are generally mounted on posts. These have warning signs to allow one to decelerate to the legal speed in advance of the camera.
It's a far cry from the "GOTCHA!" speed enforcement as you cross the US
Reply
icerabbit 11:31AM (6/04/2006)
Hi Nashua.
Fellow Belgian :)
Unfortunately Belgium is catching up with the Netherlands with regards to those unmanned & manned cameras :( If there is one blessing however, it is that the Belgian police also tend to focus on other severe traffic violations.
Here in the US, the only thing that gets any attention seems to be speeding.
Reply