ANPR or mobile speed camera van?

[Gromit]

Was heading home on the A1 last night around 8.30pm and just north of Stamford there was a Police van parked on one of the bridges crossing the dual carriageway. I was pressing on a bit but backed off immediately (usual reaction even if I'm travelling under the limit!) and on passing under the bridge, I noticed the van had no 'camera' logos on it at all, purely the blacked-out nearside window - incidentally the van was parked on the bridge above the opposite carriageway.

I also noticed that the side window was firmly shut - no 'port hole' or some such for the camera to peer through. I didn't see the rear of the van as it was facing nose towards the central reservation.

I've not seen a van like this up here before - Lincs Road Safety partnership seem to operate all the speed vans and are stickered up like Christmas trees making it obvious as to their intended use.

Now, I'm wondering if this is ANPR (although no other Police vehicles were nearby, or had left) or as the van's windows were closed, it was not operating and just sitting there as a deterrent to speeders - certainly slowed me down! I turned off at the next junction and on coming back the other way less than 5 mins later (paranoia setting in here!) the van had gone. Doing a quick search on the www it would appear that windows closed = not operating, or simply just closing down at that location.

Doing another search for mobile camera sites in the county, the van's position isn't registered as a mobile van site.

Anyone able to shed any light on this? Ta.

[Blackal]

They black out the windows when they want to get their heads down



Sounds like ANPR........

Al

[Gromit]

Sounds like ANPR........

Al

Hope so - although if it was a speed camera van it would appear, on the surface of it, that it was just parked up as a deterrent (or taking a break as you say).

[StreetFlatTwin]

ANPR cameras aren't usually inside the van they are usually outside as they are waterproof so it would be a camera van, but if the portholes are closed-there closed for business!

Relax........but I guess it will take you 14 days to be sure!!

[oyster]

I saw a camera van on a bridge a couple of miles south of the Peterborough services on the north approach a couple of months back. FYI there is also an unmarked silver Audi doing patrols around Brighton, notably the M23.

[Gromit]

I saw a camera van on a bridge a couple of miles south of the Peterborough services on the north approach a couple of months back. FYI there is also an unmarked silver Audi doing patrols around Brighton, notably the M23.

The A1(M) just south of Peterborough is certainly quite a speed-check hot spot - not surprising as the road is so wide, and is rarely chocker with traffic. Heading south from the services there's more often than not a patrol car sat on the left about 1 mile down.

[Yogi Bear]

My guess is - they were eating their chips...

[Daveg2812]

My guess is - they were eating their chips...

And that's from a man who knows

[Gromit]

My guess is - they were eating their chips...

And that's from a man who knows

Indeed, Dave.

I'm wondering if, as the van was parked above the opposite carriageway, that they were catching folk heading southbound ie on the other side of the bridge, hence there being no sign of 'action' on my northbound side. Heading south, for a good couple of miles to the north of the bridge, there are several signs warning of speed cameras (I believe guidelines state there should be signs within 1km of any mobile camera location) but none whatsoever heading north.

[Kaze]

I'm expecting a big increase in speed cameras in the UK as the KSI (killed & serious injury) stat's have gone up for this first time in quite a few years. This'll have the politicians panicking and I expect their solution will be cheap quick fix... Ie more cameras

Personally I 'd go for more onerous training and compulsary refresher training, including greater input on bike awareness for non-bikers, but I can't see them going for this.

[Dai wiskers]

Never been able to work out why they are called safty cameras then when you get a ticket it's for speeding surely if it's a safty camera to get a ticket you have not been riding/driveing safely so you must have been riding/driving dangerously?

What's needed is more police in marked vehicles on our roads not more cameras or unmarked cars

A camera can't catch the drunk / drugged / dangerous / blind /not caring [the list could go on and on] driver

[slparry]

Never been able to work out why they are called safty cameras then when you get a ticket it's for speeding surely if it's a safty camera to get a ticket you have not been riding/driveing safely so you must have been riding/driving dangerously?

What's needed is more police in marked vehicles on our roads not more cameras or unmarked cars

A camera can't catch the drunk / drugged / dangerous / blind /not caring [the list could go on and on] driver

It's so they can make a vain attempt at making them sound as if they're there for our safety and not as an income generation source.

[Dai wiskers]

By all meens put them outside schools and in built up areas i agree with that but some [most] do seem to be there as a form of taxation and not safety related at all

Sorry folks i seem to be on a bit of a rant for the last couple of days Dai

Good news a old mate of mine John Hopkins still has coppies of his very good little book available come on worth every penny of six quid +p&p
WALES
ON A MOTORBIKE
Just one mans tale of a ride round Wales on his V/max, lots of pics as well
he has lost his wife since this was first published and was going to do a second book this year he set off on his 1100 shadow end of may and went down with phnumonia[spelin] after about four days
the old sod is 70 now and still riding and working on his own bikes
P.M. me and i can forward his contact details to you

Sorry gromit i will put up another post about this Dai

[Gromit]

Agreed on all points chaps.

Thing is, speeding is extremely cut & dried therefore easy to prove via evidence etc. I too would much rather see marked patrol cars out on the roads - the Police could then begin to educate drivers, and it would do much to help the public's perception of them. I'm all for that.

[slparry]

Agreed on all points chaps.

Thing is, speeding is extremely cut & dried therefore easy to prove via evidence etc. I too would much rather see marked patrol cars out on the roads - the Police could then begin to educate drivers, and it would do much to help the public's perception of them. I'm all for that.

Especially if the cars were slow ones