How do Mobile Speed Vans Work?

[malice19]

Was going to my mates house to day and decided to go through town,
Was going a long a dual carriageway when suddenly I saw a mobile speed van

There were no signs or any think before I even joined onto the carriageway!!!
Was just wondering it any one knows or know any good sites that could tell me how they work
and what range they have as I was doing about 50 in a 40 then saw speed Van a hit the brakes. Don't have any idea if I put the brakes on in time?

Also do they get you going towards the van or away from it???

Also if I have been hit by this mobile speed van it will be the second time i have been hit by mobile speed van,
+ I have only been driving for just over a year and this will make it 6 point on my license :? Does this mean I will lose my license????

[Craig]

They catch you coming towards the van, and they have around a 1000m range on them. So if you were within 1000m, then unlucky bud Considering its your first year driving then id suggest you take it slow

Craig

[MD]

Break 6 and you are in trouble. I think you can physically have six points but not exceed it.....m@

[silent ben]

They work by sending out a infrared wave, the wave then bounces off your car and back to the dector, it does this many times a second. The wave returning has travelled futher than the wave between the emmiter and the dector and from this difference (taken twice) the speed and distance of the vehicle can be found (very accuratly).

Ben

[Lowe]

Yup, simple laser rangefinding using the doppler effect. They're then connected to a video recorder which is started once the copper pulls the trigger. This evidence is later viewed and frames from the video is what they use to nick you. The speeding result is instantaneous - though they take several readings and get an average - all in 0.3 of a second.

If they're using a telescopic sight they sit them on tripod in the van, which means they can (as previously stated) lase vehicles up to about 1000m away. They can nab you either head on or driving away from them.

There is no way to detect such speed traps in any realisticly useful fashion. You simply can't detect a laser and react in sufficient time to bleed any excess speed off - unless you have a laser jammer, which jams the signal for 5 seconds allowing you to bleed off excess speed, then the copper gets a reading which is far more acceptable for all involved Unfortunately such jammers are a bit of a legal grey area. Buying one and fittigg it isn't illegal. Using it on a public road could see you in court for "obstructing a police officer in the line of duty" etc. Far easier not to speed

[Zathras]

Break 6 and you are in trouble. I think you can physically have six points but not exceed it.....m@

Nope, it's six or more. I should know

[Jimmy Little]

don't panic... think of how many people will do that today, they don't get everyone... i have been flashed at least 20 times in my six years of driving and have not been caught once, those vans are bad news but like i said they don't get eveyone... think of how many people will zoom by it today if he sits on A roads for 8 hours...

[Rob]

i have been flashed at least 20 times in my six years of driving and have not been caught once

Bobby, I'd find a very big lump of wood to touch...

[Big RICHARD]

Unfortunately, with a laser detector, is they had it pointed at you, switched on and you were speeding, then they've got you. Simple as. Remember that most car speedos read higher than you are actully travelling (normally about 5-10%) so you could have been doing 45, they might give you the 10% + 2 mph and you're ok. If they're on zero tolerance then just sit and wait for the NIP to appear.

[Big RICHARD]

Bobby, I'd find a very big lump of wood to touch...

You can touch my big wood!

[Jimmy Little]

easy guys!

yeah don't worry about it, nothing you can do either way...

[Lowe]

don't panic... think of how many people will do that today, they don't get everyone... i have been flashed at least 20 times in my six years of driving and have not been caught once, those vans are bad news but like i said they don't get eveyone... think of how many people will zoom by it today if he sits on A roads for 8 hours...

Bobby, vans don't flash. Speed cameras in general (GATSO, Truvelo) flash, since they use a different method to catch you. Many of the times you see these cameras flash they're out of film or fitted with a dummy radar unit, hence why you've not been prosecuted...

Vans, as I said before use laser guns and video recorders. If it was on, and you were the only car on the road at the time, you'd of been nailed for sure if speeding. All they need is a few video cassettes - imagine how many motorists you can catch on one 3 hour tape, when each motorist takes up about 5 seconds of film at the most....

[Rave]

I tooled past a van doing 45 in a 30 zone once. Never heard a thing- still got a clean licence. AFAIK not all vans have forward facing lasers in them, don't some use a gatso-esque arrangement?

Rich :¬)

[Jimmy Little]

^

yeah i reckon you will be ok... you have to be unlucky to get the points and the fine

[malice19]

Great Now I’m really leaving skid marks in my pants TBH!!!!

I was also like the only car on the road at the time as well....

I’m off on my holiday on Monday for 2 weeks just know I’m going to get some great news in the post when I get back on the 27th.

I've been hit before but couldn't remember how long it takes to get posted to my house?

So if I have been hit then I’ve lost my license TBH

[Nox]

If they're using a telescopic sight they sit them on tripod in the van, which means they can (as previously stated) lase vehicles up to about 1000m away. They can nab you either head on or driving away from them.

hmmm, yes, they can technically nab you in both directions, but reason they have video is so they can get a clear mugshot of you driving TOWARDS them so you can't say 'sorry mate, i don't think it was me driving right then' There has been enough uncertainty caused in the past that the fines/points had to be throw out of court, (there are a few famous footballers you could ask about this...) hence the introduction of cameras and the rather unfortunate much longer ranged devices...

driving away from them would be pretty stupid to get caught speeding as you've just driven past them anyway...

Nox