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The five top positions for speed cameras to trap you, all round the world

They don't pick random spots for speed cameras. They are in position so that they can hit their targets, and earn money. They nod in the direction of road safety, but that is all. For example there is a high proportion of cameras positioned within community slow speed areas, whereas there are very few on autoroutes and motorways

SOME CAMERAS MAKE THEM A LOT MORE MONEY
In the early days of speed cameras they noticed that some camera positions earned much more money from fines than others. After a study of the numbers it was not too difficult for them to decide on the best locations for speed cameras.   
This is what they found. For example in countries such as Scotland and in England the holidaymakers are an easy target and will always pay up without a fuss. You can easily have your stay in a Scottish cottage ruined by a speeding trap. Luckily, there are few speed cameras in the Scottish highlands to trap visitors

TOWNS ARE THE WORST

Firstly, they pick the main roads going in to a Town or Village and don't bother with the little roads. Little roads carry less traffic so there is little money to be earned. However, little roads are often the most dangerous roads, but let's leave that out.
The three or four roads leading into a built up area are all most likely to have speed cameras installed. They will usually be located a few hundreds yards inside the new speed limit restriction. This catches the drivers who do not slow down - that is, most drivers. They prefer to  install cameras on a straight stretch of road after a bend, where the drivers speed up. There it is easy for a driver not to notice the camera. There will usually be some trees in the background, or houses, to deflect the driver's attention. 
Another favourite spot is to locate the cameras on a fairly fast road near a school - this can be justified, rightly, on road safety grounds. It also attracts a more severe charge and higher penalties, and the support of local residents. All of this is good from the local authorities point of view.

THEY PICK STRAIGHT STRETCHES OF ROAD

Local residents protesting at fast cars going through their community will demand police cameras. So this is where they often place those point and shoot manned mobile laser cameras. Local residents love them, regular drivers hate them because they get caught suddenly on roads they are used to driving along.
For these locations, again they pick a straight stretch of through road, where drivers are picking up speed. Here they will deliberately disguise their cameras. They need a layby to position their camera and van slightly to one side of the road. They will use often their van to hide the camera, or trees, or other obstructions. If you have your wits about you, you can often sense where these manned cameras will be, and any van parked to one side of the road is immediately suspicious.

These cameras are often set with reasonably wide tolerance, say at 35 or 36mph in a 30 mph area. This avoids appeals and complaints of unfairness. If someone tells you they have been charged for doing 32mph in a 30mph area, then they are shading the truth. However not many people realise that driving at 50mph in a 30mph area will lose drivers their licence. The police and the Courts regard the most serious speeding offences as those committed in a built up area, and rightly so.

CAMERAS ON THE FAST ROADS
Generally there are not many cameras installed on motorways and the fastest roads. These roads are generally safe for driving, and there is a strong risk of motorists suddenly slowing down if they spot a camera, There is a risk of causing a major accident. Nevertheless, they'll often use a mobile camera over a bridge over the motorway usually when the traffic is not busy, or at night..

POLICE CARS
Police cars and unmarked police cars can film you behind them as well as in front of them. So you are never entirely safe - actually they are more concerned with spotting more serious offences such as dangerous driving. Sometimes they don't want the paperwork bother with stopping you for speeding. However if your car looks old, dirty and badly maintained then they will stop you. Then they will nose around checking your tyres and looking for other faults. In Britain you get three points on your licence for every tyre which has no tread. So have all four tyres bald and you will lose your licence.

THE MOST DANGEROUS CAMERAS - DON'T SPEED HERE.

These are the Time and Distance cameras you find usually in road works on major highways. Big gantries support very obvious cameras at the beginning of the speed restriction and at the end an at all turn offs. They measure your average speed and there is little escape possible. Some police forces want to install these cameras on main roads without any road works.

HOW YOU CAN GET OFF FINES AND POINTS ON YOUR LICENCE

If you are caught using false number plates the charge is much more serious. Don't do it. You are vulnerable to patrolling police cars checking your number instantly.
If you say someone else was driving when they weren't, then this becomes a very serious charge against you for which both of you can be sent to prison. Don't do it. To-days cameras will frequently have enough power to photograph the driver.
If you are driving a foreign car with foreign number plates, then they will often forget it if there is no reciprocal arrangement with your home country.
If you try and prove that the camera was poorly serviced or was at the wrong setting you'll have an uphill struggle. The police usually give you a 10% leeway on your speed, so that easily knocks out any camera objections. Object on technical grounds against a camera and you'll lose - unless you are yourself a technician and know where the bodies lie.
To get off a fine and points on your licence you will generally have to prove that police made a mistake in their procedures, or the authority made a mistake with setting the signs or in the bye laws. On a major road, and particularly on motorways, they've got it all tied up, you won't get off. However in smaller roads, under the authority of the local council then mistakes in orders are often made. You'll need a legal representative to dig out the information for you probably. If the prospect is losing your licence then it may be worth the expense.

NORMALLY EASY TO GET OFF ROAD WORK RESTRICTIONS
The local authorities are most prone to mistakes when setting up temporary speed restrictions, or in the signs at temporary road works which they control. Take photographs, measure the distances between the signs, look for obstructions of the signs, check the records and you are likely to get off.

Good luck. Best to drive within the limits, really.

John
http://www.bayviewkentallen.co.uk/avoidspeedingfinesandpoints.html
http://www.lastminutecottageholiday.co.uk/locationofspeedcamerasscotland.html

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

John Winkler and his wife gillian own a little cottage in the highlands of Scotland which they offer for vacationvacation rentals. Once the marketing correspondent for The Times of London, he has had 6 books published on marketing.

Their pretty cottage beside the loch near glencoe Tales from Travellers in the Scottish Highlands Appin is so heart achingly beautiful

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