The somewhat muddy legal status of GPS-based speed camera detectors used by British drivers has been cleared up-- they are perfectly licit. The black boxes employed by enthusiasts have been a nifty technological end-around rumored UK legislation that threatens to ban radar detectors. The units, like the popular Road Angel system download GPS-based maps with the locations of speed cameras (’Gatsos’), warning drivers in advance before they approach them on the road. Many systems also alert drivers to accident-prone areas and schools.
The word comes as transport minister Dr. Stephen Ladyman and Tory party MP Owen Paterson have recently gone on record stating their support (and admitted use) of the systems.
[Source: Motortorque at Askaprice.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
TSW @ Mar 13th 2006 2:05PM
From what I've heard, Dr. Ladyman isn't for sneaking up on people to give them tickets, he just wants the to slow down in high-risk areas.
He doesn't care what it takes to get you to slow down - if it means encouraging you to buy a map with every speed camera noted on it, or if it means you have to go out and buy a Road Angel so you know the camera is coming, just as long as you obey the posted limit.
JR @ Mar 13th 2006 3:07PM
How much freedom will the British continue to give up in the name of safety?
They don't have a whole lot left.....
Richard Warren @ Mar 13th 2006 3:56PM
#2 A better question yet, how much freedom will we give up in the name of safety?
Proud Japanese @ Mar 13th 2006 4:40PM
The laws are there to be followed. Noone has the right or the freedom to break the law. The British aren't giving up any freedom since such freedom never existed in the first place. On the other hand they are perfectly free to drive around in tanks, cars like lotus, caterhams, radicals and nobles on the road. I've even spotted a F1 style car once.
DaEMoN @ Mar 13th 2006 5:04PM
I actually admire the english transport minister. He is making it clear that it is a GOOD thing for drivers to know where speed cameras are.
They are a speeding deterrent in dangerous areas, and if you know where they are, you will not be speeding in those areas. Makes perfectly sense and I totally agree with their position on the whole matter
lalaland @ Mar 13th 2006 5:49PM
The only thing that the UK Government should have done to complete the circle is to have ownership in Road Angels. That way, the government gets revenue from the payoff of the speeding ticket, or the payoff from someone buying a Road Angel to avoid getting a speeding ticket.
Steve B @ Mar 13th 2006 11:00PM
"2. How much freedom will the British continue to give up in the name of safety?
They don't have a whole lot left....."
Have you ever driven on U.K. roads, or are you just another dumbass American shooting off at the mouth and running our reputation as a nation further into the dirt?
The U.K.'s speed cameras are hardly the "gotcha" speed-traps that we are faced with on the roads. Our law enforcement wants to try and trick you. British roads have giant signs warning you of a speed camera. When they use mobile speed enforcement vans, they are painted with orange and yellow zebra-stripes. In addition, they post the locations for speed cameras through BBC.
Of course, the U.S. system is much better, where the police will generally hide their presence using visual obstructions in order to snag speeders. Who has more freedom?
But then, y
TC @ Mar 15th 2006 8:26PM
#7 The speed camera on the M11 / A406 junction (The UK's highest grossing camera) has no giant warning sign, and is right at the section of the Motorway where you have to cut down from 70mph to 50mph!
I think JR is referring to the fact that speed cameras seem to be at places where cars are speeding, as opposed to places where speeding would be an obvious risk to life. I'm all for speed cameras to be outside every school/hospital etc. but the aforementioned M11 camera and the stretch of gantry hidden cameras on the M25 at the Heathrow junction seems a touch scrooge-like. If you crash at 70mph here you will just as likely do as much damage as at 85mph.
I know a lot of people in the UK are saying; "Maybe if I got a Police response for a robbery within 48hrs I'll start to not mind the £70 and 3 penalty points I get for not continually checking the speedo on the motorway." and that's the problem - Perception of trust in the authorities.
BTW, Since all camera detection devices are currently legal in England (Not Scotland) the 'boy-racers' buy the detectors, and evade capture for dangerous driving (The police road presence has diminished with the introduction of cameras) so the Government shows lovely 'Speeding is down' stats, while the sensible drivers who don't feel the need for such devices, are whacked.