Was giving a mate a lift back from 5-a-side last night in an area I don't know well. Ended up getting flashed as we approached a GATSO on the opposite side of the road. I was doing 40, but it turned out that the limit was 30. I always assumed that GATSOs only worked a) from behind and b) in one traffic direction. Can any one confirm if this true or not?

Cheers

Nick

 

If they are on the opposite side of the road (as opposed to in the middle of the road) then they can get oncoming traffic as well. You've got 2 weeks (plus postage time) before you'll know if the camera had film.

Fingers crossed mate!

 

Not sure that's right. My origin will go ballistic if I approach a camera on my side of the road, but merely shows the presence of the camera (no warning) if it's on the other side of the road. I therefore took it that Gatsos don't work for oncoming traffic.

However, I think there are other types of camera (Truvelo etc.) that can nick traffic in either direction ...

 

I was in the "ok if oncoming" camp, but the fact that the thing flashed concerned me. There is probably no film in the thing anyway, so I'm hoping I'll be ok regardless.

Fingers crossed!

Nick

 

There's a Gatso near me on a "2 lanes each way" road that has no central reservation. I've often been approaching the camera from the "correct" direction when an oncoming car has passed me at speed causing the camera to flash ONCE. I think oncoming traffic confuses them and they give just the one flash. Remember that if you're actually being done, it'll give two quick flashes.

 

There's a scamera near my g/f's house and we've been flashed by that loads of times when we've driven towards it, but never been caught. The lines are only on the side of those travelling away from it so you'll have to go and check where the lines are.

 

there's a road by me which has a single gatso camera on it. Road markings are on both sides of the roads.

I have RAII and it only ever lets me know there is a camera when i head in 1 direction... i would not like to take the risk heading in the other direction just incase..

 

I know someone that got done by an oncoming camera. Fair point that doens't mean they all work like that. I assume when they are originally set up they would have to be set one way or the other.

 

AFAIK Gatso type cameras flash you from behind once you've gone past them - it being dangerous to flash oncoming traffic, so they can only work in one direction.
The Truvelo type do get you as you travel towards them but don't flash at all. These must also only work in one direction because there's a traffic cop who appears about once a week on my drive into work to turn our local Truvelo to face the opposite carriageway!

Pics of the different types on this website

http://www.speedcamerasuk.com/speed-camera-types.htm

 

The Gatso should only be used to catch traffic heading away from it. If it goes off in the opposite direction i.e. when you are driving towards the camera it is calibrated incorrectly and they cannot prosecute.

The cameras in Staffordshire used to go off all the time incorrectly and I got flashed a few times, it is dangerous to set it off and have it flash in your face. Never got a NIP and would have complained if I did.