Safe Speed Forums

Hi, could any one please tell me if the mobile speed vans go on a average speed . I was doing around 35/36 mph on speedo . 33/34 tomtom gps . i had just come round the corner and spotted it sraight away , quick foot onthe brake at the time as looking at speedo . As i went passed the mobile van he was sitting in the front seat looking out the front . It took me 10 to 15secs from spotting him to going pass him . I know this as i only live round the corner from were he was situated . I suppose i am clutching at staws but if it is done on a average i may get away with it . The mobile van was in rossendale (lancashire) were i do believe that 35mph and under could be a caution but as i went on a speed awareness course 18 months ago i am no elligable for this . Any info would be apreciated thanks

To answer this question, no. They would need to set up two vans (both with cameras) at a mesured distance so they could measure your average speed between the two vans (cameras).

_________________
Useless laws weaken necessary laws.

There's usually one person operating a mobile speed trap. If so and the operator was up front then it would be safe to say he could not have targeted you, this is because the operator needs to have their hands on the speed gun (and their eyes looking through the scope of the speed gun) in order to operate it.
However, if the van was double crewed (unlikely IMO) then you could be in trouble. Time will tell (14 days to be exact - if the car is properly registered with you as the registered keeper).

_________________
Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

thanks for taking time to reply

Where was this?
In most areas 35mph is the minimum speed before they'll prosecute you (assuming it was not !) and that's real speed, not your speedo which likely overreads by around 5%

HI, IT WAS IN SHAWFORTH NR ROCHDALE . (LANCASHIRE) MY SPEEDO WAS ON 35/36 .

You should be fine. Lancs scammers offer cautions for really low speeds and speed awareness courses if you're a little faster. I think it's 39mph before you get points on your licence.

I was on a speed course last august so i would not qualify for caution .

Or yes. They take an average speed over a fraction of a second. [/pedant]

I was thinking of writing that, but actually they take distance measurements. Presumably they can tell the speed from every combination of distance/time measurements, but I don't think they do any averages with it, however the calculated speeds must all be the same within a certain tolerance. Or something.

_________________
Andrew.