Camera detectors - good or bad?

[wazza]

I have thought about this before, then Peter came up with this comment:

Oh yes, the Truvello half way up the A43 nearly caught me out - I've also become too reliant on the RoadPilot!

Are we becoming too reliant on technology and not taking (visual) care of our situations on roads.
What happens if you haven't updated your detector in about a week and a new camera goes live? Wouldn't you really be [img]images/graemlins/piss.gif[/img]ed off if you got flashed after spending up to £500 on this technology?

I think we need to use these as aids, but not to forget about looking out of the window.

btw. Peter, this is not flaming you, just trying to get the point across [img]images/graemlins/beerchug.gif[/img]

[TimJMS]

Too many cameras are still hidden from a distance and can only be seen when you are almost on top of them. For example the one on the A1 northbound approaching Markham Moor roundabout, that is tucked in near a bridge on a sweeping curve.

Its a blackspot alright, and one that is caused by the very presence of the camera forcing the knee - jerk response of many drivers to brake hard on this bend to avoid a fine / points.

Detectors give you plenty of warning to begin reducing speed gradually. Furthermore in situations like the above they could even be life saving devices.

So IMO they are good. I do keep my eyes open, but there are so many hidden "revenue generators" that today I am in no doubt whatsoever that I owe my license to detection technology [img]images/graemlins/clap.gif[/img]

[Brooner]

That's a good point i only have a radar detector no downloads. this is used as a secondery warnning if i've missed the camera or gun i use this more for the guns or traffic cars. but lets face it the easyest plcace to get caught is on the motorway. best to switch on the cruse control and theres no worries about cameras of any discription. better blasting along the b roads than goning flat out in a straight line IMO [img]images/graemlins/033102ass_1_prv.gif[/img]
so they are good to keep your licence clean and avoid as said the sudden braking

[Greg_S]

The same can be said for the police who are now relying upon the speed camera's to try and do the job that only a real live person can judge.

Camera's have no thinking power to work out if a speed is safe or can judge how a veichle is being driven and in what road conditions it is in.

And with the increasing use of mobile and fixed cameras in areas where other road measures would be far more effective in reducing possible acciedents. Unlike some of the speed cameras errected on the A1 near me which caused accidents when they were first installed from people knee jerk reaction to slow down as soon as they see a speed camera for fear of having their license stolen from them for a minor breach in speedlimits, Which in my opinion are long overdue a proper revision and with braking distances being based upon modern veichles instead of very old outdate technology they are based on.