How do red light camera's work?
 

I am wondering how the grey camera's that are near a set of traffic lights function e.g...

Do they have to flash to catch you if you go through a red light or can they catch you without flashing?

If there is a grey camera near a set of lights and you go through them whilst the lights are red, do they always give you a NIP?

Any experiences are welcomed and websites/articles concerning this.

Thanks

In general they are set off by a vehicle passing over the induction loops put in the tarmac bfore and after the stop line.

From memory you have to be moving at more than a walking pace to set them off because of this. I'd have thought they would always flash when trigered and you should get your NIP within the standard 14 days.

:( As above they are set of via loops in the road, they usually have a timer built in so it gives about 1.5 seconds after the lights have gone red before it is active.
:D On the plus side a lot of local councils have more camera sites than they do cameras so they rotate them. But they still leave the flash system active to act as a deterent
This means that you can jump the lights activate the flash but if you are lucky not recieve an NIP because there was no camera fitted. :D
Its easier and safer though to avoid going through red lights :shock:
Chog 8)

...
 

I really think they should introduce the 'countdown' type system they use in some far east countries. (10,9,8...1 before changing). :idea:

Everyday I approach a set of lights on a busy A-road on my commute, the lights change very quickly, as they have a Camera on them I have to hammer on the brake (I am travelling at the speed limit-ish too). :shock:

Couple of times I've skidded the back and front a bit. All that is needed is a bit of Diesel and :cry:

I'm personally Pro Red light cameras, I think people jump far too many reds and I've had some very close calls over the years with people not just nipping through as the light goes red (Which I've done many a time) but going through lights that have been red for 5 seconds or so :shock:

If there are lights that change quickley on your route, slow down as you aproach them, a speed limit s intended as a guide (although is now enforced as gospel) there are bits on my ride to work I wouldn't do 30mph as it's unafe, and bits where I see no problem doing 40 or more in 30.

pretty good advice there, i always slow down before lights.. nearly always you get caught out at that "do i, don't i?" moment - slowing down gives ample braking time, and security from a safety camera fine!

The best system I have seen used in Europe is the speed traffic lights, normally situated outside small villages in Spain.

If you approach the village at mucho velocidad, the lights go to red and stop you. If you drive nice and sedately, they seem to stay on go

stuff like that'd be the best way forward in some of our little villages, shame the coppers won't think so

Re: How do red light camera's work?
 

I don't think the ones in Southampton are

Some of the sensors sitting on top of lights aren't there to catch people jumping them. Believe it or not, they're for emergency service vehicles and they sense the approaching flashing lights (headlights) and this alters the timing of the lights which change in favour of the emergency vehicles' right of way.

To test this, the next time you come up to a set of single A/B road temporary road works traffic lights, flash the lights intermittently as you approach (if you're first in teh queue). After a safe time to allow oncoming traffic to clear, the lights will change for you, thanks to the lil light sensor box sitting on the top.

The other part of the reason for this is that the emergency services aren't imune from prosecution for a driving offence if they jump a red even under blue light conditions. It builds in an element of safety for them.