Thick black wires across the road. Speed traps?

Just drove over two thick black wires (a few inches apart) in the road which seemed to be connected to a half built lamppost. I'm assuming their building one of those speed warning signs but just wanted to check that the wires can't be used to do you for speeding?

Reply 1

dogtanian

16

Usually for traffic surveys, I think.

Reply 2

lillyann92

8

No, they're used to count how many cars are using the road

Reply 3

matt^

9

yeh they arent used to do you for speeding as they would have to have cameras and stuff, just used to find out how many vehicles are going along the road i think

Reply 4

Cos I already Know

lillyann92

No, they're used to count how many cars are using the road

Your correct sweetie :smile:

Reply 5

bestie

OP

15

Thanks guys! Was a bit worried, really need to slow down after long motorway journeys.

Reply 6

cdsmith1990

11

My neighbour lays them, and he confirmed (against rumours) that they do not measure speed, just how many cars pass over it.

He said they could used to measure average speed if you layed 2 down and did some calculations but that's not what they're made for.

Reply 7

hobo06

16

There's a set that have been laid down near where I work, but are very loose. Seems a little dangerous, as they flick up after a car drives over them, so it seems they could easily get caught in a car's wheels. How long are they usually there for? These have been there about a week now.

As for actual speed traps...damn speed camera van yesterday :rant:

I've managed to avoid them for over 3 years now. I'm hoping, as it was a dual carriageway and the road was quite busy, the odds of them having seen me before I saw them are pretty slim. Plus I certainly wasn't the fastest moving vehicle so I may be safe.

Reply 8

jojospacemunky

the cables are to monitor the volume of traffic that goes down that street usually laid down by highways to know when to plan to close the road or divert traffic for roadworks

Reply 9

stinky--pete

11

they monitor the volume of traffic!! there's loads out near me at the moment. they have to have signs if it's speed checking!! also big yellow cameras are required :p:

you'll be fine OP :smile:

Reply 10

bestie

OP

15

hobo06

There's a set that have been laid down near where I work, but are very loose. Seems a little dangerous, as they flick up after a car drives over them, so it seems they could easily get caught in a car's wheels. How long are they usually there for? These have been there about a week now.

As for actual speed traps...damn speed camera van yesterday :rant:

I've managed to avoid them for over 3 years now. I'm hoping, as it was a dual carriageway and the road was quite busy, the odds of them having seen me before I saw them are pretty slim. Plus I certainly wasn't the fastest moving vehicle so I may be safe.

Don't worry too much if you get a NIP, you'll probably get a speed awareness course. I got nabbed by one last month (hence the paranoia), sneaky bugger hiding around a corner.

Reply 11

Steeps

11

2 cables is normally laid by highways, it can measure your speed however these are usually only used for statistical purposes to see if traffic calming measures are needed. Suprisingly though those light up boards don't store any information about your car at the moment or any statistics on speeding drivers. If you see 3 cables in the road to a box with a copcar down the road they can book you and send a NIP in the post.

Traffic census.

cdsmith1990

My neighbour lays them, and he confirmed (against rumours) that they do not measure speed, just how many cars pass over it.

He said they could used to measure average speed if you layed 2 down and did some calculations but that's not what they're made for.

My local council used some for average speed measurement on a notorious stretch of road nearby (this is in the shetland islands, with 2000 miles of decent roads and 1 speed camera...).
Average speed of 77.4mph in a 60 zone, highest speed registered was 181.9mph :biggrin:

Reply 14

Alexx

TShadow383

My local council used some for average speed measurement on a notorious stretch of road nearby (this is in the shetland islands, with 2000 miles of decent roads and 1 speed camera...).
Average speed of 77.4mph in a 60 zone, highest speed registered was 181.9mph :biggrin:

Hahaha that's brilliant

Reply 15

cdsmith1990

11

TShadow383

My local council used some for average speed measurement on a notorious stretch of road nearby (this is in the shetland islands, with 2000 miles of decent roads and 1 speed camera...).
Average speed of 77.4mph in a 60 zone, highest speed registered was 181.9mph :biggrin:

Lol, that's pretty savage!

World record for breaking a speed limit by the most amount is a guy that drove one of these in the Gumball rally a couple years ago:

Koenigsegg CCX, 806 Swedish BHP..

The guy clocked 241mph in a 75 zone lmao

Reply 16

cdsmith1990

11

TShadow383

My local council used some for average speed measurement on a notorious stretch of road nearby (this is in the shetland islands, with 2000 miles of decent roads and 1 speed camera...).
Average speed of 77.4mph in a 60 zone, highest speed registered was 181.9mph :biggrin:

Lol, that's pretty savage!

World record for breaking a speed limit by the most amount is a guy that drove one of these in the Gumball rally a couple years ago:

Koenigsegg CCX, 806 Swedish BHP..

The guy clocked 241mph in a 75 zone lmao

Reply 17

hobo06

16

bestie

Don't worry too much if you get a NIP, you'll probably get a speed awareness course. I got nabbed by one last month (hence the paranoia), sneaky bugger hiding around a corner.

This one wasn't even hiding, you could see it way back. But it's a road I travel down almost every day, and I'd only ever seen a van there once before in the 4 years I've been driving down that road. Oh well, will just have to wait and see. And keep a closer eye on that spot in the future :ninja: