Highway cameras
I’m sure it’s similar in the rest of the world but here in South Africa we have permanent cameras situated along the highways and at traffic lights etc. These cameras are put in place to stop people from speeding along the roads or going through red lights. And it works, for about 50 meters of road or so.
So the instead of cracking 200km/h down the highway now, cars instead slow down for about 10 seconds to 120km/h and then floor it once they’re past the cameras. Everybody does it, even nuns, priests and old ladies. On the odd occassion I have seen the slimey popo put temporary cameras up just 50 – 100 meters down the road to get you on the acceleration back to your favourite illegal speed, but this is a very rare occassion.
Anyway, the point of this is to tell you my findings. There is nothing more irritating than driving in the fast lane where the speed limit is 80km/h and having a paranoid loser in front of you that slows down to 60km/h just so to be safe. Or whatever, I have no idea how anyone can be that stupid. But just so everyone knows…
While flirting with the danger of getting a ticket I have also found some valuable information.
Firstly, even when trapping with radar the “50″ wont bust you for 5% or less over the speed limit as they allow this for inaccuracy in speedometers etc. But wait, there’s more. The proverbial free blender as it were. It has become apparent to me that the cost of pulling this pictures down from the cameras and processing them obviously plays a vital roll in their use and there must therefore be some monetary cut-off point for their being allowed to snap you in the act of breaking the speed limit. I have been through the 80km/h cameras at 100km/h without being busted.
* Please note that this was for testing purposes only as I never break the road laws, except sometimes when I drive over painted islands. Oh and then I also occassionally park on pavements and in front of fire hydrants and once in a while in the handicapped zone. But the last one’s a gray area coz most people would agree that I must have some sort of handicap*
Anyhoo, this is extremely empowering information and in the interest if Science (fiction) I will continue to conduct my study until such time as the purple light from above flashes with a thudding burst sending my stomach and my bank balance into a horrible pit of torture. You all know the feeling. Until then.
Peace out
