Aust Interchange GATSO

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hburden
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Aust Interchange GATSO

Post by hburden »

Just got back from a weekend moving into my new uni digs in Cardiff,

Took the M48 instead of the M4 because I’d just spent about 1 and a half agonising hours by bristol due to a broken down coach and wanted as little traffic as possible.

Noticed this GATSO on the Aust interchange with ‘Height Detection Equipment’ next to it. Is this a repurposed speed camera housing with presumably a camera to ensure lorries aren’t too tall for the high winds on the bridge ?

https://goo.gl/maps/qB9fVcj4395Jbyap9
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Truvelo
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Re: Aust Interchange GATSO

Post by Truvelo »

hburden wrote: Sat Jul 31, 2021 23:09 Just got back from a weekend moving into my new uni digs in Cardiff,

Took the M48 instead of the M4 because I’d just spent about 1 and a half agonising hours by bristol due to a broken down coach and wanted as little traffic as possible.

Noticed this GATSO on the Aust interchange with ‘Height Detection Equipment’ next to it. Is this a repurposed speed camera housing with presumably a camera to ensure lorries aren’t too tall for the high winds on the bridge ?

https://goo.gl/maps/qB9fVcj4395Jbyap9
It's been there for as long as I can remember and as Gatsos aren't type approved for forward facing I have no issues with it.
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hburden
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Re: Aust Interchange GATSO

Post by hburden »

Did think that, I knew they can’t get you from the front, seemed odd.
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Bryn666
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Re: Aust Interchange GATSO

Post by Bryn666 »

It's to stop prohibited traffic in high winds. And it is used for prosecutions, so talk of type approval is a falsehood.
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L.J.D
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Re: Aust Interchange GATSO

Post by L.J.D »

It doesn't need home office type approval because it isn't used for speeding prosecutions. It will just be there to detect HGVs entering because Gatso radar can tell the difference between a HGV and a car. They did actually invent a forward facing Gatso at one time though. I think one was in Southend sea front (saw it on GSV long ago) and one on Lower Thames Street in London. It never took off though I'd imagine because digital technology was taking off heavily back then so made Gatso technology outdated.
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Truvelo
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Re: Aust Interchange GATSO

Post by Truvelo »

Yeah, when I mentioned type approval I was specifically referring to speed enforcement and nothing else. As I drive a vehicle less than two metres 6' tall I am completely unworried about that particular Gatso.
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Chris Bertram
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Re: Aust Interchange GATSO

Post by Chris Bertram »

L.J.D wrote: Mon Aug 02, 2021 17:05 It doesn't need home office type approval because it isn't used for speeding prosecutions. It will just be there to detect HGVs entering because Gatso radar can tell the difference between a HGV and a car. They did actually invent a forward facing Gatso at one time though. I think one was in Southend sea front (saw it on GSV long ago) and one on Lower Thames Street in London. It never took off though I'd imagine because digital technology was taking off heavily back then so made Gatso technology outdated.
I'd have thought that popping off flashes in drivers' eyes was also an undesirable feature.
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Bryn666
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Re: Aust Interchange GATSO

Post by Bryn666 »

Chris Bertram wrote: Tue Aug 03, 2021 07:43
L.J.D wrote: Mon Aug 02, 2021 17:05 It doesn't need home office type approval because it isn't used for speeding prosecutions. It will just be there to detect HGVs entering because Gatso radar can tell the difference between a HGV and a car. They did actually invent a forward facing Gatso at one time though. I think one was in Southend sea front (saw it on GSV long ago) and one on Lower Thames Street in London. It never took off though I'd imagine because digital technology was taking off heavily back then so made Gatso technology outdated.
I'd have thought that popping off flashes in drivers' eyes was also an undesirable feature.
I'd have thought someone being killed as a result of a high sided vehicle being blown over on the bridge was a more undesirable feature.
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Re: Aust Interchange GATSO

Post by Chris Bertram »

Bryn666 wrote: Tue Aug 03, 2021 09:32
Chris Bertram wrote: Tue Aug 03, 2021 07:43
L.J.D wrote: Mon Aug 02, 2021 17:05 It doesn't need home office type approval because it isn't used for speeding prosecutions. It will just be there to detect HGVs entering because Gatso radar can tell the difference between a HGV and a car. They did actually invent a forward facing Gatso at one time though. I think one was in Southend sea front (saw it on GSV long ago) and one on Lower Thames Street in London. It never took off though I'd imagine because digital technology was taking off heavily back then so made Gatso technology outdated.
I'd have thought that popping off flashes in drivers' eyes was also an undesirable feature.
I'd have thought someone being killed as a result of a high sided vehicle being blown over on the bridge was a more undesirable feature.
I was considering the context of a flash on a busy urban street; even if a driver weren't temporarily blinded, the distraction effect would not be helpful - anyway the cab height of an errant HGV will probably make the forward flash less of an issue.
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