What does everyone think of SAFEPLATE?

[old-git]

Originally Posted by Forky

when talking to some friends about this the other day one of them mentioned a car (cant remember what one ) that has a motorized cover that at a flick of a switch covers the numberplate. how true this is i don't no, and i am sure this is illegal. have any of you guys heard of this before??

Essex County Council's road safety team were out last week doing various safety checks with the police (seat belts, tyres, phones etc) and they stopped a biker (don't know what for) and in discussions about cameras he stated that he had a spring loaded rear plate that could be activated by a switch on the handle bars. Now, on its own, this isn't illegal, but using it on the highway is. So the guy he was talking to said, "that's interesting, how does it work?" He showed him and was promptly nicked!!!

[old-git]

Originally Posted by HDi fun

I've never tested the sprays and I think you've just confirmed that I was right not to do so.

What would work, although it would still be illegal, is to have a means of 'jamming' camera. For example, how about an array of IR LEDs that just overexpose the image thereby obscuring the plate.

Over exposure doesn't work. The police have very good photographic equipment that can compensate for anything LEDs or even flash guns stuck either side of your plate that are activated by the camera flash.

Give up trying to find ways to beat them. Either find out where the cameras are, buy a Road Angel (other makes are also available), stay alert and look out for them or, heaven forbid, drive within the law

The penalties for getting caught trying not to get caught are higher than getting caught (if that makes any sense!)

[HDi fun]

Originally Posted by old-git

Essex County Council's road safety team were out last week doing various safety checks with the police (seat belts, tyres, phones etc) and they stopped a biker (don't know what for) and in discussions about cameras he stated that he had a spring loaded rear plate that could be activated by a switch on the handle bars. Now, on its own, this isn't illegal, but using it on the highway is. So the guy he was talking to said, "that's interesting, how does it work?" He showed him and was promptly nicked!!!

That's coercive and evidence thus gained is inadmissble. Refer to PACE please

[old-git]

That's coercive and evidence thus gained is inadmissble. Refer to PACE please

That would be for him to prove, as he freely volunteered to show how it worked. Serves him right, if you ask me. If you are going to try to be clever, you need to be very clever.

[HDi fun]

Originally Posted by old-git

Over exposure doesn't work. The police have very good photographic equipment that can compensate for anything LEDs or even flash guns stuck either side of your plate that are activated by the camera flash.

Give up trying to find ways to beat them. Either find out where the cameras are, buy a Road Angel (other makes are also available), stay alert and look out for them or, heaven forbid, drive within the law

The penalties for getting caught trying not to get caught are higher than getting caught (if that makes any sense!)

Act your age please O-G.

Your views are not so different from (or to) my own.

Plain speed is not really a problem, it's inattention and arrogance that creates dangerous situations.

Regards,

Paul.

[old-git]

Hi Paul

I am acting my age. I'm old and decrepit and seen too many young people killed because they are unable to drive as well as they think they can.

I agree that plain speed isn't the problem, it's inappropriate speed that is.

The comment about giving up trying to beat the system wasn't aimed at you. If that was the impression I gave, then I apologise.

[fingers]

This arguement is a bit of a moot point really. None of these products for masking a plate against a camera really work, and if you really want to avoid being done by the local law for speeding, then done speed. If you are going to speed then you take that risk.

[HDi fun]

Originally Posted by fingers

This arguement is a bit of a moot point really. None of these products for masking a plate against a camera really work, and if you really want to avoid being done by the local law for speeding, then done speed. If you are going to speed then you take that risk.

I, too, apologise for going off on one. I do agree that young drivers are often very poorly skilled (I think I can get away with not being young anymore at 37 - sometimes feels like 77!).

The bigger problem I find, which can affect anyone of any age, is attitude to driving. The highway is not a battlefield and we're not at war with other road users. There's no harm whatsoever in wanting to make swift progress, but not at the expense of others' safety.

Likewise, drivers who choose to travel sedately should not attempt to impede overtaking vehicles.

In my opinion we never really stop learning to drive unless we choose to do so. I've clocked up nearly 700,000 miles over twenty years and still try to improve on waht is already a high standard of driving.

Cheers,

Regards,

Paul.

[old-git]

[quote=HDi fun][quote="That's coercive and evidence thus gained is inadmissble. Refer to PACE please[/quote]

The guy talking to the, apparently, mouthy biker was a civilian. However, the police were in attendance and witnessed the demonstration so nicked him. I have checked and have been advised that this is not classed as coercive (a fine line, maybe), so he will have to prove otherwise in court.

[old-git]

Originally Posted by HDi fun

I, too, apologise for going off on one. I do agree that young drivers are often very poorly skilled (I think I can get away with not being young anymore at 37 - sometimes feels like 77!).

Ok, truce Let's gang up on the young whippersnappers, I am sure we are more than a match for all of them put together - at least in years

[giraffe82]

Hmm like everything in life skill generally comes with experience so it's probably true to say that older drivers are generaly more skilled but on the flip-side of the argument I think that priorities change as you get older... savings come before alloys... that new kitchen the wife's going on about comes before engine swap... and safety for yourself and others around you comes before the slightly sadistic and self satisfying enjoyment of driving around wreckless like a nutter.

I myself used to drive around like an idiot, but strangley I look at younger folk thrashing cars and wonder why they do it... I'm kinda losing track of the point i'm trying to make but i'm sure you get it

[old-git]

Originally Posted by giraffe82

Hmm like everything in life skill generally comes with experience so it's probably true to say that older drivers are generaly more skilled but on the flip-side of the argument I think that priorities change as you get older... savings come before alloys... that new kitchen the wife's going on about comes before engine swap... and safety for yourself and others around you comes before the slightly sadistic and self satisfying enjoyment of driving around wreckless like a nutter.

I myself used to drive around like an idiot, but strangley I look at younger folk thrashing cars and wonder why they do it... I'm kinda losing track of the point i'm trying to make but i'm sure you get it

Totally agree and understand what you are on about. MANY years ago I used to drag race on the street for money and thought that I was wonderful. Now, I have been involved in road safety and we have many meetings to discuss ways to slow people down. I tell them what I used to do and nothing we are trying today (except road humps and cameras) would have had any effect on me, other than present a challenge

Todays cars are safer but the drivers are insulated from the outside world so speed feels slower than it used to and people are still just as soft and fragile.