I'm finding I need to expend a lot of attention on looking out for safety camera vans these days. My local constabulary use these almost exclusively (they have recently installed one fixed camera but it was vandalised before it was activated!).

The simple answer of course is "don't speed" and I try very hard not to, but as we've discussed on other threads, limits keep being changed and they're not always easy to spot. Also despite the Chief Constables assurances that the aim is deterrence rather than entrapment, I've been seeing increasingly sneaky positioning of both safety camera vans and hand held radar guns  - vans behind walls or bushes with only the roof mounted camera visible, or officers with hand held guns behind street furniture or, in one case,  behind a headstone in a roadside graveyard.

I'm making increasing use of the Intelligent Speed Assist function to keep tabs on limits - it's not perfect by any means, but it is an aid.  Now wondering if a detector is worth considering as a backstop - anyone have experience of these - good or bad - and any recommendations?

 

I have used a number over the years. Last 3 years had this model, it is very good, only picks up cameras that affect your way of travel. Free regular updates as often as you want, just plug into your laptop/pc.

https://aguriworld.co.uk/product/aguri-skyway-gtx90/

BUT BUT BUT - things are not as simple and as easy as they used to be. In many cases camera vans are NO longer found in specific spots that your speed awareness gadget is programmed to and will always pick these up.

Up to a few years ago camera vans were always only found in specific spots and the speed awareness gadget would advise accordingly, but in many areas it is not like that anymore.

I regularly travel the A30 from M5 Exeter junction down to Penzance in Cornwall (115 miles) and you will find that the police now position camera vans at any spot they fancy, hence their location is not always recorded to your speed awareness gadget.

The A30 is horrendous. Last week I was travelling on a straight stretch and I suddenly noticed some way ahead was a very large bush at the front of a layby. Poking it's head just above the bush was a police camera van, no warning from speed awareness gadget and I can never recollect a van being there ever before. They just park up where they fancy.

Don't get me wrong, a speed awareness gadget does help but they cannot be 100% correct anymore due to how the police operate in some areas.

I agree with comments/views from Eric. I feel more comfortable having something that hopefully ensures I do not go over the speed limit.

I also use the Intelligent Speed Assist function on my vehicle, it's not perfect but it is an aid.  Again a detector is another backstop.

12 minutes ago, TrevorB said:

Up to a few years ago camera vans were always only found in specific spots and the speed awareness gadget would advise accordingly, but in many areas it is not like that anymore.

Yes, that's an interesting one. Until fairly recently, my local force had a list of roads/locations where they deployed cameras at known blackspots. They even used to give notice a week in advance of which locations they would be covering the following week, but never said which location on which day or at what time, of course. Now they have stopped doing that and, as I mentioned, vans just seem to appear (if you can see them) almost anywhere.

We were on holiday at the coast last week and while strolling by the beach we spotted one lurking behind a public convenience (of all places) with just the roof camera sticking up.

i think that the detectors are a waste of money now. They may be able to warn you of the old radar type speed detection devices but the newer laser based system have recorded your speed as soon as they point at your car, a detector is only going to tell you that you have already been caught.

I used to use the GPS position based systems but they warn constantly when no camera is present, they can be a good reminder of the current speed limit in case you miss a sign.

As I'm old now I try to stick to the speed limits and I use intelligent Speed Assist to help me do that.

Certainly not a waste of money, one warning of a camera can save you hundreds re a fine and dam insurance. they work pefectly with "static/fixed" speed detector cameras and average speed detector cameras.

Yes, of course there will be occasions where no camera is present - mobile camera vans are not ALWAYS parked 24/7

Agreed, they can be a good reminder of the current speed limit in case you miss a sign.

I am also old but it is dam hard keeping most modern cars down to 70mph on roads like the A30

I would like to see local housing estates flooded with camera vans at variable times to keep these idiotic yobs dangerous driving - then confiscate their vehs 

There's also the hazard warning within Sync 3 navigation. I doubt that it will spot them all, but when driving outside my local police area, I often get an audible "Caution" and it invariably turns out to be a fixed speed camera as these are reputedly located in hazard spots.