Speed camera sign

[Smiffy]

We will all recognise this as a warning sign for motorists that there is a static speed camera ahead.

However, like a significant proportion of the population, I got it wrong in terms of what I was meant to be seeing. Many see an early camera with bellows and a lens on the right. I saw an interpretation of a Hasselblad camera, again with the lens on the right.

The circle at bottom left is the lens of course and the stuff on the right is the bracket.

 

[chazt]

Yes. I interpreted the sign as you did

 

[Grarea]

Oh, I always did wonder why they used such an old camera lol.
So, why, as most cameras are on the left side of the road, have they chosen to put the bracket on the right for the image?

 

[Smiffy]

I heard a story about a speed camera.

A man was speeding, over 100 in a 50, we wil park the idea of stupidity of the speed for the moment, the rest of this story proves that the driver was a numpty.

He saw a camera warning sign but he was going too fast to stop and still doing over 80 when he went past the yellow camera box. He stopped the car, he was white with fear, had no idea what to do, he thought he had better get advice. He found a police station, a policeman sat him down and told him that it would all be sorted out and took his statement, the officer made the appropriate tutting sounds at the speed and said that the matter would need to be reported to the Courts, he added the final blow.

'I must tell you sir, that camera is just an empty box'

 

[hotmetal]

I also always interpreted the sign as an old camera. When it was in the paper the other day that its actually facing the viewers and the lines are mounting brackets rather than lens bellows I was also amazed. The designer got lucky, and I can't help but wonder which interpretation the person who approved the design saw in their mind!

 

[Chris]

I'm not buying it, the "bracket" is far more complex than it needs to be if that's what it's meant to be, and it doesn't actually look like a bracket.

This article refers to it being an old-fashioned bellows camera facing to the right.

BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | What makes a good road sign?

news.bbc.co.uk

 

[Smiffy]

Speed cameras were put into use in 1992, it is just odd that a sign designer would choose a hundred year old camera to depict a warning sign when a more modern slr camera, see lens forward, may have been more recognisable to the motorist.

As I say, I thought that the artists was having a designery flight of fancy and chose a Hasselblad for the inspiration.

At the end of the day, whatever it depicts, the sign works as intended.

 

[R181]

At the end of the day, whatever it depicts, the sign works as intended.

Yes, that is the bottom line.

Bob

 

[2LabDad]

How about this poop:

And yes, they actually do this in the good 'ole USA. Plane radios down to patrol cars just waiting for you in the next town 's coffee shop......

 

[R181]

How about this poop:

View attachment 131477

And yes, they actually do this in the good 'ole USA. Plane radios down to patrol cars just waiting for you in the next town 's coffee shop......

Same in Canada but have also seen an aircraft symbol painted on the road or a line across the road which lets them time you between lines to determine speed.

Bob