SpeedCam(2)

Readers may recall my SpeedCam post last month involving a speeding infringement in the Cross City Tunnel. In particular my difficulty in accounting for discrepancies between the supplied images of the event. So I wrote to the RTA technical branch seeking clarification and subsequently received this explanation,

For information, there are three images taken of any speeding vehicle inside the Cross City Tunnel. The first two are colored scene images illuminated by a white flash and are taken by the same camera.

The third image, i.e. the plate image, is taken by a second camera using an infrared flash, triggered at the same time of the first image. Hence, you are not able to view the reflection of overhead tunnel lights in the close up plate image.

As suspected two cameras are used, hence my confusion. At the same time I sent an appeal to the Infringement Bureau, basically pleading, "I love yous all; let me off..?" There's no need to detail their response, suffice to say I have two weeks to pay.

In related news, here's a nice little earner for the Government, 

MORE than 10,000 drivers have been fined for speeding in the Lane Cove Tunnel during its first six weeks of operation.....The Roads and Traffic Authority said the tunnel's fixed cameras snared more than 1600 motorists a week, compared with an average of 75 in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel.

According to the boffins, these high numbers have something to do with psychology,

"Our road safety people think it's the psychology of finding yourself in a visually open space. They're multiple lanes, compared to others with two lanes. We think that somehow impacts on people's judgement."

Huh..? If any reader can translate this babble, please do so in comments.

In other news, yet old news to cabbies, Sydney's traffic is worst on Saturdays. I attribute this to two-car families for, well, utilizing their two cars. A tip - don't drive on Saturdays.

Comments

[psychobiller]

"visually open space"

Maybe it has to do with the fact that when there are no objects near you it's hard to judge your speed. Like when flying in a plane, you don't realize how fast you're going because the ground is so far away it seems that you are moving slowly relative to it.

[Dom]

Also, the Lane Cove Tunnel isn't level (as with most tunnels) it has quite a long and unassuming descent. Being underground its hard to judge that without reference points, but I find myself coasting down there with my foot on the brake just to keep under 80.

[jayjay]

Driving in a tunnel can be disorienting. While driving through St Gotthard Tunnel in Switzerland (17kms long) we didn't notice that our speed had dropped to half the speed limit until the driver behind us was happy to inform us of our lapse. He was a lot more patient than I would have been!

[adrian]

Whenever I travel tunnels it's a constant job monitoring and maintaining speed, so yes, disorientation is pronounced.

[mish]

this makes perfect sense to me!

i definitely drive faster on wider or bigger roads.. perhaps what they refer to as "visually open space"? and especially if it's quiet on the roads.. i'm much more prone to speeding if there's nothing ahead to slow me down!