Average Speed cameras and GPS

[Phmode]

 Caution! Thread Hijack, Thread Hijack!

Speaking of average speed nonesense and the benefits of cruise control, does the TomTom system differentiate between normal speed cameras and average speed cameras? Thinking other than in road works sections where even a bear with very small brain like me can tell what speed he should be going.

If this gets to have legs then we can start a proper thread.....

[raesewell]

Tomtom does let you know that you are in an average speed zone and lets you know your average speed between cameras.

[Phmode]

So, neither my old Streetpilot Brick nor my Zumo 660 differentiate between standard speed cameras and average speed camera zones.

Likewise, the PocketGPSWorld database I use as my source for up to date cameras does not have active average speed camera data. It tells me when I approach an average speed camera, but gives me no idea what my average speed is between the cameras at the beginning and end of a zone.

I bought swimbo a Garmin 51LMT-D to replace an ancient Nuvi and seeing as she doesn't break speed limits she'll never know whether it gives average speeds or not. I have yet to drive with it so it will be interesting to see.

So, do the later Garmin models support average speed zones or just leave you to the vaguaries of guesswork?

[Blobby]

Don't they plaster big notices up saying average speed camera zone. So if you do go entering like a person possessed you just need to calculate your time to the next camera..

You only need GPS notices for the normal speed cameras

[raesewell]

I'll let Tomtom do the calculating while I concentrate on staying upright.

[Phmode]

Don't they plaster big notices up saying average speed camera zone. So if you do go entering like a person possessed you just need to calculate your time to the next camera..

You only need GPS notices for the normal speed cameras

I never go entering like a person possessed, but for those of us who can't do differential calculus in our heads while riding a bike, the running average speed in an average speed zone is a perplexing issue. Some of them go on for miles, you get stuck behind someone bimbling along with their mind in China, then they fall asleep and you hare past only to wonder how fast you can actually go before the next, indeterminately placed camera.

Back in my road-rallying days my Halda Speedpilot 'computer' used to work it out for me so 'regularity' sections where average speed was all important, were easy-peasy to navigate. For those without the necessary and very expensive black box, it was all a guessing game; there is no way to work it out.

Apart from those eejits who think average speed zones are based on the average of the two speeds detected by the two, or more cameras, can anyone else tell me how to do the maths on the move, in the real world, when your previous road speeds have been up and down like a fiddler's elbow?

Thought not!

[raesewell]

Swot I sed innit 

[TomL]

I reset the average speed reading on my bike computer.

[raesewell]

I reset the average speed reading on my bike computer.

That must be difficult to do between each camera Tom.

[TomL]

I reset the average speed reading on my bike computer.

That must be difficult to do between each camera Tom.

Very simple.

Set to average speed and hold the button until it zeros. I don't normally reset at each camera because I ride at spot on 50 mph.

[raesewell]

Too much faff for me I'm afraid, I'll leave it to my clever Tomtom.

[richtea]

... because I ride at spot on 50 mph.

Correct answer!
And avoid that road the next time you're in the area.

Although you could possibly go up to 57mph without getting a ticket:
http://www.cambs.police.uk/roadsafety/docs/201305-uoba-joining-forces-safer-roads.pdf
Section 9.6

[black-k1]

I always check what type of cameras they are.  Most average speed cameras are front facing. 

[richtea]

I always check what type of cameras they are.  Most average speed cameras are front facing. 

I read that too, but I'm not sure that advice can be trusted:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPECS_(speed_camera) says front-facing only
> The system has another deficiency in that since the cameras only read the front number plate of a vehicle, speeding motorcycles escape detection because they have no front number plate to read.

But the manufacturer contradicts that:
http://www.jenoptik.co.uk/product/specs
> Cameras can be installed in front or rear-facing orientation and violations can be recorded between multiple locations and multiple lanes within the system.

[TomL]

I always check what type of cameras they are.  Most average speed cameras are front facing. 

Something else to pee off the motorists when you overtake them.