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Speed Cameras


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The Myth

THIS MYTH WAS FEATURED IN...
Speed CamerasEpisode 73: Speed Cameras

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 3/07/2007
Myth Title: Speed Cameras


Myth Description: Can speeding as fast as possible fool the speed camera because the camera can't go that fast?


MythBusters on the bust: ---- It would seem imposible to speed fast enough to escape a speed camera because the picture is taken extremly fast


Hypothesis: ---- It is impossible to beat the speed cameras.


Procedure/Experimental Design: ---- Use the same camera, same tripod, at the same height and test by covering the license plate with magnify plate, glitter plate and commercial spray, then test speed.


Results: ---- All plates were caught by the camera, going 245mph will prevent getting caught by camera.


Conclusion: ---- It is possible to beat the camera, but not with legal vehicles.


Busted or Not Busted: Busted
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  • This ignored the fact that in Europe most speed cameras take two pictures so that it can be verified that the camera was functioning correctly. A number of lines are painted on the road so that the distance covered between the two pictures can be calculated and hence the speed. Travel fast enough and you are out of the cameras sight by the time the second picture is taken! Something that was proved by the BBC's top gear programme!


  • They did it only in the daylight. They did not try it at night when the camera would have to flash to take a picture, then the "plate blockers" reflective ability could've been better tested.


  • In some European countries the speed cameras use a different system. Instead of the doppler sensor they make use of 2 inductive loops in the asphalt. When a car passes over the loops the camera measures the time it takes to pas both loops. If that time is smaller then a given time the picture is taken. This is only used with stationary cameras.


  • Another solution to fool the camera is to use a reflective alluminum plate to mount the plate on or mount the alluminum plate just under or above the plate. This will cause the camera to get to much light and the picture will be invalid. ( The plates here are white with red so they are already harder to capture. )
See Also

Related myths: ----

Related resources and reference pages: ----

  • Video - BBCs Top Gear programme would appear to have showed this is plausible, but (as they admit) only if you have 2 miles of track, a professional driver and a unrestricted fast car. This was also tested on a stationary Speed Camera of a type used throughout the UK, I am unsure if this type is used in the US.
  • did you think of using black construction paper, or maybe duct tape?




Threads

Anonymous  (Get credit for your thread)
Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
DMW72574 "Loover" 8 Aug 6 2008, 4:36 PM EDT by mediasmith
Thread started: Nov 8 2007, 9:33 PM EST  Watch
Almost every product that is legal is not effective and almost every product that is effective is not legal. There is - however - a product that is both effective and legal. It can be found at www.loover.com. Hence, this "myth" has not been entirely busted... just for almost every other product on the market... other than this one. Basically, when installed properly, this product blocks the view of the license plate at 25+ degrees, while the plate is clearly visible from a "straight on" view. The laws in Arizona (where the product was invented) say that the plate has to be visible from 100 feet away. From behind, your plate will be visible at 100 feet IF the view is "straight on." At 25+ degrees, however, the plate is entirely blocked.
Show Last Reply
cgibson3111 Its realy pretty easy 0 May 25 2008, 12:46 AM EDT by cgibson3111
Thread started: May 25 2008, 12:46 AM EDT  Watch
As i explained on my "how to beat it page" you simple use and electrified piece of glass. You install a switch around the dashboard when flipped it sends current to the glass plate over the license plate. It will simply blur out the plate but only when switched on so that you can cruise around with it on and the police won't notice. If you go an extra step and install a regular plate bracket around the glass then it covers the edges of the glass making it virtually undetectable even at very close range. We put it to use in the last gum ball and it worked like a charm so well in fact that i'm patenting a system based on it right now. I'll post video as soon as possible!
jaws3050 Fast production cars 1 Apr 29 2008, 5:16 AM EDT by paulmax123
Thread started: Sep 5 2007, 10:11 PM EDT  Watch
I noticed the speed that they used to fool the camara was equal to that of some expencive but street legal production cars. Of them the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 has a tested speed of 406 km/h ( 249 mph )
2  out of 2 found this valuable. Do you?    
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Show Last Reply
sinrtb would this work? 8 Apr 1 2008, 10:50 PM EDT by weaponsboy
Thread started: Feb 27 2008, 1:19 AM EST  Watch
Wouldnt using some IR leds right above or around the license plate work to fuzz out your licesnse plate?

IE: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.oberwelt.de%2Fprojects%2F2008%2FFilo%2520art.htm&langpair=de%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8
Show Last Reply
motchoman Top Gear, 0 Oct 8 2007, 4:23 PM EDT by motchoman
motchoman
Thread started: Oct 8 2007, 4:23 PM EDT  Watch
Have already proved that you can beat he speed camra .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph-qv4gYAE8

have a look here and it shows. you can even contact them if you want. maybe do a joint show be great. you with jeremy. be a laugh.

but yer. we british every so often can do something scientific.

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