Have you encountered these little guys in the US yet? They are becoming more and more common over here and even though I’ve gotten 5 tickets from them now, they really don’t bother me. These mechanical speed cameras are just the same as a police speed trap in the states, except much more predictable. They work best on the smaller side roads where you are entering into a built-up area, catching your attention and slowing you down.
Out on the highways they are virtually useless. Now that I have been driving the same route every day, I have become part of the comical dance around the camera. 95% of the commuting traffic knows exactly where these guys are placed along the highway. The speed limit around Amsterdam is 100 km/hr, but everyone goes 120…until about 300 meters before a camera. There is no braking among the usual commuters. Just a gentle slowing down and moving to the right hand lanes so as not to attract attention. You coast into the camera’s range at 100, then just as you pass the machine everyone pulls back out into the left hand lane and speeds back up. It really interesting social behavior to observe. Almost like ants working a mound in unspoken unison.
