"Pollution Cameras" to hit Birmingham, London Oxford

Nomisf

Nomisf

Nomisf

Man of Honour
Joined
6 Aug 2006
Posts
1,529
Location
Stratford-upon-Avon
I saw this pop up on social media, and can only find one article (which I can't read due to "subscription") but thought it may make an interesting thread. No idea if its scaremongering etc.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/article1665625.ece

BRITAIN is to get its first traffic pollution cameras — devices that can measure the toxins emitted by every passing vehicle to see if they breach legal limits while also identifying the owner.

The first will be deployed this week on one of Birmingham’s most polluted highways. Later this month cameras will also be placed at two of London’s most polluted junctions, one near Oxford Circus, the other in Blackheath.
Click to expand...

Apparently these will use a laser shone through the exhaust to determine pollutant levels.

I fully understand the appeal of cleaner air etc, but can't help but see these as another method of generating revenue - how accurate will they be (enough?), will the fines come with points, will they ever be implemented or is it a pipe dream ?
 
Can we fine the people that program the timing for traffic lights that needless hold cars at a standstill and work against traffic rather than letting it flow?
 
There's no way this could be even remotely accurate let alone accurate enough for a prosecution.
There are no other sources for this, certainly no reliable ones. I very much doubt there is much truth to this article at all.
 
'BRITAIN' being in caps was the first sign ha.

This does sound flawed, possibly not true too - but something must have started the idea off, so god know's what's ahead.

top tip:
simply coast through the cameras / sensors :D
 
Yeah I can't imagine that this is accurate. You could very easily introduce a dye into the exhaust smoke, for example, which would make the smoke opaque. I don't think colour is necessarily a good indicator of cleanliness!
 
joesmith said:
There's no way this could be even remotely accurate let alone accurate enough for a prosecution.
Click to expand...

dirtychinchilla said:
Yeah I can't imagine that this is accurate. You could very easily introduce a dye into the exhaust smoke, for example, which would make the smoke opaque. I don't think colour is necessarily a good indicator of cleanliness!
Click to expand...

This was one of my first thoughts, any number of things in the air around the car, additives in the exhaust, car having just been started would also have an impact. Eager to see if any other sources for this pop up.
 
They want to put these in the West End & in the city of London. I walked out of Bank Tube station on a summers day a couple of years ago (on my way to see stage 3 of the TDF) I could hardly breathe due to the vehicle exhaust emissions. :mad:
 
So even if theses cameras were accurate they'd take a snapshot without any idea of engine workload/gear/operating temperature. There's a huge difference between coasting on a warm engine and nailing it off the line from cold.
 
Last edited:
Well I'm screwed then :)

Doubt this will be more than an experiment at this stage, can't see how they have the tech to get meaningful accurate results from this
 
joesmith said:
There's no way this could be even remotely accurate let alone accurate enough for a prosecution.
There are no other sources for this, certainly no reliable ones. I very much doubt there is much truth to this article at all.
Click to expand...

It must be pretty accurate - they use these in Colorado and if you record two passes you can renew your registration without having to get a separate emissions test.

http://aircarecolorado.com/rapidscreen/
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom