A couple of nights a go I was driving out of Zürich from Escher-Wyss Platz/Hardbrücke out on the road towards the airport. It was already dark and just as I was approaching the tunnel at the top of the hill there was a speed camera flash pretty much as I drove past the camera there. Now I'm 90% sure that I wasn't speeding as the traffic was traveling more or less bumper to bumper into the tunnel so I couldn't have gone much quicker than 50 kph even if I'd have wanted to. My speedometer was more or less 50kph as far I remember and the speedo overcompensates somewhat in my car anyhow. In addition, once I regained my senses and looked over to the right lane (it's a 3 lane road there) I saw a car in line with me and going past me breaking hard.
That said the camera did flash before and after I went past it. So now my questions: is it possible it could have flashed me for someone else speeding? Is it possible that one camera can cover all three lanes of a three-lane road? And if, on the off chance I was flashed for somebody else's speeding, is there anyway to check this and if necessary, appeal?
If it turns out that it was me then guess it's no big deal as there is no way I could have been more then a few kph over the limit so the fine won't be that high but still I'm interested how these things work.
As I side note, when the camera did flash it was like something from War of the Worlds out there. I was disorientated for a few moments and it got me wondering are these cameras even safe? If I'd have crashed due to the flash could I have sued the state? Has anyone heard or had any experience of such accidents occurring?
If the flashes from speed cameras disorientate you, then you should consider whether you are in a fit state to continue driving.
I have seen these 'metal policemen' flash a number of times near me, when I considered I was not speeding and heard nothing further. I guess something like a car nearby suddenly accelerating tripped these sensitive devices...
Dont worry. Your breaking neighbour will get the ticket not you. Just because your in the picture won't mean you get done for the mistake of the other guy. Then again the Swiss may do you all for being in the wrong place at the wrong time
A few weeks ago, I was flashed on two separate occasions on a stretch of 50 kph road coming into Basel, where, as I had just turned out of a side junction, in both cases I was doing under 50. There were no other vehicles on the road on both occasions, so it was clearly my car that was being flashed.
I have yet to hear anything ... fingers crossed ... but a week or so later, I did see a police service vehicle working on the open base of the camera .. so either he was removing tapes of incriminating evidence or they were fixing the errant camera. Hoping the latter.
Yes that was my first thought when I read the thread title - I guess it's a comment on the way some people's minds work.
As far as speed cameras go, I'm pretty sure they end up discarding the vast majority of photos taken, for various reasons, so I wouldn't worry too much.
I am not overly familiar with the speed cameras here. In my part of CH, I haven't seen any, although there are a few traffic signal ones for red light jumpers.
Although from a UK site (with UK cameras - couldn't find equivalent CH site), maybe by determining which (similar) sort of camera may have flashed you and clicking on the "Read more ... " link, may help provide an answer.
Thanks for the responses, I guess I'll just have to wait and see what will happen. I'm reasonable confident I won't hear anything though.
Regarding, my fitness to drive I would say it isn't an issue considering I was recently passed fit to fly. I really think that under certain conditions these cameras aren't safe.