Speeding on the Broads..........again!!!!!!!

D3B

D3B

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Ely, Cambs UK
www.cutting-solutions.co.uk
Just got my renewal notice for the Broads for this year.
Enclosed with it is the Broads Authority Newsletter "Broad Sheet"

From page three i wish to draw attention to motor boat owners to the following statement:

New measures to cut speeding
New measures are being introduced to reduce speeding following concerns raised at the Authority's annual public meeting and in the toll payers' questionnaire.

For the first time plain clothes navigation rangers will be patrolling from unmarked boats and from banks, more static speed signs will be put up and there will be more radar speed checks and uniformed patrolling.

Anti speeding research was undertaken in August on five sites in the northern and southern rivers by Auxilary Navigation Ranger Jamie Manners as part of his MSc dissertation.

A total of 1,795 boats were monitored at Horning, Irstead, Thurne, Reedham and on the Chet, A total of 43% of boats, both private & hired, were found exceeding the speed limit by between 0.9 & 0.6 mph.



I hope they dont use the little hitler who is usually at Reedham tending the gardens as their plain clothed bod. he doesnt consider speed...just the little waves made by a bit of wash.

I checked the web site and the only measure they use is SOG.

And dont be naughty and exceed the 6mph limit by 0.6mph!!!
I wonder who will be first to be prosecuted and challenge the accuracy of the speed checking devices?

You have been warned!!

But I may not be there for long
 
[ QUOTE ]
For the first time plain clothes navigation rangers will be patrolling from unmarked boats and from banks, more static speed signs will be put up and there will be more radar speed checks and uniformed patrolling

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow! A big den of little hitlers. What authority do this lot of have and are any of them elected?
 
sound like its time to leave the broads... i am on the gloucester to sharpness canal and we dont many problems with BW and speeding, maybe BW just have better things to do (they better had - since i am paying MY licence fee)
 
Certainly going the right way with the 13% increase in tolls.
Puzzled there tho
"An increase of 13% for private boats.....This represents 6% above inflation (4.8%)"
Inflation at 4.8% /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I guess the sums they use for that calculation will be the same as the speed over the ground.
 
I used to have a Radar detector on my Falcon when on the Broads and other Inland waters, check what type of Radars they use but I expect they are second hand Police units that a modern detector will pick up half a mile away.

Some of my happiest boating memories are returning from the Rising Sun in the dark.

I can understand them wanting to stop such irresponsible behavior as that but .6 or .9 mph /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I expect the midnight Coltishaw return will still be safe as they will not be out that late.
 
There was a documentary on TV a few years ago about the Broads police. The main character involved was some incomer who had retired to what he thought would be an idyllic waterside property but who was getting paranoid about charter boats crashing into his yacht, which was moored at the end of his garden. He spent most of his time videoing offenders and calling the cops who were, ever so slightly, not interested. It was quite funny to watch but this poor bloke was obviously heading for a nervous breakdown. Still, it stopped him getting bored during his retirement.
 
I spent a week on the broads in February on a new hire boat. It had a notice next to the rev counter showing the speed at different revs. According to my GPS it was out by some way, although obviously it depends on the tide and conditions.

So how exactly do they expect hire boats to know they are going 0.6MPH over the limit?
 
Be interesting to see this one challenged in court as I believe that even the police ACPO guidelines allow the speed + 2 mph + 10% for error.

Tidal speeds changed by bank layout / underwater features etc. Wind effect on boat's air draft, etc. bearing in mind that boats don't have breaks to slow them...

Also interested to know whether the defence that water (albeit limited) reflects radar would question the validity of the speed reading.

PW
 
Sounds like the concept of proportionality has passed them by.
If it is, as you suggest, on the basis that less than half of boats are exceeding the speed limit by such a small amount then I fail to see how they can justify introducing such tactics, particularly in light of the 13% hike in tolls.
 
Why do you think i moved down to Lowestoft, what with
Jobsworth's on the Broads, and the Gt Yarmouth ideas
of Bridge opening times quote; The first bridge opening
will be 0915. What a nightmare!
These guys should go to Netherlands and get some ideas
 
[ QUOTE ]


Also interested to know whether the defence that water (albeit limited) reflects radar would question the validity of the speed reading.



[/ QUOTE ] I was talking to a copper here when they got their new laser speed gun in preparation for the 10mph speed limit. I asked him the same thing and he told me that the target sight is the same spread as the beam. That is, there isn't any reflection error. He also said that the manufacturer's guaranteed that the software would factor out rogue responses. He also told me it's guaranteed accurate on targets up to 4 km away.

May be right or not, but that's a lot of arguing to do in court.
 
I know the laser ones are more accurate but do they use the laser beam for the actual speed calculation or just for aiming?

I understand though that due to possible sighting errors they aren't to be used for vehicle ove 1 km away...

PW
 
They use the laser to measure distance to the target. This is then repeated a fraction of a second later. Problems occur if the beam hits a different part of the target for each measurement - thus giving a false reading. I gather thats why there are distance limits (as well as not using it on cars coming around a bend, or up/down a hill).

Rick
 
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