Frost renders speed traps unreliable

Tuesday 13 January 2009

Motorists caught in speed traps during periods of heavy frost have a good chance of getting their tickets annulled because some machines do not work properly in low temperatures, the Telegraaf reports on Tuesday.

The weights and measures institute NMI tells the paper that electronics do not function optimally in extreme temperatures. 'If an instrument is approved to work in a maximum low temperature of -10 Celsius then it should not be used if it is colder,' the institute's product manager David Stam says.

Temperatures as low as -20 Celsius were recorded during last week's cold snap.

Speed cameras hidden in grey roadside boxes automatically turn themselves off it gets too cold, Stam says.

The paper says police radar equipment is certified as accurate in temperatures ranging from -10 to +40 Celsius.

Lawyer Tjalling van der Goot of law firm Anker & Anker says doubts about the accuracy of measurements can lead to speeding tickets being torn up, reports the Telegraaf.

Frost damage

Meanwhile, the AD reports that over 300 motorists have submitted claims to the transport ministry because their vehicles have been damaged by poor roads. The heavy frosts caused damage to road surfaces in a number of places.

Ministry experts have identified frost damage on 26 motorways and emergency repairs have been carried out on five, the paper says.

© DutchNews.nl

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