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27.7.2009

I got nailed by a speed camera

Tags: Uncategorized — Author: @ 2:16 am

I got nailed by a speed camera while heading up north on Highway 5 back in April. The camera flash was unexpected and blinding, not the kind of thing you want to do speeders – I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s caused head-on collisions in the past.

I was expecting a fine in the mail but it never came, looks like I was within the 3km/h grace range they give you due to the inexactness of speed cameras.

I wasn’t even trying to speed, it’s just damn near impossible to keep up with the rapid-changing speed limits on Highway 5. Every kilometer it goes from 100 to 60 then to 100 then to 80 then to 50…

Which wouldn’t be a problem if the speed limit signs weren’t the size ping-pong paddle. For fuck’s sake, the TIEKIRKKO signs are three times larger. I wonder how many would-be-safe-drivers have simply missed the tiny signs and caused accidents?

My suggestion is: When the speed limit changes, make the sign bigger. Or make it blink. There’s lots of us law-abiding drivers out there who want drive safely…if they can see the damn signs. (Oh wait, that would mean less speeding fines, less tax revenue for the state, and less embarrassing articles of wealthy drivers getting 100k+ speeding tickets…never mind then)

This post brought to you by Nokia Maps 3.0: Now featuring the locations of speed cameras!

  • infinndel the jenkki dogg

    here’s lookin’ at-tcha…***KIPPIS!***

  • http://fredfryinternational.blogspot.com/ Fred Fry

    You mean there are actually cameras in some of those boxes on the side of the road?!?!?!?!

    At least in the winter, they are all covered with ice and snow that it is pretty clear that they are not in operation.

  • Trumpeteer

    Boo-fucking-hoo. Ever heard of taking responsibility? Try it. I mean Jesus fucking christ, you’re finding fault in everything besides yourself. I’m surprised you didn’t blame it on the speedometer “because it’s the wrong color”.

  • http://www.finlandforthought.net Phil

    Well I did take responsibility. I paid the fake ticket that never arrived to my house. I’ve been driving in Finland for like 5 years and never once get a traffic fine.

    - Mr. Responsible.

  • v.i.lenin

    The small speed limit signs — they’re vision tests — and testing your threshold for boredom — and generating revenue — it’s a win-win-win situation

  • http://leaderboard08.blogspot.com/ Helsinkian

    If the state prefers more people to join the state church, then bigger tiekirkko signs are probably better than smaller ones. Smaller speed limit signs generate more income than bigger ones, so that sounds logical too.

  • Widdershins

    Remove all speed cameras. Revolution people, get your shotgun and blow away the next box you see, down with the state!

  • v.i.lenin

    @7: F*ck yeah, that’s the Murrcan way! Can the miserable machine clock your shotgun shot at 1100 fps (800 MPH) and then get a picture of you before it dies, hah I doubt it

  • panomies

    @3 Hei Mr know it all if you ever drive north to Kuopio you will find that before near Mikkeli the speed limit changes from 100, to 80 to 100 to 80 to 60 to 80 finally to 100 all in the span of about 20 km.

    Luckily my GPS has the location of the speed cameras so the only people to get fucked by them are those that cannot afford to own one of these wonderful toys.

    So much for punishing law breakers… what joke the speed cameras are

  • Anonymous

    “panomies”

    Yeah sure you are as long as we count your hand as a “person”

  • Jody

    Same problem, same road. Car was on cruise control on a nearly empty road and missed one change from 100 to 80. was just asking my wife, “was that an 80 sign”, when FLASH. The ticket took at least a month too.

    And of course, it isn’t a ticket, just a notice of the offence. Then you have to fill in an admission of guilt form and send that back. Then wait again until you get a notice to visit the local police. Then you have to trek to the police in the middle of the day, admit guilt again, and then finally get a ticket and bill.

    Another nice way to create employment.

  • hmmh

    “inexactness of speed cameras”

    The cameras are accurate but the cars’ speedometers aren’t. I think that the police has been allowing you speed for about 10-15% without giving you a ticket. Well, that’s about to chanbge this fall. That instead will cause head-on collisinons, since people will not drive behind overly protective grandmoms (going 10-20 km/h under the speed limit) for tens or hundreds of kilometers.

  • http://www.onlineroulettechallenge.com/ straw jack

    the speed limit changes then we make the sign bigger Or make it blink. so its will safe to turn without the information we turn its give many problem to us not safe also. so please avoid this one .

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