Speed-limited bus booked - Nice one Bracksey

[dom_105]

You know there is a problem when a speed-limited bus gets booked for speeding...

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...4-2862,00.html

POLICE blame human error, not the state's fixed speed cameras, for a fine wrongly issued to a bus driver on the Hume Highway near Melbourne.

The driver from Seymour Coaches, at Seymour, in central Victoria, was issued with the $250 fine after Victoria Police alleged he was detected doing 123km/h in a 110km/h zone on the Hume Freeway at Craigieburn, north of Melbourne, in April.

Buses are restricted to 100km/h on Victoria's roads, even in 110km/h zones.

Two years ago, 100 drivers were wrongly booked for speeding at Somerton, in Melbourne's north, because of an incorrectly set camera.

And in 2003, all fixed speed cameras on the Western Ring Road, CityLink tunnels and Monash Freeway were tested and fines suspended after readings on three units were deemed to be questionable.

Seymour Coaches managing director Peter Louchnan said it was not possible for the bus to do 123km/h because it was fitted with a speed limiter.

"The vehicle is speed limited to 100km/h from the factory," Mr Louchnan told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"Once it hits that 100km/h on the speedometer the accelerator is flat (on the floor), it won't do any more."

Mr Louchnan said the speed limiter had not been tampered with and was regularly checked by government inspectors, the last time at Christmas.

But Victoria Police said today human error was to blame, and not a fault with the camera.

"It is not a technical systems fault, it is an error in human verification," Superintendent Shane Patton said.

"My staff member here hasn't done their job properly, hasn't checked the images properly."

"It's totally unacceptable what has occurred."

Supt Patton said the bus had been photographed at four fixed speed camera check points on the freeway.

He said the error occurred because another bus from Seymour Coaches with a similar number plate was travelling in the same direction on that stretch of the freeway at the same time.

"On this occasion what has happened is that there are two different vehicles with virtually identical number plates from the same company.

"That should have been picked up by the verifier."

Victoria Police has now withdrawn the fine.

Seymour coaches said it was satisfied with the outcome, but the bus driver "Warren" said he had no faith in the speed camera system.

"There are lots of number plates out there that are similar," Warren said.

"What's going to happen? Are these people going to get booked and have to resort to taking it to court before something is done about it."

Of course, the explanation would have to be,

virtually identical number plates

Only in Victoria.... :

[DOC]

Originally Posted by dom_105

Of course, the explanation would have to be,
Only in Victoria.... :

I have faught and won 3 seperate cases of " Similar plates ", always request a photo

[Green X]

The bigger problem is if it was average Joe in his Falcon or whatever he wouldn't have a leg to stand on and would have had to cope it sweet even if he didn't do it.

If this wasn't a bus that was speed limited, the chances are it would have never been fought out.

I love it, the way the system works, a member of the public makes a mistake Tough cookies, Government makes a mistake and is court out, Oh sorry it happens.

[BOOSTDEF]

I was one of the (un)fortunate few to get my money back in 2003.

god they are dodgy

[bob^]

I was overtaken by a bus a couple of years ago that had "speed limited 100" on the back of it. I was doing over 100km/h when it passed...

[Kommandant]

Trucks and buses all have those signs, they do a lot more then 100km/hr

[andrewts]

I was on a coach last year for school camp, and it didn't have a speed limiter. All it did was beep continuously until the driver slowed back down.

[ED Classic]

Originally Posted by Green X

The bigger problem is if it was average Joe in his Falcon or whatever he wouldn't have a leg to stand on and would have had to cope it sweet even if he didn't do it.

If this wasn't a bus that was speed limited, the chances are it would have never been fought out.

I love it, the way the system works, a member of the public makes a mistake Tough cookies, Government makes a mistake and is court out, Oh sorry it happens.

Exactly right

[chief]

The speed limiters are not faultless. You can tamper with them. On a old Volvo FH12 truck you could disconnect 3 wires and that would stop limiter being effective.

[Matty4]

The "funny" thing is, it was a point to point camera that clocked him with an average of 123km/h, as if.....