[icy_star]

I was driving through Grenoside today, and noticed that at the crossroad traffic lights (Saltbox Lane) the pole holding the lights is now a brown/orange colour, and there is a camera on top. Is it a speed camera? If not, what is it for?

[hettiechloe]

Smile please!

[Planner1]

It's an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera. It's the Council's, they use them for collecting traffic data.

This particular one is a new type, lots of them are going up all around South Yorkshire.

[icy_star]

Oh thank goodness for that...not sure that I was doing exactly 30 when I went through!!!
Thanks Planner1

[MR BENN]

Originally Posted by Planner1

It's an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera. It's the Council's, they use them for collecting traffic data.

This particular one is a new type, lots of them are going up all around South Yorkshire.

Big Brother i see-why do the council want our number plates ?

[JoeS]

Originally Posted by MR BENN

Big Brother i see-why do the council want our number plates ?

I think it is more so the Police can see if untaxed/uninsured vehicles are being driven around and can duly fine the registered keeper of the vehicle.

Don't complain, they are actually doing some good.

[Cyclone]

It's a good excuse isn't it. 'Traffic data'.

Which incidentally means we have a record of all your movements in your car, and we'll gladly share it with any agency (government or not) that asks and bungs us a tenner.

[Planner1]

Originally Posted by JoeS

I think it is more so the Police can see if untaxed/uninsured vehicles are being driven around and can duly fine the registered keeper of the vehicle.

Don't complain, they are actually doing some good.

No, it's nothing to do with that.

The Police have their own ANPR cameras for such purposes, they don't use the Council's.

[JoeS]

Originally Posted by Planner1

No, it's nothing to do with that.

The Police have their own ANPR cameras for such purposes, they don't use the Council's.

I stand corrected. Why do the council need to know?

[saxondale]

Originally Posted by Cyclone

It's a good excuse isn't it. 'Traffic data'.

Which incidentally means we have a record of all your movements in your car, and we'll gladly share it with any agency (government or not) that asks and bungs us a tenner.

can you post a link to this service please?

[Cyclone]

No, if you're interested you could google 'abuse of RIPA' for an idea of what I'm suggesting.

[Planner1]

Originally Posted by Cyclone

It's a good excuse isn't it. 'Traffic data'.

Which incidentally means we have a record of all your movements in your car, and we'll gladly share it with any agency (government or not) that asks and bungs us a tenner.

The Council has a duty to actively manage the highway network. To know how the network performs they need data. The data they collect from ANPR camera systems is traffic volume, journey times and routes.

Councils have for many years collected traffic data from a variety of means:

• fixed traffic couters on main routes
• mobile traffic counters
• manual surveys
• roadside interviews (origin & destination surveys)

The development of affordable, reliable ANPR technology now allows them to do much of this data collection a lot more efficiently.

It also allows the data collected to be available to the public via the web or variable message signs. ANPR cameras throughout South Yorksire are being linked to eventually provide real-time traffic information via a website (currently being developed) and the roadside variable message signs which are currently being installed.
All this is part of the South Yorkshire Intelligent Transport System (SYITS)

The camera system and the data it collects is also linked into the Council's Urban Traffic Control Computer and can be used to assist in traffic signal strategy selection.

So, it's actually nothing to do with "big brother" it's about providing YOU with a better service, so you can make informed travel cholices.

[saxondale]

Originally Posted by Cyclone

No, if you're interested you could google 'abuse of RIPA' for an idea of what I'm suggesting.

my mistake, I thought you actually knew about something useful. I should have know better.

[Cyclone]

ANPR is about reading the plates of vehicles planner, it's not necessary for use in traffic management.
It does build up a database of everyones travels though, unless they avoid the routes with the cameras.
It might not be about big brother now, but how about when the police ask very nicely if they can have a copy of that data please.

[shaznay]

Originally Posted by Planner1

The Council has a duty to actively manage the highway network. To know how the network performs they need data. The data they collect from ANPR camera systems is traffic volume, journey times and routes.

Councils have for many years collected traffic data from a variety of means:

• fixed traffic couters on main routes
• mobile traffic counters
• manual surveys
• roadside interviews (origin & destination surveys)

The development of affordable, reliable ANPR technology now allows them to do much of this data collection a lot more efficiently.

It also allows the data collected to be available to the public via the web or variable message signs. ANPR cameras throughout South Yorksire are being linked to eventually provide real-time traffic information via a website (currently being developed) and the roadside variable message signs which are currently being installed.
All this is part of the South Yorkshire Intelligent Transport System (SYITS)

The camera system and the data it collects is also linked into the Council's Urban Traffic Control Computer and can be used to assist in traffic signal strategy selection.

So, it's actually nothing to do with "big brother" it's about providing YOU with a better service, so you can make informed travel cholices.

I think thats answered the question excellently, thanks planner1
I was beginning to wonder myself about big brother etc....
makes a lot of sense now

[beansforyou]

Originally Posted by shaznay

I think thats answered the question excellently, thanks planner1
I was beginning to wonder myself about big brother etc....
makes a lot of sense now

Yeah, they're great at coming out with 'valid' reasons to monitor your every move aren't they, it's why the public have allowed so much of their lives to be monitored this way, The Govt and Councils spend rather alot of our money on getting this part of their spin just right.

As for proof of them selling on the data they collect Saxondale, the DVLA have been doing it for years, so it's hardly news, go and look it up for yourself

[SlimRick]

Bears a striking resemblance to the anti-terror laws brought in to keep track of suspects - now being used by some councils to fine residents who leave their recycling bins out on the wrong day.

[hettiechloe]

Originally Posted by Planner1

The Council has a duty to actively manage the highway network. To know how the network performs they need data. The data they collect from ANPR camera systems is traffic volume, journey times and routes.

Councils have for many years collected traffic data from a variety of means:

• fixed traffic couters on main routes
• mobile traffic counters
• manual surveys
• roadside interviews (origin & destination surveys)

The development of affordable, reliable ANPR technology now allows them to do much of this data collection a lot more efficiently.

It also allows the data collected to be available to the public via the web or variable message signs. ANPR cameras throughout South Yorksire are being linked to eventually provide real-time traffic information via a website (currently being developed) and the roadside variable message signs which are currently being installed.
All this is part of the South Yorkshire Intelligent Transport System (SYITS)

The camera system and the data it collects is also linked into the Council's Urban Traffic Control Computer and can be used to assist in traffic signal strategy selection.

So, it's actually nothing to do with "big brother" it's about providing YOU with a better service, so you can make informed travel cholices.

In the past it was a voluntary excersize where people were asked for information and were at liberty to refuse to answer the questions. Now it would seem that this data (for whatever reason it is being collected) is now mandatory, in as much we do not have the choice to refuse to answer.
Whilst I have no objection to being counted, I see no valid reason to provide any data as to my registration number (which can be used for all sorts of personal information to all sorts of interested parties ie, insurance companies, banks, morgage providers etc, etc) plus why the interest in where I am going and at what time.
OK. count traffic over a given stretch of road, there is a valid reason for doing so but leave the personal information out of it. It's not neccessary, it's certainly Big Brother and I would like to bet it contravenes human rights legislation (not that i'm for this HR cobblers).

[Captain_Scarlet]

Originally Posted by Planner1

It's an automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) camera. It's the Council's, they use them for collecting traffic data.

This particular one is a new type, lots of them are going up all around South Yorkshire.

What a nice use of taxpayer's money.

The Council has a duty to actively manage the highway network. To know how the network performs they need data. The data they collect from ANPR camera systems is traffic volume, journey times and routes.

Councils have for many years collected traffic data from a variety of means:

* fixed traffic couters on main routes
* mobile traffic counters
* manual surveys
* roadside interviews (origin & destination surveys)


The development of affordable, reliable ANPR technology now allows them to do much of this data collection a lot more efficiently.

It also allows the data collected to be available to the public via the web or variable message signs. ANPR cameras throughout South Yorkshire are being linked to eventually provide real-time traffic information via a website (currently being developed) and the roadside variable message signs which are currently being installed.
All this is part of the South Yorkshire Intelligent Transport System (SYITS)

The camera system and the data it collects is also linked into the Council's Urban Traffic Control Computer and can be used to assist in traffic signal strategy selection.

So, it's actually nothing to do with "big brother" it's about providing YOU with a better service, so you can make informed travel cholices.

None of this involves resurfacing roads which is the road network. They've failed even before they begin lifting the finger. Just more money wasting pratting around, not doing what needs to be done and high fiving each other after a good five minutes hard work.
The pencil pushers will do nothing, inaction is inevitable. If traffic needs counting the Council can use non-invading, spying systems like a couple of sensor-linked cables accross the road, it also comes at a better value to the taxpayer as it costs less.

[satman2222]

Originally Posted by shaznay

I think thats answered the question excellently, thanks planner1
I was beginning to wonder myself about big brother etc....
makes a lot of sense now

Are you planner1's wife?