Speed Camera Detecters?

After watching a article regarding speed camera detecters on 5th Gear the other night it got me thinking, are they worth buying?? Have the marketing departments of the companies who make these products, seen a chink in on our insucurities regarding speed cameras?? I ask this because, what is there to worry about if you read the road signs and 'drive with due care and attention'? Or am I biased because I have never been caught speeding!! :a1:

I think 

by the time you've reacted to the warning it's probably too late, certainly for hand-held devices or 'safety' scamera vans, unless you also have a jammer, which of course is illegal.

I saw that on 5th Gear also and have been thinking about one. I borrowed a detecters years ago when I had a long trip on unknown roads and it was pants. Since then I've had a TomTom with the speed camera database which worked well, but I now have a built in satnav so never use TomTom, so I've been thinking about a cheap GPS based detecter. But like hops7 says pointless for some types, so drive slower and I don't have to worry and you save money on fuel. Still thinking about one. Chaddie

GPS based ones are good in that they can have all types of cameras listed and installed on them. the advantage is that they can alert you to the chance of a camera van maybe being somewhere but may not be, but it has already slowed you down in advance. They are also handy to keep you informed of the correct speed for the road you are on. We have two cameras near us, and they are on a road with a limit of 60 mph, now when you are following other cars, even though there is plenty of signs stating what speed the road is, they still slow right down to anything as low as 20 mph all this because people panic when they see them. Now when you drive a large vehicle like I do, and you are following a car my legal speed is 50 on this road, the cars legal limit is 60, then with no warning what so ever the car slows right down to 20 mph it is very dangerous. More advanced warning for them with the correct speed for the camera they are approaching and everyone is happy.

Isn't all this technology making the driver more lazey and less observent?? People have become complasent when it comes to observing road signs, markings and speed limits, drivers panic when they see the camera and slam the breaks on!! Very dangerous. Here in Durham we have the luxury of having NO fixed camera positions only mobile units but I have yet to see one of them!!

camera detectors 

They are useful and not a problem in England, but remember in continental europe they are illegal!

Heh - there is (or at least was) a rather interesting laser device, which was 'intended' for activating your home floodlights when you got home, and act as a parking aid, using lasers rather than radar. It 'happened' to work at the same frequency as UK/EU laser speed detectors, and was set off by detecting lasers. These are not 'intended' to block detection equipment, but they do. As a side effect. Apparently. Go look at and Obviously your mileage may vary in terms of legality - their own website states (at the bottom, in small print) : PLEASE NOTE : This product is intended for use as a parking aid or electric garage door opener only. We strongly advise that you turn the unit off whilst driving. Depends how forgetful you are....