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Reflective spray, laser jammers or backflash – there are plenty of ways to avoid being identified by speed cameras. In China, though, traffic police were shocked to find a truck sporting a “number plate controlling system”.
Officer Wu Kan saw the truck pass, the Chutian Metropolis News reported, but he couldn’t see a number plate. He pulled over the driver and found that, at the push of a button, the number plate would rotate to face the ground, effectively hiding it from cameras.
The driver said he had spent the equivalent of about R1000 on the invention but the police confiscated and handed him a R200 fine.
Wu Kan commented, "It was really a clever idea, but he put his smartness in the wrong place.”
There have been other notorious ruses to beat speed cameras. About 10 years ago there were concerns after the launch of Backflash, which reflected the flash from speed cameras.
A British study in 2007 by Esure Car Insurance showed that one in 10 UK drivers had either tried to hide their number plate or were planning to do so. One in 12 would consider using masking tape, mud or even reflective sprays. Just over four percent had, or would, outfit their vehicle with a device such as a laser jammer.
Disturbingly, two percent admitted using false plates.
We managed to track down a company that specialises in devices such as that fitted to the Chinese truck - Speed Flip. According to its website, you can buy one for R1500... and they will deliver to SA.
Officer Wu Kan saw the truck pass, the Chutian Metropolis News reported, but he couldn’t see a number plate. He pulled over the driver and found that, at the push of a button, the number plate would rotate to face the ground, effectively hiding it from cameras.
The driver said he had spent the equivalent of about R1000 on the invention but the police confiscated and handed him a R200 fine.
Wu Kan commented, "It was really a clever idea, but he put his smartness in the wrong place.”
There have been other notorious ruses to beat speed cameras. About 10 years ago there were concerns after the launch of Backflash, which reflected the flash from speed cameras.
A British study in 2007 by Esure Car Insurance showed that one in 10 UK drivers had either tried to hide their number plate or were planning to do so. One in 12 would consider using masking tape, mud or even reflective sprays. Just over four percent had, or would, outfit their vehicle with a device such as a laser jammer.
Disturbingly, two percent admitted using false plates.
We managed to track down a company that specialises in devices such as that fitted to the Chinese truck - Speed Flip. According to its website, you can buy one for R1500... and they will deliver to SA.
