The homemade GPS speed camera detector

Although this device may be of limited usefulness outside of its creator's home country of Sweden, the project's inspiring ingenuity isn't restricted to the borders of the Scandinavian state. This particular speed camera detector does the same job that most off-the-shelf (and often illegal) speed camera detectors do: it detects fixed speed cameras by referencing itself against a database of camera locations using built in GPS. This example does exactly the same job, but with the same "you get to see its guts!" flair that we've come to expect from hacks. The best part about the hack is that it integrates into the sun shield for quick hiding, and that the part costs are undoubtedly cheaper than the commercial solutions out there. If you want in on the homemade speed detection avoidance scene, then you can hit up the creator at his email address and he'll apparently help you out with a parts list and instructions, although we expect he'll post this online after the slew of emails he or she is about to receive.

[Via hackaday]

[wslcrew @ May 7th 2007 12:37AM]

Isn't it a bit dangerous to look at a tiny LCD screen in sun visor while driving?

[Pat @ May 7th 2007 1:51AM]

about as dangerous as looking at a GPS unit by the radio.

[Kevlar @ May 7th 2007 1:36AM]

The speed detector doesn't integrate into the sun shield! Did the submitter even look at the pictures? It fits under the radio console and needs the car's 12v connector, so you couldn't even integrate it with the sun shield.

[wellingj @ May 7th 2007 2:58AM]

True but if the maker can accomplish this much, I'm sure he could add a 'danger' and "all clear' audio cue

[Brian @ May 7th 2007 3:24AM]

Any sun visor with a build in vanity light has 12v power already running to it... plus it's not exactly rocket science to run a new lead if it's necessary. Be not afraid to mod thy ride.

[Si Brindley @ May 7th 2007 3:43AM]

Where are these illegal?

[hoeun kim @ May 7th 2007 5:22AM]

it lets people keep their money that wouldve gone to the government

[Steve Cook @ May 7th 2007 7:42AM]

It's about as dangerous as intentionally speeding and only slowing down when you think you might get caught out.

[Mike @ May 7th 2007 8:09AM]

In America, we have another oh-so-creative option: shoot the damn traffic cams.

To the best of my knowledge it hasn't happened yet, but it could if people got irritated enough.

There is a busy intersection about halfway between my old job and home with a light that's timed differently than another one that's a few hundred yards away. The reason? A bridge between the two lights seperates two counties, who have been fueding over a few things in the area. One county made the delay longer on their side just to piss off the other county.

Why am I telling this story? Because a couple got mad enough to shoot the traffic lights on the side which had the longer delay. I cheered because I was one of many people forced to sit at the light for MINUTES while no traffic goes the other way.

[James @ May 7th 2007 11:22AM]

Can't find a link to the story, but apparently several of the red-light cam manufacturers are under investigation for causing accidents -- seems there is a chance they were tinkering with the length of the yellow lights, shortening them to increase the number of tickets generated. This, of course, leads to people either slamming on the brakes to stop in time (dangerous) or blowing through red lights they thought they could make (very dangerous).

What most people don't know is that there is usually a revenue sharing agreement, where the manufacturer gets a cut of the fines that their units generate. Traffic cams (both red-light and speed) have absolutely never been about safety; they are revenue-generating devices. Get an honest moment from any politician (good luck...) and they'll tell you the same.

[mendo @ May 7th 2007 11:25AM]

I don't know if I got this news right, but it seems kind of what almost all the GPS in Italy have. the "point of interest" map features also all the fixed speed cameras (Autovelox as we call them) so your GPS simply alerts you when you're near one of them.
Isn't the same in the USA?
bye

[macona @ May 7th 2007 5:37PM]

If they have speed cams like in the pics on this guys site then they are not around here (Pacific NW USA) We do have speed cams but they are in vans parked on the side of the road so they move around. You never know where you will find them.

But we do have red light traffic cams. Even there there are different restrictions state to state on how they are used. In my town there are 5 cams. Only two may be on at any one time.