If you see spots

It has come to our notice that, presumably to replace criminally inaccurate radar-guns, certain Police Forces are reverting to stop-watch timing when operating speed-limit traps. To do this they paint spots, or squares, with white paint on the dual carriageways concerned and time vehicles between these marks from convenient flyovers. We believe this method is being used on the Winchester Bypass and in certain areas of Oxfordshire. Leaving out the question of whether accurate visual timing is possible under such circumstances of vehicles moving at over 50-70 mph, if you see spots or squares at the side of a road, you are advised to adjust speed accordingly; not, of course, that we believe for a moment that Motor Sport’s readers ever exceed speed-limits. — WB.