Every type of speed camera in the UK
18/06/24 04:25 pm
NEWS
Every type of speed camera in the UK
The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points. So, to help you avoid those unnecessary costs, read on to find out more about every type of speed camera in the UK...
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by
George Hill
Updated28 February 2024
Things have developed quickly since the UK ’s first speed camera was installed on the M40 motorway in 1991, catching 400 speeders in the first 40 minutes.
There are now around 7000 cameras around the UK ’s road network, and in 2022 they resulted in the prosecution of 245,043 people – the highest figure since records began.
The main argument for speed cameras is that of road safety, with many research studies concluding that they are beneficial. It is known that speed is a contributory factor in accidents; the higher the speed, the more severe the potential injuries, so any means of persuading drivers to use appropriate speed results in fewer accidents, as well as a reduction in deaths and serious injuries when collisions do occur.
In 2017, the London School of Economics conducted a study based on collision data before and after speed cameras were installed in 2500 locations in England, Wales and Scotland. It showed that accidents within 500 metres of a speed camera fell by 17-39%, and fatalities by 58-68%, in the period between 1992 and 2016. The study noted a slight increase in accidents up to 1.5km away from the camera, but the overall rate was lower than before.
More cameras have been installed since then, and with the figure of 1633 road deaths in the year ending 30 June 2023 representing a 9% decrease on the previous period, the results appear to be positive. That means we’re likely to see yet more cameras on our roads – and they won’t just be used for catching speeders.
Excess speed is by no means the only cause of accidents. Other major contributory factors, include not wearing a seatbelt and using handheld mobile phones while driving. These offences can be recorded by the latest arrival on our roads: the Vector SR.
In 2023, Greater Manchester became the first region to install Vector SR cameras, which can collect images of vehicles on both sides of a road at once. It says the 100 units on its roads will be used primarily to catch those breaking speed limits, although anyone prosecuted might also be charged with other offences, such as using a handheld mobile phone.
It is hoped that the technology will help to enforce the law surrounding mobile phone use in cars. In 2020, 17 people were killed and 499 injured in accidents where distracted driving caused by mobile phone use was thought to be a contributory factor.
Research by the AA Charitable Trust in 2023 revealed that 93% of motorists have witnessed illegal phone use, yet the Government has said that only 6200 fines were issued in 2021, compared with 31,400 in 2011.
The Vector SR is just one of at least 15 different types of camera currently in use, ranging from the highly recognisable Gatso to high-tech digital handheld units.
Every type of speed camera in the UK
Aecom mobile speed camera
What is it? A fairly new type of camera that was introduced in 2022 and uses AI to detect offences such as speeding, the use of mobile phones while driving, and drivers not wearing their seatbelts. It can be fixed to a police van so it can be deployed across different locations.
How does it work? The system uses multiple cameras with high shutter speeds, an infrared flash and a lensing and filtering system to record high-definition images of passing vehicles. Once the images have been taken, they are reviewed by AI software and a person to correctly identify the offence. If an offence is found, a warning letter or a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) will be sent to the driver.
Need to know: The purpose of this camera is to combine several enforcement applications into a single system, while also improving accuracy compared with other systems.
Digital Specs
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What is it? It’s used to police average speed zones and is often seen mounted on gantries at the sides of motorways.
How does it work? The system uses multiple installations along a road (a minimum of two) and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) records the average speeds of vehicles. When a vehicle passes the first camera, an infrared photo is taken and the time recorded. When it passes the second camera, two photos – infrared and colour – are taken. A computer analyses the photos to retrieve the registration plate. Another compares the times of the two infrared photos to calculate the vehicle’s speed between cameras. If the average speed is above the threshold, an NIP will be sent to the driver, as with all speed camera violations.
Need to know: It’s commonly believed that drivers can fool these cameras by changing lanes, but sometimes they are set to overlap. As a result, and because it’s not clear which cameras ‘clocked’ you in and out, it’s unwise to take the risk.
DS2/SpeedMaster/Autovision/Autovision 2
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What are they? These are four very similar semi-permanent installations that can cover two lanes of road at once, capturing data on cars travelling in two different directions.
How do they work? Identifiable by their short, grey boxes, these can calculate the speed a vehicle is doing when it runs over two ‘piezo’ strips that are embedded into the surface of the road one metre apart. This information is synchronised with a camera located either in a vehicle or in a fixed installation, in order to photograph any offending vehicle.
Need to know: These cameras are small and can be hard to spot. They can be linked to a police car farther up the road, and an officer can immediately pull you over to issue a warning and perhaps a ticket.
Gatsometer Type 24
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What is it? A fixed rearwardfacing speed camera.
How does it work? The ‘Gatso’ camera’s radar measures the speed of passing vehicles. If it exceeds a pre-set threshold, the camera takes two pictures. However, these alone are insufficient for prosecution, so a series of white lines (or secondary check marks) on the road ahead of the camera help to confirm the vehicle’s speed. A Gatso can’t record the speed of an approaching vehicle but might be rotated periodically to monitor the opposite carriageway.
Need to know: Gatsos can be set in dummy mode, in which no photos are taken but motorists who exceed the speed limit will be flashed as a warning. A digital version that doesn’t use film was launched in 2007.
HADECS Camera
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What is it? It enforces variable speed limits on major roads, primarily sections of ‘smart’ motorway such as those on the M1, M6 and M25. Each camera is located on a gantry above its respective lane.
How does it work? A radar sensor measures vehicle speed, and if it is above the variable limit threshold, the camera takes three photos. Two are analysed by enforcement staff and provide a secondary check of the vehicle’s speed based on marks on the road. The third picture is a close-up of the number plate.
Need to know: Hadecs 3 is the latest version found on some smart motorways, usually situated at the side of gantries, not on top, and often painted grey. It can scan up to five lanes from one location and can take photos of vehicles exceeding standard speed limits, not just the variable ones indicated on gantries.
'Long Ranger' Camera
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What are they? A manned longrange camera for use inside a police van or at the roadside.
How does it work? Radar speed evidence supports a photo that can be recorded from up to 1km away.
Need to know: Using this device, Gloucester police caught 1325 people speeding in a single month, including one driver who was doing 126mph on the A417. As well as speeders, it can be used to catch tailgaters, middle-lane hoggers, drivers not wearing seatbelts and people using a phone behind the wheel.
LTI 20/20 TruCam II handheld speed gun
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What are they? A handheld speed detector that uses laser technology to measure vehicle speed information and has a video function to record evidence of offences for use in court.
How does it work? Using an integrated laser, it measures the time and distance between vehicles in order to calculate how fast they are travelling. Its built-in digital video camera can collect video evidence of speeding and other offences, including seatbelts not being worn. It’s able to identify makes and models and read the numberplates of vehicles up to 750 metres away, and it incorporates GPS technology to identify the location every time filming starts.
Need to know: Many motorists think speed guns can capture data only during daylight hours, but the TrueCam II has a night mode that enables it to take footage in the dark.
Mobile Speed Camera
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What is it? These are usually operated by police officers in vans at the side of the road, though they have been known to be more inventive – at least once famously using a horsebox, for instance.
How does it work? Officers use a variety of handheld devices that use radar and even lasers to detect speed.
Did you know? They are often rapidly deployed to accident blackspots or after local concerns in small villages situated on fast B-roads.
Redguard Camera (Red Light Violations)
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What is it? A fixed camera that’s used to police red traffic light violations in up to four lanes at once.
How does it work? Sensors in the road just past the stop line are activated when the light turns red. If a vehicle passes the sensors , three digital photos are taken: one of the vehicle in motion, a zoom shot of the number plate and a wide-angle shot of the vehicle and the environment.
Need to know: When set to do so , this camera can also record speeding offences when the lights are green.
REDFLEX Speed Camera
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What is it? A new type of camera only recently approved for use by the authorities. The REDFLEXspeed can be used on motorways, and can catch speeders across six lanes if required.
How does it work? It uses radar in conjunction with an 11-megapixel digital camera.
Need to know: Unlike older models, this camera can deal with multiple offenders at the same time.
Siemens SafeZone
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What is it? This camera type is one of the more recent to arrive in the UK. Developed by German industrial giant Siemens, it’s used to monitor a vehicle’s average speed in a defined area, such as a neighbourhood speed limit zone.
How does it work? Each unit has a small digital camera and can be linked to a network and central server via 3G. This enables number plate images to be processed via ANPR, with average speeds calculated for the area.
Need to know: It can measure speeds between 20mph and 140mph, and is often placed near schools where pedestrian safety is paramount.
SpeedCurb Camera
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What is it? A fixed, rearwardfacing camera that can monitor up to two lanes simultaneously. Or, with an additional unit facing in the opposite direction, it can police both ways on a four-lane road. Used to record traffic light offences as well as speed limit infractions.
How does it work? It uses three piezo sensors one metre apart in the road to calculate a passing vehicle’s speed, recording offenders photographically. A further set of check marks on the road surface strengthen the evidence.
Need to know: The SpeedCurb takes three digital images: two wide-angled shots showing the vehicle and its location, as well as the progress of the vehicle over time, and a third focusing on its number plate, from which the number is retrieved by computer via ANPR.
SpeedSpike Camera
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What is it? An average speed camera that can be deployed in many traffic scenarios, including to enforce motorway speed limits as well as more localised urban speed restrictions.
How does it work? A digital camera captures number plates and applies ANPR and a timestamp, and the time elapsing before the number plate is registered by the next camera is used to calculate speed. Prosecution notices are generated automatically.
Need to know: Up to 1000 different SpeedSpike cameras can be networked to share data, communicating via GPRS and 3G.
Truvelo Combi Forward Facing
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What is it? A fixed speed camera that can be forward or rearward facing, and captures the vehicle and driver on film.
How does it work? Four pairs of sensors in the road measure the speed of passing vehicles. Closer towards the camera, three painted lines serve as calibration markers, with speeding vehicles snapped as they cross the middle line.
Need to know: Recording photographic evidence of the driver makes it difficult for them to deny they were driving. However, when a speeding ticket is issued, the photo will only be released to the driver with their permission, so as to avoid potential embarrassment.
Truvelo D-cam
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What is it? A digital speed camera that’s been brought in by many police forces to replace ageing Gatsos. It can also act as a red light camera.
How does it work? It contains a digital camera that can store up to 100,000 photos. It sits on a pole and can be lowered so the photos can be downloaded to a PC or other device. Alternatively, photos can be sent to an office in real time for processing. The device can cover up to three lanes of traffic. There is also an uprated version, called the D-Cam L, which uses a laser to measure speed.
Need to know: It can face in either direction, so it can target the front or rear of passing cars.
Vector
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What is it? A two-lane, bidirectional average speed camera that incorporates ANPR technology. It can be used as a speed camera, or for enforcement of other road regulations, such as bus lane, red light, yellow box and congestion charging enforcement.
How does it work? It uses ANPR and timestamping to identify vehicles and calculate their average speed between different camera locations. It can monitor two lanes of traffic at a time, either flowing in the same or opposite directions. It works in all weathers and can record vehicles travelling at motorway speeds.
Need to know: Vector cameras have become more abundant on UK roads in recent years because the installation cost has dropped from £1.5m per mile in the early 2000s to around £100,000 per mile in recent years.
Vector SR
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What is it? The next generation of Vector camera is able to capture video footage of up to three lanes of traffic travelling in both directions.
How does it work? It uses a video camera that works with an ‘intelligent virtual grid’ (this means no road markings are necessary) to determine if a vehicle is speeding. Built-in ANPR technology is used to identify vehicles from their number plates. Using infrared light for illumination means there’s no need for a visible flash, so lawbreakers won’t immediately know they’ve been caught. It also means that the camera can capture images at night and in bad weather.
Need to know: The VR can be used for speed limit enforcement as well as to capture traffic light offences. The images it captures can also be used for secondary prosecutions; these include such infractions as drivers not wearing seatbelts or using handheld mobile phones while driving, as well as making illegal turns.
Other types of cameras on UK roads
Siemens 'Sicore II' ANPR camera (ULEZ camera)
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What is it? This is an ANPR camera used to monitor the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).
How does it work? The camera monitors three lanes at 40 frames a second – that’s 2500 moving vehicles per hour per lane. Once the camera has scanned the vehicle number plate, it checks the registration against a database to see if the vehicle complies with the emission standards.
Need to know: As of November 2023, there were approximately 3000 cameras across Greater London to enforce the ULEZ. In October 2023, the first month of its operation, 13,000 non-compliant vehicles were caught.
Traffic monitoring camera
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What are they? Traffic monitoring cameras do exactly what they say on the tin. In most cases, they monitor the levels of traffic on the UK's motorway network.
How does it work? Essentially a type of CCTV camera, traffic monitoring cameras are monitored by highway officers to check level of traffic. If an area is found to be experiencing a high level of congestion, the officers can then attempt to reduce this by alerting drivers with messages on overhead gantries. If debris, a stranded vehicle or a crash is spotted, officers can also inform the emergency services or send a traffic officer to provide assistance.
Did you know? Over 4000 traffic monitoring cameras are in operation across the UK motorway network. In some cases (such as following an incident), you can request access to CCTV/traffic camera footage.
Your speed camera questions answered
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How do you know if a speed camera caught you?
There’s no official way of knowing if you’ve been caught speeding; not all cameras produce the dreaded double flash that you might fear seeing in your rear-view mirror. All you can do is wait and see if you receive a notice in the post from the police fo rce of the county in which you were driving. This usually arrives within 14 days of the offence taking place.
How much will you pay for a speeding fine in the UK?
The minimum fine for speeding in the UK is £100 and three penalty points. In some cases , you can pay to take a speed awareness course and avoid points , as long as you haven’t been on such a course within the previous three years. If you opt to pay the fine, the points stay on your driving record for between four and 11 years. The maximum penalty for speeding is six points on your driving licence or being disqualified from driving for up to 56 days, plus a fine of £1000, or £2500 if the offence was committed on a motorway.
At what speed can a speed camera not catch you?
Many police forces have confirmed that they allow a tolerance of 10% plus 2mph. So , a speed of 35mph in a 30mph zone would be tolerated, and 79mph in a 70mph zone. It’s worth noting that some police fo rces have zero tolerance for speeding , though.
Do all speed cameras have to be painted yellow?
In 2016, the Government issued guidelines stating that speed cameras should be painted yellow or be mounted in yellow casings , so that drivers can more easily see them and don’t feel unfairly penalised. Howeve r, local authorities aren’t obliged to comply.
Cameras for monitoring bus lanes , traffic lights , yellow box junctions , parking infringements and tolled areas – such as the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), London Congestion Charge zone and the Dartford Crossing – are finished in grey.
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Limiting the number of times a test can be swapped online
11/06/24 07:44 pm
| Since the waiting times for driving tests have been high, we’ve seen a rise in the use of automated bots being used on the driving test booking service. This can result in the reselling of appointments, often at inflated prices. |
Different speed cameras in Britain explained
18/11/23 11:29 am
This Is Money
Different speed cameras in Britain explained: There are 18 types - here's how they work
Story by Rob Hull •
5h
speed cameras raced back into headlines this week when it was revealed Greater Manchester Police had installed 100 two-way 'ultra' cameras across the city to catch drivers over the limit.
The VECTOR-SR cameras do not flash and use the latest in infra-red technology that means white lines don't have to be painted on the roads they are monitoring.
While this is the most advanced type of fixed camera we've seen in Britain yet, it's not the only device being used by police forces and authorities to detect speeding motorists.
In fact, there are now 18 different types in use across the UK, from conventional fixed roadside units, to average speed cameras and mobile devices.
Here's what each one looks like, how they are monitoring your speed and what you need to know about them.
And we've also provided the latest information on the stretches of UK road with the most prolific speed cameras.
1. Digital Gatso speed cameras
The Gatso is the original speed camera - the one that dates back to the incarnation of fixed roadside cameras in the early 1990s. It's a rearward facing system only
© Provided by Daily Mail
Digital Gatsos have replaced their film-based predecessors since 2007. They are still bigger than most fixed camera alternatives and are always supplemented by white road markings
© Provided by Daily Mail
The 'Gatso' is the original fixed speed camera - the first used for speed enforcement having debuted on Britain's roadside in 1991 on the M40.
This was the most common speed camera on UK roads in the early phase of Big Brother speed enforcement, though it's slowly being replaced by newer technology today.
The square yellow boxes - which were grey up until 2001 until new laws stipulated that all speed cameras needed to be painted yellow to make them easier to see - originally used film to snap drivers over the limit.
However, with times and technology moving on, the manufacturer switched to Digital Gatsos in 2007, thus eliminating the need for police and authorities to visit each site to collect and replace film.
Did you know?
The Gatso was created by former racing driver, entrepreneur and motoring journalist, Maurice Gatsonides.
The seasoned rally driver from the Netherlands invented a camera to measure how fast he was going and realised it could be applied to carriageways to improve road safety.
He introduced the world's first speed camera - called the Gatsometer - in 1964.
Its latest on UK roads is the Gatsometer Type 24.
A rearward facing unit, it uses a radar to measure the speed of a vehicle. If it is above the pre-set threshold, the camera takes two pictures, producing a double flash that makes the rear registration plate and number clearly visible.
These cameras are always supplemented by white lines - called secondary check marks - painted on the road at specific intervals, which are used to confirm the vehicle's speed.
While Gatsos can't measure the speed of an approaching vehicle, operators have been known to periodically rotate them in order to monitor the opposite carriageway.
And not all of them are operating at all times. Some are dummy units, which will continue to flash motorists as a warning, but won't result in enforcement.
2. Truvelo Combi speed cameras
The Truvelo camera uses infra-red technology, so you won't see it flash
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The problem - when it comes to enforcement - with Gatso speed cameras is that, being rear facing, they fail to capture the face of the motorist at the wheel.
This has allowed fine-dodging individuals to claim they weren't the driver at the time the vehicle was snapped over the limit.
However, the forward-facing Truvelo camera eliminates that issue.
Unlike Gatsos, it doesn't flash. Instead, it uses infra-red technology, so the forward-facing installations won't momentarily blind any motorists with a bright light.
Using four sensors that are hidden in the road surface, it can calculate at what speed a vehicle is travelling when it passes the camera.
Similar to Gatsos, they are positioned where there are three white lines on the road to measure the time it takes a car to cover a particular distance. This is then used as back-up proof of speeding if a motorist disputes the camera reading.
A tell-tale sign that a camera is a Truvelo Combi is that they often have a separate grey camera with an orange lens on a separate pole. This takes a digital photo when the speed camera triggers so the identity of the driver can be used as evidence.
However, this image will only be released to a vehicle owner with their permission or if they deny it is them at the wheel.
3. Truvelo D-Cam speed cameras
The Truvelo D-Cam is also a forward- and rear-facing camera that can identify the speeding motorist at the wheel. They're often supplemented by a second camera with an orange lens that takes photos
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Truvelo's D-Cam arrived on our roads in 2013 and can be told apart from the Combi by its svelte design.
D-Cam - short for Digital Camera - uses the same radar technology as the Combi but can be installed both forward and rear-facing, making them the ideal replacement not just for the older Truvelo systems but Gatsos too.
You'll most commonly spot these futuristic-looking cameras fixed in the central reservation of the road - though the example pictured is at the side - and they can monitor across up to three lanes of traffic at a time.
And they're not only used for speed enforcement - they can be used at junction to catch motorists running red lights using a similar system paired with sensors in the road.
Up to 100,000 digital photos taken by these cameras can be stored at any one time and they can even be sent in real-time to databases run by police forces and operators to issue a notice of intendent prosecution (NIP).
4. SpeedCurb speed cameras
This RedSpeed device can be deployed as a speed camera or to enforce red lights. The SpeedCurb variant uses sensors in the road to measure vehicle speed and the camera takes three digital photos if it detect a motorist over the limit - one is a close-up of the number plate
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SpeedCurb cameras are said to be the highest-mounted speed detection cameras used in the UK currently
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Like the Truvelo D-Cam, RedSpeed has produced a dual-purpose camera that can enforce both traffic speed and red light violations.
SpeedCurb is the name given to the rear-facing cameras that monitors speed alone (RedGuard is the name for traffic light enforcement) across two lanes.
The slim cameras are installed on a pole at the roadside and are among the highest-mounted fixed speed camera devices currently used.
They are often seen mounted in pairs so that they can measure the speed of traffic across four separate lanes in two directions.
They differ from Gatso speed cameras that use radar to trigger, instead utilising sensors embedded into the road surface like the Truvelo - which makes them more expensive to install for authorities.
These sensors are spaced at one-metre interval and when a vehicle drives over them it measures the time between each sensor being triggered. If the time taken is faster than the set speed limit, the SpeedCurb camera automatically takes three digital photos to record the violation.
Two of these digital images are wide-angle to show the vehicle, while the third captures a close-up photo of the number plate that can be checked against the ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) database.
Again, there are check marks painted onto the road surface, which can be used as secondary evidence to prove a motorist is speeding using the footage captured.
5. VECTOR-SR speed cameras
The Jenoptik VECTOR-SR is the latest roadside camera being used by police forces and local authorities to catch both speeding drivers and motorists running red lights. And what makes it more advanced is that it can also be used to enforce seatbelt and mobile phone offences
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There latest device being installed on roads all across the country has been dubbed an 'ultra' speed camera due to it being the most advanced of its kind yet.
Having received approval for use in Britain back in 2019, it looks and works very differently to typical roadside cameras.
Like other systems, it can double for both speed and red-light enforcement, making it one of the most versatile cameras on the market today.
It uses a video-based system that works in tandem with an intelligent virtual grid to judge if a driver is speeding. This means there is no need for sensors to be dug into the road, which is costly and requires road closures for their installation. Yet another reason why it is very attractive to cash-strapped police forces and local authorities
Measurements from Jenoptik's radar technology is then validated by secondary independent and image-based evidence.
That means there is no need for road markings - which have typically been one of the biggest tell-tale signs to let drivers know the whereabouts of speed cameras.
The system uses infra-red technology which allows images to be captured via still photos and video recordings, which eliminates the need for a camera flash, even at night and in bad weather.
Unlike previous cameras which only capture vehicles travelling in left-hand lanes, the new model captures up to three lanes of traffic going in both directions. This means one installation can enforce an entire section of road.
It will also be able to identify speeding vehicles and their owners quickly, too, as it has built-in ANPR tech.
And because the camera records footage of a driver breaking the limit, any visual evidence showing motorists driving without a seatbelt or using a mobile phone can be used to enforce these offences too.
6. REDFLEXspeed speed cameras
REDFLEX cameras can capture both multiple offences by one vehicle at the same time and multiple offending vehicles speeding through the same junction
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REDFLEX is another camera some Britons might not have seen too often, but having been approved by the Home Office are likely to crop up more often.
There are two types. REDFLEXred is for red light monitoring and REDFLEXspeed for motorway speed enforcement that can cover up to six lanes.
REDFLEX says the cameras can also be used to enforce average speed zones, though these can only measure average speed from one device to another.
Each unit has a built-in 11 megapixel digital camera that produce high-resolution colour images.
Impressively, they can both capture multiple offences by a driver in a single vehicle and identify more than one offending vehicle at a single junction at one given time.
7. Peek speed cameras
Peek speed cameras, like this one, are considered old hat and have mostly been replaced across the country
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Peek cameras are few and far between today with just a few still in operation in built-up areas in the UK.
Similar to Gatsos, they're solely rear-facing systems, have a flash and rely entirely on radar technology.
8. HADECS3 motorway speed camera
Smart motorways call for smart speed cameras, and the HADECS3 is the latest version being used to snap drivers during variable restrictions
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Motorway speed cameras have been through the biggest transformation in the last decade or so - and the arrival of 'smart' motorways has required more advanced systems that are sneakier than ever.
One of the latest examples is the third system from HADECS, which stands for 'Highway Agency Digital Enforcement Camera System'.
This camera type being used predominantly on smart sections of the M1, M3, M4, M5, M6, M20, M25 and M62.
They can be notoriously difficult to spot as they are placed either in overhead gantries or on poles at the side of the motorway high above the road - and not all of are painted yellow, with some being grey.
They're among the most advanced systems in use, using radar technology unlike anything we've seen in speed-camera technology yet.
They can monitor up to five lanes of traffic (including the hard shoulder, which may be active as a running lane) and can capture vehicles using lane identification, vehicle position and positive vehicle identification.
They also operate faultlessly to catch speeders in all weather conditions.
9. SPECS average speed camera
The SPECS camera is the first of the average speed monitors that were given UK approval in 1999
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The turn of the century brought a new menace to motorists with the introduction of the average speed camera, with the Home Office giving them approval in 1999.
SPECS devices are among the earliest examples of average speed restriction enforcers.
The system uses multiple installations along a road (a minimum of two at least 200 metres apart) using cameras on overhead gantries.
The devices have infra-red and ANPR tech to record passing cars to calculate their average speed from one camera to another.
Two photos are taken and a computer analyses the average speed between to two connected devices.
Drivers don't know which two cameras are paired, meaning they could be calculating the average speed over up to 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) on a single stretch of carriageway.
The ANPR tech identifies the vehicle and owner and is used to issue a ticket.
Some motorists believe they can dodge the cameras by changing lanes, but often they are set to overlap to prevent this.
10. VECTOR average speed cameras
VECTOR average speed cameras are later versions of SPECS that can be used to capture more than just speeding offences
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VECTOR average speed cameras were introduced in 2014 and are more advanced than SPECS because they include technology for additional use as well as speed detection.
In fact, only those painted yellow can catch you over the limit.
Grey VECTOR cameras can be seen dotted around city centres, especially London.
These are ANPR cameras for the enforcement of bus lanes, traffic lights, yellow-box junctions and the capital's Congestion Zone. They're also used at tolls and for parking management.
11. Siemens SafeZone average speed camera
Despite being bright yellow, the Siemens SafeZone cameras are so ultra-compact they're incredibly difficult to spot on the road
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Most of the Siemens cameras are being used in slower restrictions, such as outside schools
© Provided by Daily Mail
Despite being bright yellow, these Siemens units are incredibly compact and discreet, making them one of the hardest speed cameras to spot on the road to date.
This average speed device is most commonly used in towns, cities and villages, particularly zones where low-speed management is crucial, such as outside schools.
They're another example of ANPR technology being put to use to enforce speed limits but also to assist to reduce traffic congestion.
The SafeZone camera is approved for constant monitoring of speed limits between 20mph and 140mph, so can also be used in a variety of locations, from urban areas to Europe's fastest-moving motorways.
What makes them even more difficult to identify is the fact they can be fitted to existing street furniture, such as cantilever poles and bridges, and double installations can film in one or both directions at the same time.
12. SpeedSpike average speed cameras
SpeedSpike is one of the latest forms of ANPR speed camera. Up to 1,000 can be hooked up to work together to capture average speeds across an area
© Provided by Daily Mail
Another relative newcomer to the market is the SpeedSpike, which has some fairly incredible claims.
For instance, the manufacturer of this average speed camera says a network of up to 1,000 separate cameras can be linked together using GPRS to provide enforcement of an area 24 hours a day.
Like SPECS, VECTOR and the Siemens camera, it uses ANPR, so can identify your vehicle by cross-referencing with the online database.
Most are fitted to gantries and roadside posts where there are roadworks on one side of the carriageway and different limits need to be enforced in each direction.
The cameras, which are positioned together but facing away from each other, can sit in the central reservation and detect speeding motorists going in both directions in different restrictions.
13. Mobile speed cameras
Mobile speed camera vans are still being used in the UK at multiple sites.
Hidden inside the vehicle is an operator with one of a number of different cameras.
This includes mini Gatsos, radar guns and laser guns.
There are two types of mobile speed camera - ones that rely on technology in the road (DS2) and ones that can be used anywhere
© Provided by Daily Mail
14. DS2 mobile speed cameras
It's a little unfair to call these mobile speed cameras because they're actually semi-permanent.
That's because they're only used at sites where there are three piezo strips either on top of the road surface or embedded within the tarmac.
When in use, the camera partnership vans used for the operation are connected to the DS2 sites that automatically trigger the cameras. The lines on the road can then be used as additional evidence of speeding.
One benefit for operators is that DS2 systems can be left unattended with some of the cameras used by forces, meaning the vehicles can be unmanned and still capture speeders.
15. Aecom mobile speed cameras
This is the next-generation mobile speed camera, which has its own overhead gantry structure that can not only measure speed but also capture photographic evidence of drivers using a phone at the wheel or not using their seatbelt
© Provided by Daily Mail
The latest in mobile speed detection systems is called the Aecom - and it's very different to the conventional camera van at the side of the road.
The 'Big Brother' vehicle is the brainchild of National Highways.
It is designed in a way that it can catch a multitude of offences, including speeding.
It was first trialled by Warwickshire Police in 2022 with great success, and is being put through its paced by a number of different constabularies.
The van can travel to speeding hotspots and pull up at the roadside. A large metal structure then extends from the roof to create a mobile overhead gantry with cameras and the latest in surveillance tech at an elevated position.
The system uses multiple cameras with high shutter speeds, an infra-red flash and a lensing and filtering system that can record high-definition images of passing vehicles.
Not only does this provide technology to capture speeding motorists, the cameras - using artificial intelligence (AI) - can also determine if motorists are using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel or if a driver - or passenger - isn't wearing a seatbelt.
The van is also capable of being kitted with additional technology to detect tailgating offences, although this system does not form part of the trials in Warwickshire, the authorities said.
The Government's major roads department says the hi-tech van is first being used to 'understand the scale of the problem around these dangerous motoring offences', though suggest similar technology-packed vehicles could be distributed across the country to 'boost road safety'.
16. Long Ranger mobile speed camera
The long-ranger camera can snap drivers speeding from half a mile away
© Provided by This Is Money
It can also be used to enforce dangerous driving, seatbelt and mobile phone offences
© Provided by This Is Money
Police forces since 2018 have been using a new long-range camera that can catch motorists speed from over half a mile away. It's been dubbed the 'Lone Ranger' but some constabularies.
It can capture speeding drivers at one kilometre (0.6 miles), making it the longest distance speed enforcer currently in use.
And it's not just speed that it can detect.
It's also used for catching tailgaters, middle-lane hoggers, drivers not wearing seatbelts and anyone using a phone behind the wheel.
17. Traffic light cameras
Traffic light cameras have recently been retrofitted for use as speed cameras, working in a similar way to Gatso cameras
© Provided by Daily Mail
Don't be under the assumption that an obvious camera situated at a set of traffic lights can't catch you speeding.
These cameras tend to be triggered by radar technology or ground loops in the road at junctions to take pictures of those jumping red lights.
However, they can also be used in combination with speed measurement in a similar way as a Gatso speed camera operates.
18. Handheld speed guns
The new blue speed gun that will have you bang to rights: The TruCam handheld speed camera is the latest and most advanced handheld device used by police
© Provided by Daily Mail
The new TruCam II has an automatic focus function and a new 3.7-inch touchscreen LCD display
© Provided by This Is Money
Another update for the second-generation speed gun is a night mode. The original TruCam could only be used in daylight
© Provided by This Is Money
Polices forces for years have used speed guns to detect motorists over the limit, and in recent years these have become incredibly advanced.
A number of UK constabularies - including Northumbria Police and Warwickshire Police - now use the latest version, which have been described as 'next generation' enforcement devices.
The blue device is called the LTI 20/20 TruCam II Speed Enforcement Laser with Video.
They cost in the region of £10,000 and not only measure speed by can identify a vehicle make, model and read a number plate from distances of up to 750 metres in daylight and at night.
Officially approved for use in the UK in June 2020, it has an integrated laser and patented technology to measures the time and distance between vehicles.
It also has a digital video camera that can collect and store a complete chain of video evidence for speeding.
While predominantly used for speed enforcement, the manufacturer - LTI (which stands for Laser Technology, Inc) - says it can be used to catch tailgating, distracted driving and even motorists who fail to wear a seat belt.
The high-resolution imaging system not just captures evidence but can identify a vehicle make and model and even read the registration plate.
Also integrated is GPS technology that generates location-based information every time the camera triggers.
When the footage, images and vehicle information are uploaded to the police's database, it also includes historical data to say where and when offences were captured by the cameras - this drastically reduces input hours and admin for constabularies.
All of the information is collated in the system and can be cross-referenced with vehicle owner records to automatically issue NIPs in the post, also reducing process time for officers.
The TruCam's measurements, video and photographic evidence has all been given the green light to be used in court to prove a driver's guilt, should the accused choose to dispute the speeding offence.
WHERE ARE THE MOST PROLIFIC SPEED CAMERAS?
Data obtained from police forces show that these are the stretches of road where the most drivers were caught speeding by cameras in the financial year 2021/22
© Provided by Daily Mail
Average speed cameras on the A40 heading into London are said to be the most prolific at catching motorists over the limit in the previous financial year, according to an investigation by Confused.com
© Provided by Daily Mail
The latest study into speed camera enforcement found that more than 1.74 million drivers were caught by these devices on major routes in the financial year 2021/22.
Top 10 sections of road where drivers are most commonly caught by speed cameras
Different speed cameras in Britain explained: There are 18 types - here's how they work
© Provided by This Is Money
1. A40 between Long Drive and Wellands Gardens E/B: 49,050 intended prosecutions by Metropolitan Police
2. M25 Junction 7-16, Surrey: 23,134 intended prosecutions by Surrey Police
3. M4 Junction 20-19, Bristol: 18,317 intended prosecutions by Avon & Somerset Police
4. A5460 Narborough Road, Leicester, Jnc with Fullhurst Avenue: 16,634 intended prosecutions by Leicestershire Police
5. M6 Junction 1-4 (Northbound and Southbound): 15,410 intended prosecutions by Warwickshire Police
6. Garston Way/ Dock Road, Liverpool: 15,295 intended prosecutions by Merseyside Police
7. M5 Junction 4a-6, Birmingham: 15,062 intended prosecutions by West Mercia Police
8. A282 Dartford Tunnel Approach Road: 14,423 intended prosecutions by Kent Police
9. Lewes Road, Brighton, Jnc with Coldean Lane: 14,172 intended prosecutions by Sussex Police
10. M6 Junction 7 & 8 N/B, Birmingham: 12,762 intended prosecutions by West Midlands Police
Source: Confused.com FOI request to UK police forces for number of speed camera offences in financial year 2021/22. 36 out of 46 UK forces responded with data
Comparison website Confused.com sent a Freedom of Information request to all 46 police forces regarding the number of intended prosecutions for speeding offences captured by cameras in their areas. Some 36 forces responded with figures.
The data shows that the most prolific stretch of fixed roadside cameras is on the A40 in North-West London.
The cameras on the 40mph busy carriageway between Long Drive and Welland Gardens caught 49,050 speeding drivers in the 12-month period, according to Met Police.
That figure is more than double the number any other camera caught over the same year under review.
Cameras on the M25 in Surrey and M4 near Bristol follow with over 41,000 speeding offences combined, the respective police forces covering each revealed to the FOI request.
The A5460 in Leicester and the M6 near Coventry rounded out the top five roads where motorists are most likely to be flashed by a speed camera.
Despite so many drivers being flashed by roadside cameras, the data provided by the police shows that only 457,232 were forced to take a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence.
Instead of a fine, 698,115 drivers opted to take a speed awareness course, which typically costs around £100 for enrolment but sees participants escape having points added to their licence, which would likely have caused their insurance premiums to increase.
Thousands more of the cases will have been taken to court.
According to Confused's research, there are currently more than 1,300 operating speeding cameras policing our roads.
Further research by the comparison site - involving a poll of 2,000 drivers - found that almost half (44 per cent) have received at least one speeding fine in the past.
Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of those caught speeding faced a fine, with the average speeding penalty totalling £181.70.
Different speed cameras in Britain explained: There are 18 types - here's how they work
Story by Rob Hull •
5h
speed cameras raced back into headlines this week when it was revealed Greater Manchester Police had installed 100 two-way 'ultra' cameras across the city to catch drivers over the limit.
The VECTOR-SR cameras do not flash and use the latest in infra-red technology that means white lines don't have to be painted on the roads they are monitoring.
While this is the most advanced type of fixed camera we've seen in Britain yet, it's not the only device being used by police forces and authorities to detect speeding motorists.
In fact, there are now 18 different types in use across the UK, from conventional fixed roadside units, to average speed cameras and mobile devices.
Here's what each one looks like, how they are monitoring your speed and what you need to know about them.
And we've also provided the latest information on the stretches of UK road with the most prolific speed cameras.
1. Digital Gatso speed cameras
The Gatso is the original speed camera - the one that dates back to the incarnation of fixed roadside cameras in the early 1990s. It's a rearward facing system only
© Provided by Daily Mail
Digital Gatsos have replaced their film-based predecessors since 2007. They are still bigger than most fixed camera alternatives and are always supplemented by white road markings
© Provided by Daily Mail
The 'Gatso' is the original fixed speed camera - the first used for speed enforcement having debuted on Britain's roadside in 1991 on the M40.
This was the most common speed camera on UK roads in the early phase of Big Brother speed enforcement, though it's slowly being replaced by newer technology today.
The square yellow boxes - which were grey up until 2001 until new laws stipulated that all speed cameras needed to be painted yellow to make them easier to see - originally used film to snap drivers over the limit.
However, with times and technology moving on, the manufacturer switched to Digital Gatsos in 2007, thus eliminating the need for police and authorities to visit each site to collect and replace film.
Did you know?
The Gatso was created by former racing driver, entrepreneur and motoring journalist, Maurice Gatsonides.
The seasoned rally driver from the Netherlands invented a camera to measure how fast he was going and realised it could be applied to carriageways to improve road safety.
He introduced the world's first speed camera - called the Gatsometer - in 1964.
Its latest on UK roads is the Gatsometer Type 24.
A rearward facing unit, it uses a radar to measure the speed of a vehicle. If it is above the pre-set threshold, the camera takes two pictures, producing a double flash that makes the rear registration plate and number clearly visible.
These cameras are always supplemented by white lines - called secondary check marks - painted on the road at specific intervals, which are used to confirm the vehicle's speed.
While Gatsos can't measure the speed of an approaching vehicle, operators have been known to periodically rotate them in order to monitor the opposite carriageway.
And not all of them are operating at all times. Some are dummy units, which will continue to flash motorists as a warning, but won't result in enforcement.
2. Truvelo Combi speed cameras
The Truvelo camera uses infra-red technology, so you won't see it flash
© Provided by Daily Mail
The problem - when it comes to enforcement - with Gatso speed cameras is that, being rear facing, they fail to capture the face of the motorist at the wheel.
This has allowed fine-dodging individuals to claim they weren't the driver at the time the vehicle was snapped over the limit.
However, the forward-facing Truvelo camera eliminates that issue.
Unlike Gatsos, it doesn't flash. Instead, it uses infra-red technology, so the forward-facing installations won't momentarily blind any motorists with a bright light.
Using four sensors that are hidden in the road surface, it can calculate at what speed a vehicle is travelling when it passes the camera.
Similar to Gatsos, they are positioned where there are three white lines on the road to measure the time it takes a car to cover a particular distance. This is then used as back-up proof of speeding if a motorist disputes the camera reading.
A tell-tale sign that a camera is a Truvelo Combi is that they often have a separate grey camera with an orange lens on a separate pole. This takes a digital photo when the speed camera triggers so the identity of the driver can be used as evidence.
However, this image will only be released to a vehicle owner with their permission or if they deny it is them at the wheel.
3. Truvelo D-Cam speed cameras
The Truvelo D-Cam is also a forward- and rear-facing camera that can identify the speeding motorist at the wheel. They're often supplemented by a second camera with an orange lens that takes photos
© Provided by Daily Mail
Truvelo's D-Cam arrived on our roads in 2013 and can be told apart from the Combi by its svelte design.
D-Cam - short for Digital Camera - uses the same radar technology as the Combi but can be installed both forward and rear-facing, making them the ideal replacement not just for the older Truvelo systems but Gatsos too.
You'll most commonly spot these futuristic-looking cameras fixed in the central reservation of the road - though the example pictured is at the side - and they can monitor across up to three lanes of traffic at a time.
And they're not only used for speed enforcement - they can be used at junction to catch motorists running red lights using a similar system paired with sensors in the road.
Up to 100,000 digital photos taken by these cameras can be stored at any one time and they can even be sent in real-time to databases run by police forces and operators to issue a notice of intendent prosecution (NIP).
4. SpeedCurb speed cameras
This RedSpeed device can be deployed as a speed camera or to enforce red lights. The SpeedCurb variant uses sensors in the road to measure vehicle speed and the camera takes three digital photos if it detect a motorist over the limit - one is a close-up of the number plate
© Provided by Daily Mail
SpeedCurb cameras are said to be the highest-mounted speed detection cameras used in the UK currently
© Provided by Daily Mail
Like the Truvelo D-Cam, RedSpeed has produced a dual-purpose camera that can enforce both traffic speed and red light violations.
SpeedCurb is the name given to the rear-facing cameras that monitors speed alone (RedGuard is the name for traffic light enforcement) across two lanes.
The slim cameras are installed on a pole at the roadside and are among the highest-mounted fixed speed camera devices currently used.
They are often seen mounted in pairs so that they can measure the speed of traffic across four separate lanes in two directions.
They differ from Gatso speed cameras that use radar to trigger, instead utilising sensors embedded into the road surface like the Truvelo - which makes them more expensive to install for authorities.
These sensors are spaced at one-metre interval and when a vehicle drives over them it measures the time between each sensor being triggered. If the time taken is faster than the set speed limit, the SpeedCurb camera automatically takes three digital photos to record the violation.
Two of these digital images are wide-angle to show the vehicle, while the third captures a close-up photo of the number plate that can be checked against the ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) database.
Again, there are check marks painted onto the road surface, which can be used as secondary evidence to prove a motorist is speeding using the footage captured.
5. VECTOR-SR speed cameras
The Jenoptik VECTOR-SR is the latest roadside camera being used by police forces and local authorities to catch both speeding drivers and motorists running red lights. And what makes it more advanced is that it can also be used to enforce seatbelt and mobile phone offences
© Provided by Daily Mail
There latest device being installed on roads all across the country has been dubbed an 'ultra' speed camera due to it being the most advanced of its kind yet.
Having received approval for use in Britain back in 2019, it looks and works very differently to typical roadside cameras.
Like other systems, it can double for both speed and red-light enforcement, making it one of the most versatile cameras on the market today.
It uses a video-based system that works in tandem with an intelligent virtual grid to judge if a driver is speeding. This means there is no need for sensors to be dug into the road, which is costly and requires road closures for their installation. Yet another reason why it is very attractive to cash-strapped police forces and local authorities
Measurements from Jenoptik's radar technology is then validated by secondary independent and image-based evidence.
That means there is no need for road markings - which have typically been one of the biggest tell-tale signs to let drivers know the whereabouts of speed cameras.
The system uses infra-red technology which allows images to be captured via still photos and video recordings, which eliminates the need for a camera flash, even at night and in bad weather.
Unlike previous cameras which only capture vehicles travelling in left-hand lanes, the new model captures up to three lanes of traffic going in both directions. This means one installation can enforce an entire section of road.
It will also be able to identify speeding vehicles and their owners quickly, too, as it has built-in ANPR tech.
And because the camera records footage of a driver breaking the limit, any visual evidence showing motorists driving without a seatbelt or using a mobile phone can be used to enforce these offences too.
6. REDFLEXspeed speed cameras
REDFLEX cameras can capture both multiple offences by one vehicle at the same time and multiple offending vehicles speeding through the same junction
© Provided by Daily Mail
REDFLEX is another camera some Britons might not have seen too often, but having been approved by the Home Office are likely to crop up more often.
There are two types. REDFLEXred is for red light monitoring and REDFLEXspeed for motorway speed enforcement that can cover up to six lanes.
REDFLEX says the cameras can also be used to enforce average speed zones, though these can only measure average speed from one device to another.
Each unit has a built-in 11 megapixel digital camera that produce high-resolution colour images.
Impressively, they can both capture multiple offences by a driver in a single vehicle and identify more than one offending vehicle at a single junction at one given time.
7. Peek speed cameras
Peek speed cameras, like this one, are considered old hat and have mostly been replaced across the country
© Provided by Daily Mail
Peek cameras are few and far between today with just a few still in operation in built-up areas in the UK.
Similar to Gatsos, they're solely rear-facing systems, have a flash and rely entirely on radar technology.
8. HADECS3 motorway speed camera
Smart motorways call for smart speed cameras, and the HADECS3 is the latest version being used to snap drivers during variable restrictions
© Provided by Daily Mail
Motorway speed cameras have been through the biggest transformation in the last decade or so - and the arrival of 'smart' motorways has required more advanced systems that are sneakier than ever.
One of the latest examples is the third system from HADECS, which stands for 'Highway Agency Digital Enforcement Camera System'.
This camera type being used predominantly on smart sections of the M1, M3, M4, M5, M6, M20, M25 and M62.
They can be notoriously difficult to spot as they are placed either in overhead gantries or on poles at the side of the motorway high above the road - and not all of are painted yellow, with some being grey.
They're among the most advanced systems in use, using radar technology unlike anything we've seen in speed-camera technology yet.
They can monitor up to five lanes of traffic (including the hard shoulder, which may be active as a running lane) and can capture vehicles using lane identification, vehicle position and positive vehicle identification.
They also operate faultlessly to catch speeders in all weather conditions.
9. SPECS average speed camera
The SPECS camera is the first of the average speed monitors that were given UK approval in 1999
© Provided by Daily Mail
The turn of the century brought a new menace to motorists with the introduction of the average speed camera, with the Home Office giving them approval in 1999.
SPECS devices are among the earliest examples of average speed restriction enforcers.
The system uses multiple installations along a road (a minimum of two at least 200 metres apart) using cameras on overhead gantries.
The devices have infra-red and ANPR tech to record passing cars to calculate their average speed from one camera to another.
Two photos are taken and a computer analyses the average speed between to two connected devices.
Drivers don't know which two cameras are paired, meaning they could be calculating the average speed over up to 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) on a single stretch of carriageway.
The ANPR tech identifies the vehicle and owner and is used to issue a ticket.
Some motorists believe they can dodge the cameras by changing lanes, but often they are set to overlap to prevent this.
10. VECTOR average speed cameras
VECTOR average speed cameras are later versions of SPECS that can be used to capture more than just speeding offences
© Provided by Daily Mail
VECTOR average speed cameras were introduced in 2014 and are more advanced than SPECS because they include technology for additional use as well as speed detection.
In fact, only those painted yellow can catch you over the limit.
Grey VECTOR cameras can be seen dotted around city centres, especially London.
These are ANPR cameras for the enforcement of bus lanes, traffic lights, yellow-box junctions and the capital's Congestion Zone. They're also used at tolls and for parking management.
11. Siemens SafeZone average speed camera
Despite being bright yellow, the Siemens SafeZone cameras are so ultra-compact they're incredibly difficult to spot on the road
© Provided by Daily Mail
Most of the Siemens cameras are being used in slower restrictions, such as outside schools
© Provided by Daily Mail
Despite being bright yellow, these Siemens units are incredibly compact and discreet, making them one of the hardest speed cameras to spot on the road to date.
This average speed device is most commonly used in towns, cities and villages, particularly zones where low-speed management is crucial, such as outside schools.
They're another example of ANPR technology being put to use to enforce speed limits but also to assist to reduce traffic congestion.
The SafeZone camera is approved for constant monitoring of speed limits between 20mph and 140mph, so can also be used in a variety of locations, from urban areas to Europe's fastest-moving motorways.
What makes them even more difficult to identify is the fact they can be fitted to existing street furniture, such as cantilever poles and bridges, and double installations can film in one or both directions at the same time.
12. SpeedSpike average speed cameras
SpeedSpike is one of the latest forms of ANPR speed camera. Up to 1,000 can be hooked up to work together to capture average speeds across an area
© Provided by Daily Mail
Another relative newcomer to the market is the SpeedSpike, which has some fairly incredible claims.
For instance, the manufacturer of this average speed camera says a network of up to 1,000 separate cameras can be linked together using GPRS to provide enforcement of an area 24 hours a day.
Like SPECS, VECTOR and the Siemens camera, it uses ANPR, so can identify your vehicle by cross-referencing with the online database.
Most are fitted to gantries and roadside posts where there are roadworks on one side of the carriageway and different limits need to be enforced in each direction.
The cameras, which are positioned together but facing away from each other, can sit in the central reservation and detect speeding motorists going in both directions in different restrictions.
13. Mobile speed cameras
Mobile speed camera vans are still being used in the UK at multiple sites.
Hidden inside the vehicle is an operator with one of a number of different cameras.
This includes mini Gatsos, radar guns and laser guns.
There are two types of mobile speed camera - ones that rely on technology in the road (DS2) and ones that can be used anywhere
© Provided by Daily Mail
14. DS2 mobile speed cameras
It's a little unfair to call these mobile speed cameras because they're actually semi-permanent.
That's because they're only used at sites where there are three piezo strips either on top of the road surface or embedded within the tarmac.
When in use, the camera partnership vans used for the operation are connected to the DS2 sites that automatically trigger the cameras. The lines on the road can then be used as additional evidence of speeding.
One benefit for operators is that DS2 systems can be left unattended with some of the cameras used by forces, meaning the vehicles can be unmanned and still capture speeders.
15. Aecom mobile speed cameras
This is the next-generation mobile speed camera, which has its own overhead gantry structure that can not only measure speed but also capture photographic evidence of drivers using a phone at the wheel or not using their seatbelt
© Provided by Daily Mail
The latest in mobile speed detection systems is called the Aecom - and it's very different to the conventional camera van at the side of the road.
The 'Big Brother' vehicle is the brainchild of National Highways.
It is designed in a way that it can catch a multitude of offences, including speeding.
It was first trialled by Warwickshire Police in 2022 with great success, and is being put through its paced by a number of different constabularies.
The van can travel to speeding hotspots and pull up at the roadside. A large metal structure then extends from the roof to create a mobile overhead gantry with cameras and the latest in surveillance tech at an elevated position.
The system uses multiple cameras with high shutter speeds, an infra-red flash and a lensing and filtering system that can record high-definition images of passing vehicles.
Not only does this provide technology to capture speeding motorists, the cameras - using artificial intelligence (AI) - can also determine if motorists are using a handheld mobile phone at the wheel or if a driver - or passenger - isn't wearing a seatbelt.
The van is also capable of being kitted with additional technology to detect tailgating offences, although this system does not form part of the trials in Warwickshire, the authorities said.
The Government's major roads department says the hi-tech van is first being used to 'understand the scale of the problem around these dangerous motoring offences', though suggest similar technology-packed vehicles could be distributed across the country to 'boost road safety'.
16. Long Ranger mobile speed camera
The long-ranger camera can snap drivers speeding from half a mile away
© Provided by This Is Money
It can also be used to enforce dangerous driving, seatbelt and mobile phone offences
© Provided by This Is Money
Police forces since 2018 have been using a new long-range camera that can catch motorists speed from over half a mile away. It's been dubbed the 'Lone Ranger' but some constabularies.
It can capture speeding drivers at one kilometre (0.6 miles), making it the longest distance speed enforcer currently in use.
And it's not just speed that it can detect.
It's also used for catching tailgaters, middle-lane hoggers, drivers not wearing seatbelts and anyone using a phone behind the wheel.
17. Traffic light cameras
Traffic light cameras have recently been retrofitted for use as speed cameras, working in a similar way to Gatso cameras
© Provided by Daily Mail
Don't be under the assumption that an obvious camera situated at a set of traffic lights can't catch you speeding.
These cameras tend to be triggered by radar technology or ground loops in the road at junctions to take pictures of those jumping red lights.
However, they can also be used in combination with speed measurement in a similar way as a Gatso speed camera operates.
18. Handheld speed guns
The new blue speed gun that will have you bang to rights: The TruCam handheld speed camera is the latest and most advanced handheld device used by police
© Provided by Daily Mail
The new TruCam II has an automatic focus function and a new 3.7-inch touchscreen LCD display
© Provided by This Is Money
Another update for the second-generation speed gun is a night mode. The original TruCam could only be used in daylight
© Provided by This Is Money
Polices forces for years have used speed guns to detect motorists over the limit, and in recent years these have become incredibly advanced.
A number of UK constabularies - including Northumbria Police and Warwickshire Police - now use the latest version, which have been described as 'next generation' enforcement devices.
The blue device is called the LTI 20/20 TruCam II Speed Enforcement Laser with Video.
They cost in the region of £10,000 and not only measure speed by can identify a vehicle make, model and read a number plate from distances of up to 750 metres in daylight and at night.
Officially approved for use in the UK in June 2020, it has an integrated laser and patented technology to measures the time and distance between vehicles.
It also has a digital video camera that can collect and store a complete chain of video evidence for speeding.
While predominantly used for speed enforcement, the manufacturer - LTI (which stands for Laser Technology, Inc) - says it can be used to catch tailgating, distracted driving and even motorists who fail to wear a seat belt.
The high-resolution imaging system not just captures evidence but can identify a vehicle make and model and even read the registration plate.
Also integrated is GPS technology that generates location-based information every time the camera triggers.
When the footage, images and vehicle information are uploaded to the police's database, it also includes historical data to say where and when offences were captured by the cameras - this drastically reduces input hours and admin for constabularies.
All of the information is collated in the system and can be cross-referenced with vehicle owner records to automatically issue NIPs in the post, also reducing process time for officers.
The TruCam's measurements, video and photographic evidence has all been given the green light to be used in court to prove a driver's guilt, should the accused choose to dispute the speeding offence.
WHERE ARE THE MOST PROLIFIC SPEED CAMERAS?
Data obtained from police forces show that these are the stretches of road where the most drivers were caught speeding by cameras in the financial year 2021/22
© Provided by Daily Mail
Average speed cameras on the A40 heading into London are said to be the most prolific at catching motorists over the limit in the previous financial year, according to an investigation by Confused.com
© Provided by Daily Mail
The latest study into speed camera enforcement found that more than 1.74 million drivers were caught by these devices on major routes in the financial year 2021/22.
Top 10 sections of road where drivers are most commonly caught by speed cameras
Different speed cameras in Britain explained: There are 18 types - here's how they work
© Provided by This Is Money
1. A40 between Long Drive and Wellands Gardens E/B: 49,050 intended prosecutions by Metropolitan Police
2. M25 Junction 7-16, Surrey: 23,134 intended prosecutions by Surrey Police
3. M4 Junction 20-19, Bristol: 18,317 intended prosecutions by Avon & Somerset Police
4. A5460 Narborough Road, Leicester, Jnc with Fullhurst Avenue: 16,634 intended prosecutions by Leicestershire Police
5. M6 Junction 1-4 (Northbound and Southbound): 15,410 intended prosecutions by Warwickshire Police
6. Garston Way/ Dock Road, Liverpool: 15,295 intended prosecutions by Merseyside Police
7. M5 Junction 4a-6, Birmingham: 15,062 intended prosecutions by West Mercia Police
8. A282 Dartford Tunnel Approach Road: 14,423 intended prosecutions by Kent Police
9. Lewes Road, Brighton, Jnc with Coldean Lane: 14,172 intended prosecutions by Sussex Police
10. M6 Junction 7 & 8 N/B, Birmingham: 12,762 intended prosecutions by West Midlands Police
Source: Confused.com FOI request to UK police forces for number of speed camera offences in financial year 2021/22. 36 out of 46 UK forces responded with data
Comparison website Confused.com sent a Freedom of Information request to all 46 police forces regarding the number of intended prosecutions for speeding offences captured by cameras in their areas. Some 36 forces responded with figures.
The data shows that the most prolific stretch of fixed roadside cameras is on the A40 in North-West London.
The cameras on the 40mph busy carriageway between Long Drive and Welland Gardens caught 49,050 speeding drivers in the 12-month period, according to Met Police.
That figure is more than double the number any other camera caught over the same year under review.
Cameras on the M25 in Surrey and M4 near Bristol follow with over 41,000 speeding offences combined, the respective police forces covering each revealed to the FOI request.
The A5460 in Leicester and the M6 near Coventry rounded out the top five roads where motorists are most likely to be flashed by a speed camera.
Despite so many drivers being flashed by roadside cameras, the data provided by the police shows that only 457,232 were forced to take a £100 fine and three penalty points on their licence.
Instead of a fine, 698,115 drivers opted to take a speed awareness course, which typically costs around £100 for enrolment but sees participants escape having points added to their licence, which would likely have caused their insurance premiums to increase.
Thousands more of the cases will have been taken to court.
According to Confused's research, there are currently more than 1,300 operating speeding cameras policing our roads.
Further research by the comparison site - involving a poll of 2,000 drivers - found that almost half (44 per cent) have received at least one speeding fine in the past.
Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of those caught speeding faced a fine, with the average speeding penalty totalling £181.70.
Guidance Top 10 reasons for failing the driving test in Great Britain Updated 15 September 2023
15/09/23 11:03 am
Manchester's new speed cams.
13/09/23 05:23 pm
Jenoptik upgrades Greater Manchester’s spot speed cameras
With the upgrade, Greater Manchester creates a network of modern spot speed cameras and makes use of the latest technology to enforce speed infringements.
Jenoptik, a leading manufacturer of smart mobility solutions, has signed a contract with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to upgrade 90 spot speed cameras and a five-year maintenance agreement. By using the latest technology, TfGM aims to create a sophisticated network of modern safety cameras to encourage better driver behaviour. The rollout will start this summer.
TfGM is upgrading its spot speed cameras with Jenoptik’s latest VECTOR SR technology. The camera system represents a move forward in technology, is ANPR-based and has the capability for 24/7 bi-directional enforcement. Unlike the existing spot speed technology, the cameras do not require in-road sensors and painted secondary check marks, and do not have a visible flash due to infra-red technology.
“We are delighted to be working with Transport for Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Police to aid in the Vision Zero approach for the area. As a company, we know that our range of enforcement solutions helps to make roads safer,” commented Jenoptik UK Sales Director John Piper. “Seeing TfGM deliver such a major technology upgrade of its roadside enforcement sends a clear signal that those with a responsibility to deliver safer roads see just what a difference these cameras make.”
Superintendent Gareth Parkin of Greater Manchester Police’s Safer Transport Team said: “The new and upgraded speed cameras across the city-region will ensure that drivers adhere to road speeds and do not engage in reckless or anti-social driving”.
Most of the cameras are located on Bee Network active travel routes, which is composed of bus, tram, cycling and walking routes and help keep cyclist and pedestrians safe.
Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Commissioner, Dame Sarah Storey said: “A key part of being able to adopt the Vision Zero approach is being able to tackle road crime effectively and speeding is one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on Greater Manchester’s roads.”
As well as upgrading spot speed cameras, Transport for Greater Manchester is also planning to introduce average speed camera checks in the second phase of its enforcement upgrades.
The VECTOR SR is an approved fully self-contained traffic enforcement system used to capture spot speed or red light and speed-on-green offences. Because of its lightweight design it can be installed on a wide array of columns and mounting positions, making it suitable for urban, rural and highway implementations.
Picture credit – Jenoptik
With the upgrade, Greater Manchester creates a network of modern spot speed cameras and makes use of the latest technology to enforce speed infringements.
Jenoptik, a leading manufacturer of smart mobility solutions, has signed a contract with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to upgrade 90 spot speed cameras and a five-year maintenance agreement. By using the latest technology, TfGM aims to create a sophisticated network of modern safety cameras to encourage better driver behaviour. The rollout will start this summer.
TfGM is upgrading its spot speed cameras with Jenoptik’s latest VECTOR SR technology. The camera system represents a move forward in technology, is ANPR-based and has the capability for 24/7 bi-directional enforcement. Unlike the existing spot speed technology, the cameras do not require in-road sensors and painted secondary check marks, and do not have a visible flash due to infra-red technology.
“We are delighted to be working with Transport for Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Police to aid in the Vision Zero approach for the area. As a company, we know that our range of enforcement solutions helps to make roads safer,” commented Jenoptik UK Sales Director John Piper. “Seeing TfGM deliver such a major technology upgrade of its roadside enforcement sends a clear signal that those with a responsibility to deliver safer roads see just what a difference these cameras make.”
Superintendent Gareth Parkin of Greater Manchester Police’s Safer Transport Team said: “The new and upgraded speed cameras across the city-region will ensure that drivers adhere to road speeds and do not engage in reckless or anti-social driving”.
Most of the cameras are located on Bee Network active travel routes, which is composed of bus, tram, cycling and walking routes and help keep cyclist and pedestrians safe.
Greater Manchester’s Active Travel Commissioner, Dame Sarah Storey said: “A key part of being able to adopt the Vision Zero approach is being able to tackle road crime effectively and speeding is one of the leading causes of death and serious injury on Greater Manchester’s roads.”
As well as upgrading spot speed cameras, Transport for Greater Manchester is also planning to introduce average speed camera checks in the second phase of its enforcement upgrades.
The VECTOR SR is an approved fully self-contained traffic enforcement system used to capture spot speed or red light and speed-on-green offences. Because of its lightweight design it can be installed on a wide array of columns and mounting positions, making it suitable for urban, rural and highway implementations.
Picture credit – Jenoptik
Its all about the firewalls
17/06/21 12:19 am
Third party booking sites
NASP complained about the use of third party booking sites that appeared to be able to find and book tests before instructors and the general public. This is putting an unnecessary strain on instructors and causing many candidates to accept a test with no consultation with their instructor and consequently attempting the test in their own car with very little professional training. NASP urged DVSA to implement measures to stop this happening.
DVSA is aware of this and discussions were ongoing with DVSA’s firewall supplier to introduce new rules to challenge these sites, and stated that there is a gradual reduction in the level of searches people can make without impacting normal bookings. Companies are constantly finding ways round any blocks we implement to get tests. DVSA also pointed out that some instructors may be misusing and if that was found to be true, the Registrar could take some action. NASP requested that DVSA issue communications to explain the situation to instructors.
NASP complained about the use of third party booking sites that appeared to be able to find and book tests before instructors and the general public. This is putting an unnecessary strain on instructors and causing many candidates to accept a test with no consultation with their instructor and consequently attempting the test in their own car with very little professional training. NASP urged DVSA to implement measures to stop this happening.
DVSA is aware of this and discussions were ongoing with DVSA’s firewall supplier to introduce new rules to challenge these sites, and stated that there is a gradual reduction in the level of searches people can make without impacting normal bookings. Companies are constantly finding ways round any blocks we implement to get tests. DVSA also pointed out that some instructors may be misusing and if that was found to be true, the Registrar could take some action. NASP requested that DVSA issue communications to explain the situation to instructors.
Who are NASP?
The National Associations Strategic Partnership is a representative body focused on promoting the interests of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs). It is formed of representatives of the three main membership associations for driver trainers in the UK. Our aim is to protect and promote the interests of professional drivers trainers and help support the profession in its goals to improve driving standards and road safety in the UK.
Increasing the number of driving tests appointments
14/06/21 01:31 pm
| they have any coronavirus symptoms (high temperature, fever, new continuous cough, a change or loss of smell or taste from normal). |
| they have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace in the last 14 days. |
| they are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test or have had a positive test in the last 7 days. |
| they have visited a school, college or other building that has been closed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the last 7 days. |
| they live with someone who has either tested positive for COVID-19 or had symptoms of COVID–19 in the last 14 days. |
Update on theory test certificates
24/02/21 07:04 pm
Update on theory test certificates
The government has further considered the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the validity period of theory test certificates.
After careful consideration and in response to a recent petition the government has decided not to extend theory test certificates for road safety reasons.
We understand this will be disappointing for some of your pupils, but it’s essential that they have the most up-to- date road safety knowledge and hazard perception skills at the critical point that they drive on their own for the first time.
The way we are managing test bookings is affected by COVID-19 restrictions
If your pupil’s practical driving test has been postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will reschedule it for the next available test appointment at their chosen test centre.
If no test appointments are available at their chosen test centre before their theory test certificate expires, their practical test booking will be put on hold.
Pupils with tests booked whose theory test certificate has expired
If your pupil’s driving test is suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions, and their theory test certificate has expired or expires, we will cancel and refund the cost of their practical test.
Your pupil will then need to rebook and pass their theory test before they can sit a practical test.
Your pupil must have a valid theory test certificate before they can book their practical test, and on the day they take it.
If you have booked any tests on behalf of your pupils who have been affected by this you need to let them know what will happen next.
If your pupil’s theory test expires before the next available practical test date
If your pupil’s theory test certificate has been put on hold because it is due to expire, they can either:
cancel their booking and get a full refund look on the booking system for a cancellation at their original test centre or book an available test appointment at a different test centre on a date before their theory test expires – in line with any current travel restrictions
If you or your pupil book a test at an alternative site you
will need to check the relevant travel restrictions leading up to the appointment date to make sure they are able to travel in to the area.
If your pupil does not rebook or cancel their practical test before their theory test certificate expires, their practical test booking with be cancelled and refunded.
Your pupils can book a new theory test up to 6 months before their current theory test certificate expires, or at any time after it has expired.
If you have booked any tests on behalf of your pupils who have been affected by this you need to let them know and discuss their options with them.
If your pupil wants to request a refund
You pupils can request a refund for the cost of their practical test through the online cancellation service at https://www.gov.uk/cancel-driving-test
They need to include their name and 2 of the following identifiers in their email:
their driving licence number their theory test pass certificate number their driving test booking reference.
Driving tests in England cancelled up to 8 March
24/02/21 07:01 pm
DVSA has cancelled all practical and theory tests in England up to and including 8 March.
This follows the government’s roadmap announcement which set out that driving tests and theory tests in England will restart no earlier than 12 April 2021.
DVSA says it is working closely with the government and the driver and rider training industry to confirm restart plans. It will provide more information as soon as possible on motorcycle, vocational and other tests, lessons and training.
The agency will email candidates affected by test cancellations with a new date and time for their test. If it’s not suitable, they can change it at www.gov.uk/change-driving-test.
If you booked a test for any of your pupils, you’ll receive the email to let you know it has
been rescheduled. You’ll need to give your pupil the new details.
DVSA’s update comes after AA announced yesterday that it had been in touch with the agency and been told: “It is confirmed that driving lessons can commence from 12 April and driving tests seven days later, subject to there being no slippages in the government’s planned dates.”
DVSA told us today that no such plans have been confirmed with anyone. However, first tier stakeholders (which the AA is not) such as DIA will be appraised early next week of the full plans for restarting testing and training. We understand that the AA will be publishing a retraction of the statements it made.
This follows the government’s roadmap announcement which set out that driving tests and theory tests in England will restart no earlier than 12 April 2021.
DVSA says it is working closely with the government and the driver and rider training industry to confirm restart plans. It will provide more information as soon as possible on motorcycle, vocational and other tests, lessons and training.
The agency will email candidates affected by test cancellations with a new date and time for their test. If it’s not suitable, they can change it at www.gov.uk/change-driving-test.
If you booked a test for any of your pupils, you’ll receive the email to let you know it has
been rescheduled. You’ll need to give your pupil the new details.
DVSA’s update comes after AA announced yesterday that it had been in touch with the agency and been told: “It is confirmed that driving lessons can commence from 12 April and driving tests seven days later, subject to there being no slippages in the government’s planned dates.”
DVSA told us today that no such plans have been confirmed with anyone. However, first tier stakeholders (which the AA is not) such as DIA will be appraised early next week of the full plans for restarting testing and training. We understand that the AA will be publishing a retraction of the statements it made.
Continuing national lockdown in England
24/02/21 06:57 pm
The government has published its roadmap of 4 steps out of the current lockdown in England.
In its roadmap the Government set out that driving tests and theory tests in England will restart (as part of step 2) no earlier than 12 April 2021.
DVSA is working closely with the government and will provide more information as soon as we are able to do so on motorcycle, vocational and other tests, lessons and training.
Driver, rider and vocational tests booked up to 8 March
To give us the time we need to work with government and the driver and rider training industry to confirm restart plans, we’re rescheduling all driving, riding and vocational tests booked between 25 February and up to and including 8 March.
We'll email the candidates affected by this with a new date and time for their test. If it’s not suitable, they can change it at www.gov.uk/change-driving-test.
Motorcycle and vocational tests booked by trainers will be cancelled and refunded as usual.
If you booked a test for any of your pupils, you’ll receive the email to let you know it has been rescheduled. You’ll need to give your pupil the new details.
In the meantime, the mobile emergency worker service for driving tests will still be available. You can still teach any of your pupils with one of these tests booked.
We thank you for your patience as we finalise more detailed plans for the safe resumption of training and testing in England.
Theory Tests booked up to 8 March
We will also email anyone with a theory test booked between 25 February and up to and including 8 March and ask them to reschedule their test at www.gov.uk/change-theory-test.
If you booked your pupil’s theory test, you’ll need to rearrange it for them at www.gov.uk/book-pupil-theory- test.
In the meantime, the mobile emergency worker service for theory tests will still be available.
Driver and rider lessons and CBT
Driver and rider lessons, must not take place until the restrictions are lifted. This includes CBTs, training for ADI part 2 and 3 tests and standards checks.
We are working with government to understand when lessons and CBT can restart, we will provide more information as soon as we are able to.
Driver and rider lessons for your pupils with a confirmed mobile emergency worker test booking can continue.
Scotland and Wales
We’re working with the Scottish Government and Welsh Government, who are setting out similar plans to the UK government. We’ll keep you updated as these develop.