New Speed Cameras: What All Drivers Need to Know
Speed cameras are an extremely familiar sight for drivers on UK roads. Whether you love them or loathe them, their effectiveness is not up for dispute. A London School of Economics study found that speed cameras reduced accidents by between 17-39% and reduced fatalities by nearly 70% between 1992-2016.
Jenoptik’s new Vector SR Cameras
As camera tech develops, so does the presence of speed cameras.
Recently, the UK has begun trialling a new type of speed camera, the Vector SR, which promises to enhance monitoring and enforcement. In the rest of this article, we’ll be looking at the Vector SR in more detail.
The Evolution of Speed Cameras
Speed cameras have been used in the UK since 1991 when the first one was installed on the M40 motorway. Today, around 7,000 cameras are operating across the country. These devices have significantly contributed to road safety, with a 2022 report showing that they resulted in the prosecution of 245,043 drivers, the highest number on record.
How Speed Cameras Work
Speed cameras function by detecting a vehicle’s speed using radar systems or technology built into the road. When a vehicle exceeds the speed limit, the camera captures an image of the vehicle’s number plate, color, make, and model. Some advanced cameras, like the Vector SR, also capture the driver’s face. Here are the main types of speed cameras you might encounter:
Fixed Cameras: Located at specific spots known for accidents or high-speed violations. Fixed cameras are the traditionally ones that most people are familiar with and first appeared on UK roads in 1991. Types of fixed camera include the: Digital Gatso; Truvelo Combi; Truvelo D-Cam; REDFLEX Cameras; and the HADECS.
Mobile Cameras: Operated from police vans, these cameras can be set up in various locations and can be mini-Gatsos, laser guns or hand-held radar equipment.
Average Speed Cameras: Measure a vehicle’s speed over a longer distance, ensuring drivers maintain a consistent speed. First introduced in 1999, these include the: SPECS, Siemens and SpeedSpike average speed cameras.
The New Vector SR Cameras
The new Vector SR cameras represent a significant advancement in speed enforcement technology. It is by far the most powerful camera mentioned in this article.
The Vector SR cameras can capture images of vehicles from both sides of the road and are capable of detecting a range of offences beyond speeding. They can capture images of drivers using their mobile phones, eating or whether they are wearing their seatbelts.
Greater Manchester is currently trialling 100 of these units, primarily to catch speed limit violators, but also to, enforce other traffic laws.
Superintendent Gareth Parkin from Greater Manchester’s Police Specialist Operations said: ‘These speed camera upgrades across routes in Greater Manchester are a fantastic improvement on road safety measures for all who live, work and visit the area. We have seen almost 600 people either lose their lives or be seriously injured between 2020 and 2022, this is completely unacceptable.’
Successful trials have already been completed in Devon, Cornwall and Wales, with a view to a national rollout asap.
For any driver, awareness of speed cameras is crucial. But when you’re a professional, with high mileage and frequent road usage, your chances of of encountering these devices skyrocket. If yoyu’re a taxi or private hire driver. it is essential to maintain a clean driving record for insurance purposes and to avoid fines and points on your license.
There is no fixed date when these cameras will start appearing, but keep an eye out for local news.
If you are caught speeding, you will receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP), followed by a fine and points on your license. The standard penalty is a £100 fine and three points, but this can increase for severe offences. First-time offenders might be offered a speed awareness course instead of points on their license, which can help avoid long-term impacts on your driving record.