Drivers have been warned that new speed cameras with the latest technology will soon be coming to the UK.
The VECTOR-SR cameras have been developed by tech company Jenoptik and are the most advanced of their kind yet.
Set to be in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they will work differently to old-style cameras in that they will track two-way traffic instead of just the left-hand lane. They will also double for both speed and red-light enforcement, making them one of the most versatile cameras on the market today.
Using a video-based system that will work in tandem with an intelligent virtual grid, the measurements from Jenoptik's radar technology will then be validated by secondary independent and image-based evidence to verify if the driver has gone over the limit. This also means there’s no need for sensors in the road or road markings – so they can be less costly and require less road closures. Another reason why they are attractive to local authorities!
And because they use infrared low light technology, they will also no longer flash at speeding drivers – meaning drivers won’t necessarily know if they’ve been fined.
While they will be painted yellow, as is the requirement for speed cameras, they are far smaller than conventional devices and likely more difficult to spot on the move. And because the system uses video evidence, drivers can be prosecuted for other offences, such as using mobile phones or not wearing a seat belt.
Where will the new speed cameras go?
The cameras will be rolled out across the country, and have already been installed in Devon, Cornwall and parts of Scotland and Wales.
Transport Scotland have signed a deal worth nearly half a million pounds to install them in Glasgow and Edinburgh. And earlier this month, Greater Manchester Police announced that over 100 of the new speed cameras had been installed in the city.
Superintendent Gareth Parkin, of Greater Manchester Police, said the upgraded cameras will ensure that "drivers adhere to road speeds and do not engage in reckless or anti-social driving.”
He added: "Speed limits are put in place to ensure our roads are safe. Excessive speeds increase the chances of driver error, increase the time it takes for a vehicle to stop and can also increase fatalities in the event of a collision."
Geoff Collins, Jenoptik Traffic Solutions UK’s Deputy Managing Director, said: ‘This is the product our customers have been waiting for – a modern, digital and non-invasive red light enforcement system.
‘We can now offer fair and accurate red light, spot speed and average speed solutions using a common core of known, reliable components, providing responsible drivers a safer journey.
‘Supported by infrared illumination, lightweight enough to mount on a passively safe pole or existing street furniture and with no need for in-road sensors or signal head connections, VECTOR-SR represents a step forward in red light enforcement technology.’
What other speed cameras are there?
While the new speed cameras are set to be the most advanced of their kind, it’s not the only type of speed camera detecting motorists. In fact, there are many different types in use across the UK, from conventional roadside units to average speed cameras and mobile devices.
Here’s what you need to know about them:
Fixed Gatso speed camera
Fixed Gatso speed cameras use radar technology, recording two rear-facing images recorded at 0.5 seconds apart. You’ll see secondary check markings painted on the road at specific intervals which are used on the photographic evidence to verify that that vehicle speed detected by the radar is consistent with the distance travelled by that vehicle in between the two photos.
Mobile cameras
Mobile cameras are still being deployed in the UK at multiple locations. Hidden inside the vehicle is a trained operator with laser detection and image recording technology to measure the speed of vehicles both approaching and travelling away. You’ll sometimes see them in marked vans parked at the roadside.
Average speed cameras
Average speed camera systems use linked Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor the average speed of traffic over a section of road, or network of roads. They can be installed in a front and rear-facing way, and offending vehicles can be recorded across multiple lanes and locations within the system. You’ll often see these used on a temporary basis at major roadworks sites, or in permanent locations which have a history of collisions.
Red light and speed cameras
Traffic light cameras also play a vital role in keeping our roads safe, detecting vehicles that have passed through a red light. Loops or sensors are triggered when the vehicles passes the stop line after the red light has signalled, and the camera takes two images of the vehicle. The footage is then reviewed by trained staff to confirm any offences. These can usually be found at bigger, busier junctions or accident-prone areas, but our advice is to treat every junction as if there are cameras. Many of these also have a dual function to detect speeding vehicles.
HADECS
HADECS stands for Highway Agency Digital Enforcement and Compliance System, an intelligent transport system which aims to encourage compliance with mandatory variable speed limits. Mounted on the side of motorway gantries, it uses lines painted on the road as secondary proof of speeding. And like a Gatso, Hadecs is a rear-facing radar camera, and it flashes when it picks up a vehicle travelling at more than the speed limit. Interestingly though, HADECS can adjust its detection speed according to the variable speed limit that’s posted. So, when you see a lower limit posted on a smart motorway, the camera can pick up information from sensors along the carriageway and catch you for breaking it.
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