Speed Cameras - Explained
 

I've seen many people ask about the type of speed cameras over the last few weeks and how they know if they got caught or not. So i'll explain.

Cameras Types

Gatso Speed Camera

here are over 4,000 fixed Gatso speed cameras currently in use by police forces and local authorities across the UK, accounting for 90% of all fixed speed cameras. The Gatso which uses radar technology, is used for fixed speed cameras, in-car mobile units, on tripods and can even be used from moving vehicles.

Fixed Gatso speed cameras are rear facing. This is so the cameras 'flash' does not blind oncoming motorists. Unfortunately, this also means the cameras are not always viewable until the last second (as pictured above). The cost of installing a Gatso speed camera is approximately £20,000, but can cost as much as £40,000 if located in a rural location, as the system requires a 240v power supply.

The fixed Gatso camera has the ability to take up to 400 pictures. Cameras in that are located in busy areas or are particularly hidden, often only last a few hours before the film runs out, soon recouping the £20,000-£40,000 price tag.

Gatso speed cameras can also identify between cars/vans and HGVs separately. For example, if the speed limit was 60mph for cars/vans and 40mph for HGVs the camera will enforce the two separate limits.

It is common for fixed Gatsos to be positioned so they can be turned around to check both sides of the road - but only one direction at a time.

On the M25 in Berkshire and Surrey Gatso speed cameras have been placed in gantries across the width of the motorway with all four lanes covered simultaneously.

Points and Penalties

Being prosecuted in the UK by a Gatso speed camera can result in a minimum of 3 penalty points and a £60 fine. Fine amounts are currently under review by the government and may increase in near future.

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Truvelo Speed Cameras

The forward facing Truvelo camera system is designed to take photographs of the front of a passing vehicle, this allows the picture taken to show the driver of the vehicle as well.

To avoid the 'flash' which is given out by a rear facing Gatso camera the Truvelo system uses an infra red flash which produces no visible 'flash' to the approaching driver. These rely on 3 white-lines in the road, painted just before the camera, and are triggered by strips in the road, used to gain the vehicles speed.

Truvelo cameras are becoming increasingly more commonplace, counties such as Northamptonshire use predominately only Truvelo cameras.

Points and Penalties

Being prosecuted in the UK by a Truvelo speed/safety camera can result in a minimum of 3 penalty points and a £60 fine. This fine amount is currently under review by the government and may increase in near future.

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SPECS Speed Cameras


SPECS average speed camera systems utilise state of the art video system with Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) digital technology. Consisting of a minimum of two cameras each fitted with infra red illuminators fitted on gantries above the road, so they can work day or night. SPECS speed cameras work out the vehicles average speed, given the time it takes to drive between the two camera positions.


SPECS average speed cameras are fitted either at the roadside or in the central reservation (as pictured below) a set distance apart to create a speed controlled zone, or where appropriate, groups of cameras can be linked to create a speed controlled network.

As vehicles pass between the entry and exit camera points their number plates are digitally recorded, whether speeding or not. Then, by ANPR recognition, the images on the video of matching number plates are paired up, and because each image carries a date and time stamp, the computer can then work out your average speed between the cameras. There is no film used for SPECS.

SPECS are commonly used to enforce speed limits on dual carriageways and motorways. This is because one SPECS gantry can monitor up to four lanes of traffic at any one time.

Nottinghamshire currently has the most SPECS speed cameras with no less than 43 pairs all located in permanent sites.

SPECS speed camera are currently in use in permanent locations in the following counties: Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Greater London, Northern Ireland, Strathclyde, Cornwall, Gloucestershire and South Yorkshire.

In addition SPECS average speed cameras are being used in the following temporary locations: Hertfordshire, Kent, Wiltshire/Berkshire, Devon, Perthshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire and West Midlands.

Quote from the manufactures of SPECS system. "The SPECS system is so efficient and user friendly that Manchester CTO processed 2,500 offences in 6 man-hours".

Points and Penalties

Being prosecuted in the UK by a SPECS speed/safety camera system can result in a minimum of 3 penalty points and a £60 fine. This fine amount is currently under review by the government and may increase in near future.

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Peek Speed Cameras

PEEK Traffic cameras within the United Kingdom are in minority in built up areas. Counties currently using Peek Traffic cameras include; Leicestershire, Greater London and Berkshire.

Peek rely on radar technology, similar to a Gatso. They are also rear-facing due to the 'flash'.

Points and Penalties

Being prosecuted in the UK by a Peek speed/safety camera can result in a minimum of 3 penalty points and a £60 fine. This fine amount is currently under review by the government and may increase in near future.

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Speedcurb Speed Cameras

Speedcurb roadside speed cameras are often used to monitor traffic light offences as well as speeding offences. These traffic cameras are rear facing and are used in fixed permanent speed camera locations. Like both DS2 and Truvelo speed cameras, SpeedCurb use piezo sensors embedded in the road.

Speedcurb speed camera use piezo sensors in the road surface to calculate the speed of a vehicle passing through the cameras enforcement zone.

Points and Penalties

Being prosecuted in the UK by a Speedcurb speed camera can result in a minimum of 3 penalty points and a £60 fine. Fine amounts are currently under review by the government and may increase in near future.

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Watchman Speed Cameras

Watchman speed cameras are rear facing roadside cameras similar to Gatso speed cameras using radar to detect speeding vehicles. Watchman traffic cameras are currently on trial awaiting type approval prior to a national installation programme. In addition to the radar module, Watchman also features a second camera for Number Plate Recognition (NPR).

Watchman speed cameras work using radar technology like a Gatso. A radar stream is constantly emitted and when a vehicle passes through above the speed limit a photograph is taken. But unlike a Gatso the Watchman traffic camera calculates your speed as you approach the camera location. Slowing down just as you reach the Watchman speed camera isn't enough as your speed will have already been monitored and will be recorded as you pass the camera, together with a photo of your vehicle. This provides the Watchman speed camera system with a much larger area of monitoring and enforcing the road speed limit.

Points and Penalties

Being prosecuted in the UK by a Watchman speed camera can result in a minimum of 3 penalty points and a £60 fine. Fine amounts are currently under review by the government and may increase in near future.

Traffic Light Speed Cameras

Traffic light cameras are triggered either by using ground loops that are cut into road surface or radar technology. When using loops, as the traffic lights turn red the system becomes active, any vehicle passing over the sensor in the road after this time is then photographed. Radar based traffic light cameras work in the same manner as fixed Gatso speed cameras.

A news story that appeared in the Daily Mail newspaper reported that the Home Office plan to turn over 1,000 traffic light cameras into speed cameras. "More than 1,000 traffic-cameras used to catch drivers jumping red lights are to converted so they can also trap speeders".

The traffic light camera was originally used to measure red light offences. Nowadays the camera can also be used in combination with speed measurement, similar to that of a Gatso speed camera. So you could end with a speeding offence as well as a traffic light offence, if you go through a red light camera!

Points and Penalties

Being prosecuted in the UK by a traffic light camera can result in a minimum of 3 penalty points and a £60 fine. This fine amount is currently under review by the government and may increase in near future.

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DS2 Speed Cameras

DS2 speed cameras also known as SpeedMaster, Autovision or Autovision 2 are different names for a very similar system. These speed cameras are semi-permanent installations and can cover two lanes of traffic travelling in different directions. DS2 traffic cameras can be attended or left unattended whilst enforcing the speed limit.

DS2 speed camera sites work via three piezo strips either on top of the road surface or embedded within the surface of the road, the latter harder to spot. The piezo sensors are set approximately 1metre apart and are accompanied by a short grey post on the roadside. When in use the DS2 site is connected to the safety camera partnership van or unmarked car. Autovision or Autovision 2 can then be used to provide video evidence of the speeding offence. Alternatively the Police will operate with a police car further along the road, and a message will be sent with details of the offending vehicles registration details to stop and issue the speeding offence. As vehicles drive over the three piezo sensors in the road, the DS2 camera equipment can calculate the vehicles speed. DS2 systems can be left unattended with the Autovision system recording vehicle details.

Points and Penalties

Being prosecuted in the UK by a DS2 speed camera can result in a minimum of 3 penalty points and a £60 fine. Fine amounts are currently under review by the government and may increase in near future.

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Mobile Speed Cameras (These are the ones to watch out for!. I've seen a few at night!)

Police Constabularies across the country use a variety of mobile and hand devices to catch speeding motorists. These systems include; Mini-Gatso, TSS system and Teletraffic (laser guns). Mini-Gatso, the technology used in a Mini-Gatso unit is very similar to that used within a fixed position Gatso speed camera, using radar. Teletraffic police camera teams use mobile vehicle installed with laser speed traps to detect speeding traffic from a distance of 1000 metres. The police laser gun is aimed at a vehicles' number plate and then recorded on video film to record the vehicle speed. This system is generally best for tackling lengths of road, and may be used outside of signed locations.

Most counties across the UK have a 'Speeding Campaign' of some form particularly during festive times when there are more motorists on the road and when people have busier schedules.

Many Police Constabularies and local authorities have routes where they regularly patrol and carry out speed checks. Wrexham for instance in North Wales has a campaign called 'Arrive Alive'. The campaign is fairly high profile, with a dark blue high top transit liveried in the logo "Arrive Alive" on the sides of the van. The van has blacked out windows in the rear apart from a small trapdoor in one window from which the camera lenses protrudes. Other counties have similar projects acting to deter speeding motorists, with some using equipment that first monitors passing vehicles speed and then on large illuminated signs flash up your current speed. Although few prosecutions result from this method, it is more to highlight 'speed' and speeding campaigns.

Recently, residents of a small village Milton of Campsie, on the northern outskirts of Glasgow have been given laser guns to allow them to work on the police-forces behalf. Though they cannot result in a prosecution the information will be passed on the police and could result in a warning letter being sent.

Police Officers in north Wales (March 2008) have been using a horsebox parked by the side of the road to hide a mobile speed camera. Last year Arrive Alive speed cameras in north Wales caught 55,704 offenders. Another 5,610 were caught by officers with hand-held laser devices.

Points and Penalties

Being prosecuted in the UK by a mobile speed/safety camera can result in a minimum of 3 penalty points and a £60 fine. This fine amount is currently under review by the government and may increase in near future.

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If there is any i've missed or any important information then feel free to add!

Amazing mate! Should definetly be a sticky!!! :y:

Them DS2 ones look worryingly hard to see.

i was thinkin that!!!
surely they dont comply with the visibility laws?

yeah they got to show that the camera is there

You forgot Fail Cam!


On a serious note, good job, should be stickied :y:

I didnt know half of those cameras existed :panic:

LOL!!!^^^

The DS2 is not a camera its a sensor array that a mobile camera van can link to.

good work mate, did you actualy type all that or copy and paste from another site? would of killed my fingers typing it all lol yeh defo make a sticky of it

as above i never heard of half of those should definatly be made a sticky

well done though mate good thread :y:

yes they are indimidating
i bet northamptonshire has these to we get all the latest police cameras yet we have the 2nd worse police force wtf :wall:

that cunt on the motorway overpass :boxing: i wanna push him off

Theres something that looks like a DS2 near my house, but i dont think it checks speed ive read the top and it says survey site.

But theres a poilice car that always sits across the road with his cup of tea think he's bored most of the time

speed cameras are horrible things

im glad i live in north yorkshire ;)

shame we have lots of bastards with laser guns...

What happens if your on a road with all of the above cameras pointing at you? LOL

just have to stop the car and walk lol

http://www.speedcamerasuk.com/Gatso.htm
http://www.speedcamerasuk.com/truvelo.htm

etc etc

Not speed simple.

Nice copy pasta though mate.

Agreed it should be a sticky :y:

Top info.

However in the first post (about the Gatso's) you're missing a "T" at the start :y:

Should read:
"There are over 4,000 fixed Gatso speed cameras currently in use"

The watchmen look like horrible sly bastards! Never come across one of them :)

nice post mate should be a sticky

Good post, learned a few new things there

i thought that, never seen one either and hope i never do as it will probably have already done me for speeding!

Yes, it was a copy and paste job, did take a while though mind you. I did it to save people time and the problem of asking.

Should be a sticky IMO to.

top job, fucking speed camers, i agree with pushin the pig off the bridge! ha! never seen half these cameras.. dont give em the enjoyment of bein flashed or w/e...

buy an M10 or M20 laser diffuser unit...woops I did not say that lol.

go on google do a search I rest my case LMAO!

move to swindon

Erm..... Bump?

I really do hate anything to do with the government finding new/more ways to take our hard earned cash from us.

I hate coppers, i hate them with an undying passion. Always thinking they're better than everyone else.

If you're a copper reading this
GO JUMP OFF A FUCKING HIGH BRIDGE

good to no the good old popular cam runs out of film in hours :Homme: fail tbh
as for the laser diffuser i have google'd and they flag your car if they can not get a reading then seize it and search it for a jammer then remove it, while trying to do you for Perverting the Course of Justice
Although there is no individual law against the jammers them selves

I dout you would say such a comment if someone broke into your house and held you all hostige but then the police arrive and actually free you all unharmed? then what would you say about coppers? im sure you would say thank you to them!

or if you was caught speeding and a copper pulled you over and only gave you a warning? im sure you would be driving off chuffed you did not get any points ora fine and would be thanking the copper he was in a good mood when he pulled you?

think before you engage the brain mate ;).

1 in 4 gatsos actually have all the equipment necessary to catch somebody speeding at anyone time. Although the cameras and radar sensors get moved about so the "dummy" cameras are not in the same places all the time.

They also can't prosecute you when driving towards one. And they know the difference. When a gatso is out of film it will go off constantly to act as a deterrent. If you speed towards a gatso with no film it will go off. If you speed towards a gatso with film it will not go off because it is a waste of it's film :P

all im saying is you can activate/de-activate it whilst in the car so in other words a buzzer goes off tells you you are been tracked you then slow down (turn off the diffuser) and carry on your merry way.

the loop hole of this unit is. it also works as an electric garage door opener as they work on the same freqencies. if you dont have an electric garage then tbh id keep well away as you have no excuse to have one installed lol.

also if you intend to buy one and have it constantly turned on then the driver in question is an idiot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOa1o...eature=related

its a very grey area as they are legal but are illegal! if the police pull you over and they can clearly see the sensors on the front of your car then they can tell you to remove it and issue you with a caution, but thats about it so the idea is to properly hide the unit away so if you was pulled the only way the police can see it is if they litrally go under your bonnet :).

I've been reading up on these units for a while ut it seems alot do break after a while!

never been flashed anyways i speed at them a fair bit tbh

happened to me twice! thank my lucky stars

Only been pulled once and that was for "speeding"

It was a traffic cop so I know he knew that I really wasn't speeding. Just wasn't happy I overtook him on the sliproad.

He came across initially as a right twat. But realising I wasn't the typical Chavvy Saxo owner and that my car was 100% legal, he had a bit of a laugh with me.

Still gave me a producer though! Bastard! :homme:

I was told a country can only turn on 1/4 (25%) of its camera's otherwise if there all on, its seen as making money.. This is the law too.

Its illegal for them to be facing you and flash? I've seen this many times, even this evening though a local village

If they cant proscute you if their facing forward, then whats the point in them facing you, and drawing lines and adding pizzo strips in the floor?

When you say speed towards it? you on about at 35MPH? then a few metres before the white line, slam your breaks on and go through it at 30MPH?

I was flashed from behind a few weeks back. It was only ONE flash instead of 2 quick flashes.

Upon reading some forums, one flash means you wasn't speeding (i was doing 31mph), but the camera has a error, or needs calibrating??

funny you mention that I was driving today and hada thought I wonder ifa copper was in a 60 zone driving 40 you over took them they then pulled you over. what would they actually be able to do lols. as you would not be speeding as you would be upto 60mph by the time you had over took them and it would not be dangerous driving if the manouver was done on a clear strip of road!


im sure they would just pull us over just for the simple reason they had been over taken and did not like it lols.

Aparently i've under took at police car in a 30MPH road, that has 3 lanes, left, right or straigh on. I chose to go left, but though i'll go otherway home.

under took him dead on 30MPH. Wasn't happy and right up my arse all the way home. Pulled me over on a bridge (TW@) then called for abouther 2 cars for 'back up'?

I dont have a problem with the police at all. I know i dont cause a problem on the roads, and whats more, i dont go looking for trouble so they dont bother me.

I have respect for the police tbh, one thing that annoys me is i get told off for parking down the high-street but a taxi can park down the high-street while he pops into the shop :wall:

If its safe, why not?

Like police on the motorway doing 60MPH, everyone else sits behind it and dose 60MPH.. The limit is 70MPH, so do it.