How Do Speed Cameras Work

How do speed cameras in the Uk piece of work?

In that location's no doubt that our nation is divided on speed cameras. Like them or loathe them, they are here to stay, implemented with the aim of bringing down the number of motorists exceeding speed limits and improving road safety.

Perhaps you've been defenseless out by a speed camera in the past? If so, depending on how fast you were driving over the limit, you might have been fined, received points on your licence, attended a speed awareness course or been banned from driving altogether.

If you're now looking to go back on the road following a speeding offence, or whatever other motoring offence for that matter, the Insurance Factory can help.

We can adjust convicted driver insurance on your behalf, with your policy packed with all the benefits and features of standard car insurance.

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Now, let'southward test your knowledge of speed cameras in the Britain…

A yellow speed camera at a roadside with green leafy trees behind it

What are the most mutual speed cameras in the UK?

Gatso and Truvelo. Heard of these names before? As AutoExpress explains, these are the 2 main types of fixed speed camera used in the U.k..

The Gatso (brusque for Gatsometer) is the near popular camera, easily identified by its vivid yellow paint, which is required past law.

Gastos are typically mounted on poles at the side of the route and are rear-facing, allowing them to take images of speeding vehicles from behind (and without dazzling drivers).

Gasto cameras use radar to find the speed of vehicles, though law requires a secondary proof of speeding.

That's why you run into lines on the road nearly the cameras – the dashes are every bit spaced and are used to judge distance over time, so it can be determined whether or not a driver has broken the speed limit.

Truvelo cameras are similarly painted yellow and mounted on a pole. The deviation is that near Truvelos are frontward-facing, using a filter on the camera to brand sure the flashes don't dazzle drivers.

Because they're forward-facing, Truvelo cameras can be used to place the commuter of a speeding auto. This may come in handy when, for instance, multiple people are insured on one car.

The by few years have seen the traditional Truvelo evolve into the Truvelo D-Cam. It's essentially a digital version of the Truvelo that can be rear or forward facing. It can too exist installed at traffic lights and has the potential to monitor iii lanes at once.

Another speed cameras yous may meet on your travels include:

Mobile speed cameras – operated by police officers from a van usually parked at the side of the road.
HADECS speed cameras – used mainly on smart motorways with the capability of recording five lanes of traffic.
Average speed cameras – these come in unlike types simply all monitor drivers between 2 set points to make sure they aren't speeding.
Traffic light cameras – some speed cameras double up as traffic light cameras to grab drivers committing offences like running a cherry light.

How are the vehicle and driver identified?

Some cameras work using radar technology, while others assess speed past detectors in the route.

If you drive past a camera too fast it will have an paradigm of your vehicle, recording its make, model, colour and registration plate number (and an image of the driver if information technology'due south a forwards-facing camera).

It likewise records things like the fourth dimension and date, the road's speed limit and the speed at which you were driving.

The car's registration plate will then be checked against the DVLA's records to locate the registered address of the driver.

A speed camera sign on pole next to slip road to a busy bridge

What happens if you're caught by a speed camera?

Think you were flashed? Every bit the Gov.UK website notes, if a camera catches y'all speeding then you'll either receive a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) or a section 172 notice.

If yous go a 172 notice, yous're required to complete and return it inside 28 days, informing the constabulary who was driving the vehicle at the time.

Ignore the notice and you might cease upwards in courtroom. If you lot ain the machine only weren't driving information technology at the time, you'll need to provide the proper name and address of the driver who was in control of the auto at the fourth dimension.

One time you've sent the 172 notice back, y'all'll receive either a Fixed Punishment Notice (FPN) or a letter telling you that you lot need to become to court.

Drivers who receive an FPN tin plead guilty or non guilty. Acknowledge to speeding and you'll exist given a £100 fine and three punishment points.

That is, unless you're offered to go along a speed awareness form. How you pay the fine depends on where you were defenseless speeding.

Your driving licence will have a code on it for four years and y'all may have to give details of this offence when taking out convicted commuter insurance.

If y'all plead non guilty, then yous'll be summoned to court. Just deport in mind that you could receive a higher fine and more penalisation points if the courtroom decides that you lot are, in fact, guilty.

This fine depends on the speed limit of the road and the speed you were driving, and is typically a pct of your weekly earnings upward to a maximum of £one,000 (or £2,000 if yous were caught on a motorway).

Tin y'all say someone else was driving?

No. Lying nigh who was driving at the time a photographic camera defenseless your car speeding is an offence that could carry serious implications. It could atomic number 82 to a criminal confidence.

Convicted driver insurance from the Insurance Mill

Drivers may recall of speed cameras as a bugbear, just they are designed to brand people think twice about speeding (which increases the risk of accidents) and hopefully, adjust their driving behaviour.

And that means safer roads for anybody.

Remember, if yous're looking to become back on the road following a speeding or other driving offence, the Insurance Factory can set you lot upwardly with a convicted driver insurance policy. Get a quote today!