If you’re a regular motorist, you’ll already know the nation’s roads are lined with speed cameras snapping away at vehicles travelling too fast. However, you might not be aware of speed cameras that can track your vehicles average speed along specific stretches of road.
Being convicted for speeding can land you with a hefty fine and points on your driving licence, as well as increasing the cost of your motor insurance policy. What’s more, if you work for a garage, a business selling new and used cars or any other business in the motor trade, breaking UK driving laws could ultimately mean losing your job.
How Do Average Speed Cameras Work?
There are many types of speed camera in use around the UK, but most of them fall into two categories: fixed speed and average speed. Both types of system feature detectors which measure the speed at which vehicles are travelling as they pass by. If these cameras reveal that you’re driving above the speed limit it will capture an image of your car at that point in time.
However, a fixed camera will only record a vehicle’s speed as it passes the detector associated with it. Therefore, if motorists know where the camera’s located, they may drop their speed as they reach it, before increasing their speed again once passed. In contrast, each average speed camera is linked to at least one other camera in the area, enabling the system to monitor your speed as you pass between them. Your average journey speed can then be calculated, and, if it’s higher than the speed limit in that area you could be prosecuted.
How Widespread is the Use of Average Speed Cameras in the UK?
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The UK’s first average speed cameras were installed in Nottingham almost twenty years ago and this type of system is now in use on more than 250 miles of our roads. In 2014, average speed cameras were installed at 27 points on single carriageway sections of Scotland’s A9, between the cities of Inverness and Perth. The number in place on British roads doubled between 2014 and 2016, and more have been installed since.
Can You Avoid Getting Caught?
There’s only one way to ensure that you aren’t caught speeding: stick to the speed limit. Average speed cameras are digital, so they won’t run out of film and work in all weather conditions. They also employ infra-red technology, so they’ll recognise your vehicle at night. Some people believe changing lanes can confuse the average seed camera system, but it’s just an urban myth, so, by trying you’re still likely to get caught speeding and could even cause an accident in the process.
Plan your journey, leave plenty of time, turn on your favourite driving songs, relax and get home safely.
