Here are 12 things drivers need to know about speed cameras, including which cars are checked, whether night vision is used and how big a speeding threshold actually is.
The cameras, love or hate them, are a key part in enforcing speed limits.
Whilst some support them to keep their towns or villages safe, and others hate them and find them a pain, they are an inescapable part of driving.
A number of rumours and wild claims swirl around them, but two of the Safer Roads Humber team, Chris and Ian, have answered a number of questions, HullLive reported.
From dispelling myths to tractor cameras, here are 12 things you should know about speed cameras.
Myth: Speed vans measure the speed of every car that passes
Incorrect. Chris said that the speed guns used in such vans tend to be manual. As such he will only trigger them to check the speed of someone he suspects is going too fast.
Chris added: “I would say most of the time cars driving past aren't checked."
Myth: You can get a fine for going 31mph in a 30mph zone.
Both of the Safer Roads team confirmed this isn’t true. As others have claimed, the threshold for action is ten per cent of the speed limit plus 2mph - but varies by region.
This means you will not be fined unless you are doing 35mph in a 30mph zone or similarly, 79mph on the motorway.
However Chris added that speed limits are in place for a reason. Hitting someone at even a slightly higher speed could greatly increase the chance of fatality.
Myth: Speed vans purposely park on roads where they know they will make money.
The team explained that the speed vans actually go to sites that have had deaths or serious injuries due to collisions.
They are carefully chosen to be the most effective in reducing collisions on high-risk roads and money-making has no impact on where it is chosen.
Myth: Shareholders are getting rich from speeding fines and driving education course fees.
Ian was happy to share exactly where the money goes, "and it's not towards our Christmas parties", he said.
Education course fees are completely ringfenced into making roads safer. That could be buying new equipment, funding talks in schools, or paying staff.
There are absolutely no shareholders that benefit from speeding fines. If people are ordered to pay a fine, it mostly all goes to the government but there are absolutely no quotas or targets and Chris says his most successful day would be giving no fines at all.
Myth: Speed vans have to legally be marked or camera signs need to be visible in the area.
This rule no longer applies and although Safer Roads Humber usually use marked vans, they have recently been out in tractors, motorbikes or on foot to catch speeding offenders.
Ian said: "We want people to think that we could pop up in any vehicle so that they change their behaviour everywhere, rather than just when they see a marked van."
It is important to note that the Police could be out on any road at any time in any vehicle to catch speeders.
Myth: If I slow down before I reach the van, I won't be caught.
On a straight road, vans can catch you speeding from 1km away with complete accuracy. On a bendy road, they catch you as soon as you enter the line of sight, which will probably be long before you spot them.
Myth: The vans will only pull me up on speeding.
Due to the high-quality zoom of the cameras, it is possible to see inside people's cars. They can easily fine you if they catch you looking at a phone or if you're distracted by anything else.
Other offences that aren't driving offences could also be picked up. Smoking inside a locked car with a child or visibly carrying drugs could mean that the Safer Roads Humber team radio through to police and suggest they pull you over.
So, simply, don’t do anything illegal.
Myth: Speed cameras only work in one direction.
The camera can check the speed of any vehicle by aiming it at their front or back number plate - any direction at all.
Myth: It is illegal to flash other drivers and let them know there is a speed van.
This differs in different regions because technically it counts as obstruction. However, Ian said the Humber team does not generally enforce this.
He said: "If another road user flashing a vehicle makes them more aware of their driving then it's not necessarily a bad thing. Our whole aim is to deter people from poor driving so it achieves the same objective."
Myth: Nobody can force me to move things out of the way of the speed camera.
It is an offence to obstruct the view of a camera and you will be asked to move if you do so. Failure to do this could result in arrest.
Myth: Speed vans operate only during the day.
Although it is more common to police the roads in the day - mainly because they are busier - the cameras have high quality night vision technology. You could easily be caught speeding at 2am if a road is prone to a lot of risk after dark.
Myth: Speed vans fail to check speeds on 20mph roads enough.
Although the speeds are lowered for a reason, it is true that these zones are not usually enforced enough.
Ian said: "Generally on these roads we have islands or speed bumps which will make it difficult to go really fast without damage to your vehicle and that's why the team will spend more time on other roads that are more at risk."
