There are a whole host of myths about speed cameras and how they work, including how drivers can avoid a fine. But now the AA has explained exactly how the cameras operate, and set the record straight
The first speed camera was installed in the UK in 1991 - and was introduced to ensure motorists stayed within the legal driving limits to preserve people's safety. A study from London School of Economics conducted between 1992 and 2016 estimated that speed cameras reduced deaths from road accidents by between 58% and 68%.
A whole host of tricks have since spread about how drivers can beat speed cameras, but the AA has warned that drivers should ignore these dangerous myths, reports the Liverpool Echo. The motoring association said: "You shouldn't be trying to avoid getting caught. It's safer for everyone to stick to the limits - and the law - by not speeding in the first place." You can get more traffic and travel news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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One of the common myths the AA identified was the belief drivers could fool the speed calculations on an average speed camera network by changing lanes. The AA said: "While older speed cameras could’ve been ‘tricked’, more advanced cameras now use multiple sets of cameras at each point to track all the lanes and compare average speeds.
The Department for Transport has revealed that all speed cameras are set to be painted yellow to improve visibility, but the AA debunked another common myth that speed cameras needed to be visible in order for the offender to be penalised. "Just because you didn’t see a speed camera clearly doesn’t mean the fine is invalid. They aren't there to be spotted and dodged - the point of them is to encourage drivers to stick within the speed limit."
How do speed cameras work?
According to the AA, there are four different kinds of fixed speed cameras and these are mainly found in locations where it is vital that you slow down to preserve people's safety - such as near a school crossing.
Another type is the average speed camera - which records the speed that drivers are travelling at over a length of road. This means drivers are unable to just slow down as they approach the camera to fool it and there is no limit to how long an average speed camera network can be - as the SpeedSpike average speed cameras can fit into a network of up to 1,000 separate cameras.
The other type of speed camera is a speed and traffic camera - which uses radar to capture how fast a driver is going. If your car is detected as breaking the legal limit, the speed camera will take a digital image of the vehicle including the colour, type, make and registration plate.
The registered owner of the vehicle will then be sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) within two weeks of being caught. The minimum penalty for speeding is generally a £100 fine and three points on your licence. However, this can be escalated depending on how much you broke the speed limit by - or if you are a repeat offender.
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