Drivers have been warned not to rely on speed camera ‘buffer zones’ if they want to avoid an expensive fine and points on their licence while driving on a smart motorway. Penalties for exceeding the speed limit are amongst the most common road convictions, with millions of Brits having picked up points at some stage of their driving career.
Punishments can include a fine of up to £2,500 and even a driving ban, which means the cameras that detect heavy-footed motorists are widely despised. They have become a much more common sight on the newer smart motorways being rolled out across the country.
And experts have now highlighted a few myths around speed cameras that are well worth busting to ensure you steer clear of trouble. Graham Conway, Managing Director of Select Car Leasing, the UK’s leading independent car and van leasing company, said: “Most of the smart motorways in the UK are equipped with the newer HADECS 3 speed cameras, which are positioned at the side of the overhead gantries.
“They work by detecting whether the speed threshold has been broken using radar technology, then taking three photographs of the perpetrating vehicle. They adapt to the changing speed limits and don’t flash like more traditional speed cameras.
“But while the cameras are there for good reason – to stop people blasting down the tarmac over the limit and therefore putting fellow road users in danger – there is a minor detail which may be landing people in trouble. And that’s the cast iron belief all of these cameras have a ‘buffer zone’ to give you some leeway.”
Many motorists will state there is a “10% + 2mph” buffer in place across the country, which means that you will be okay if you are driving up to 35mph in a 30mph zone and have no worries if you are doing up to 79mph on a 70mph limit stretch. Research carried out last year found that 25 of the 45 police forces in the UK confirmed this was the case.
But the detail most people are missing is that there’s no certainty you won’t be prosecuted if you are within this range. Mr Conway added: “It is not guaranteed that this buffer will protect you, so it’s much better – and safer – to stay within the stated limit and not risk creeping over.
“The buffer zones were reportedly designed to encourage safer driving, namely by making it easier for motorists to keep their eyes on the road rather than staring at the speedometer all of the time. But relying on them to get yourself out of a spot of bother is not recommended.”
This week it was revealed that more than 3,500 drivers have been caught out by a ‘stealth’ speed camera on a stretch of the M6 in the West Midlands. The northbound carriageway between Junctions 7 and 8 at Great Barr has seen an average of 19 motorists a day being clocked over the temporary 40mph limit.
And Select Car Leasing’s Mr Conway pointed out another smart motorway fact that can help drivers navigate the highways in a more relaxed manner this summer. He added: “One of the main features of smart motorways is the changing speed limits on the overhead gantries, used to help control and manage traffic.
“Some motorists panic if the limit reduces just as they are about to pass under the gantry, slamming on their brakes to try to drop their speed and not be caught out by the cameras. But there is a 60 second grace period, where the system takes a picture to confirm the new speed limit and allows the traffic to slow down.
“So while you should be reducing your speed when you see the change in limit, you don’t have to do it immediately and should continue to drive as smoothly as possible.”
