Safety Cameras
- hand held or mounted laser guns used in the mobile camera units
- fixed site Truvelo cameras
- fixed site Digital Average Speed cameras
- red light cameras
Laser guns are capable of pin-pointing individual vehicles at any distance from 9m to 1km away. The camera can either be mounted on tripods or held in the hand. Measurements are taken by aiming the laser beam at the registration plate of the vehicle and can be taken as the vehicle is approaching or receding from the camera. It's image is then captured by video camera, showing time and date of offence, together with the vehicle speed and the distance from the device. It takes less than one third of a second for a speed to be displayed. Because images are recorded on video rather than as still photographs, other offences such as mobile phone use and seat belt offences can be recorded.
Fixed Site Truvelo Cameras
The fixed site Truvelo cameras, in blue and yellow housings, take a photograph of the vehicle registration plate and the driver. Sensors located under the road surface detect the speed of a vehicle which then activates the camera and the flash unit if the vehicle is exceeding the legal speed limit. Some housings can be turned around to face different directions at different times of the day and recent enhancements allow for certain cameras to be used for taking rear facing shots.
Digital Average Speed Cameras
The development of digital photography allows for average speed systems that can control up to 10km of a route. A camera records the number plate at an entry to a route and a second camera records again at the exit. A computer then matches the entry and exit recordings and calculates the average speed. If the speed exceeds the legal limit then the information is retained for enforcement action. In Northamptonshire this system operates along the A43 Lumbertubs Way in Northampton and the A428 road between Brafield-on-the-Green and Yardley Hastings. The same technology is increasingly being used by the Highways Agency within roadworks in order to protect their workforce.
Red Light Cameras
Linked to the operation of the traffic signals, these rear facing cameras are activated when a vehicle travels through the signals whilst on red. The offence carries the same penalty as speeding; a £60 fine and three points on your licence. They also record vehicle speed so two offences can be detected at the same time.
