The Guide to Speed Trap Technologies

This guide has been written to offer a simple overview of the different speed trap systems being used in the UK. For additional (or specific) information or advice, please feel free to call us on 01555 666 444.

Fixed Speed Cameras

GATSO

The first and most popular of all camera based traps. There are currently over 3,500 fixed GATSO systems on the UK's roads. GATSO uses 'K Band' radar to gauge your speed, before taking two photographs (watch out for the bright flashes) of the rear of the offending vehicle. The majority of GATSO boxes are in fact empty, with the internal electronics being moved from site to site periodically.

TRUVELO

Often confused with GATSO - they look very similar, TRUVELO operates in a completely different way. Firstly, the blue TRUVELO box takes a photograph of the front of the vehicle, and uses and infrared flash - so no visible flash. Rather than using a radar based speed measuring technique, it utilises pressure pads in the road surface to calculate your speed.

SPECS

SPECS is the first speed camera system to use entirely digital technology, and has caused a great deal of fear and paranoia throughout the motoring public since its launch in 2001. SPECS uses a small network (or 'string') of pole or gantry mounted cameras to calculate the speed of a vehicle over a set distance. SPECS uses digital camera and optical character recognition technology to log images and registration numbers, together with a time and date stamp. The SPECS system is then able to calculate the average time taken between SPECS points, either single sites, or over a collection of sites. The idea behind SPECS is that drivers are not able to speed between camera points, only slowing down when they reach the camera (before speeding up again) - as they can with GATSO and TRUVELO. SPECS uses infrared camera technology and requires no flash, meaning that motorists are unaware that they have been caught until a letter of intended prosecution lands on their doormat.

DS2

DS2 operates in a similar way to TRUVELO, using pressure sensors on the road surface. The difference is that DS2 is not a permanent system, since the main electronics are portable and moved from site to site. DS2 is a manual system and is operated in the presence of police officers who will 'pull-over' offending motorists further down the road.

Mobile Speed Traps

Laser Guns

Speed guns utilising laser technology effectively replaced the older 'radar' type gun devices in 1999/2000.

Laser guns have the advantage of being able to pinpoint individual vehicles in moving traffic, as well as having a greater operating range - up to 2000 feet. Laser guns are also less prone to errors and interference.

Laser guns tend to be used on long stretches of road and are often tripod mounted - it is a manual system and requires a human operator to be present.

Laser signals can be difficult to detect under certain circumstances and are able to calculate a vehicle's speed in a fraction of a second.

'Safety' Vans

So called 'Safety Vans', operated by the various speed camera partnerships in the UK - use laser gun technology linked to a digital camera system. Like standard laser guns, this system requires a human operator and all offenders are notified of their intended prosecution by post.

GPS Systems vs. Conventional Radar Detectors

The latest GPS based speed trap locator products (such as Pogos) have distinct advantages over traditional radar detector products since they have the ability to warn users of the presence of 'digital' or 'non-emitting' speed traps such as TRUVELO and SPECS.

Additionally, GPS based systems do not suffer from the false alarms and interference of radar based detection devices.

GPS based systems do however require access to a PC and the Internet - for downloading/updating of new speed camera locations. An annual subscription fee is payable for this service.

Legality

In the UK, GPS based speed camera locators are legal to own and use, and have been since they were introduced in 2000. The Department for Transport are on the record as saying that these devices will remain legal for the foreseeable future, and that they are a valuable addition to road safety.

Conventional Radar and Laser 'detectors' currently have the same legal standing, although periodically there is pressure from the Department for Transport to outlaw these devices. They have been unsuccessful thus far.

Outside the UK, use of radar and laser detector products is prohibited in some countries, notably France and Switzerland.

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