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New UK speed cameras unavoidable - Average speed cameras go digital
British motorists will be monitored by a wave of new digital average speed cameras from next year, after successful trials in London.
Current average speed cameras work using cables, meaning that speed is simply measured between two cameras. The new digital technology can link up to 50 cameras, allowing them to monitor areas up to 15 miles apart using the number plate recognition technology already in use. It is expected to approved by the Home Office in January 2009, with installation beginning in the summer.
Transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick said, “The latest cameras will give a more sophisticated edge to cameras than the blunt instrument we have at the moment. Wherever there are average speed cameras, traffic moves at a uniform speed and crashes are reduced.”
Digital technology is also effective as it allows an unlimited number of photos to be stored. The new system will typically cost around £300,000 per network.
Autocar - Average speed cameras go digital
SPEED CAMERAS, no one really likes them, but here we are again facing another litter of cameras - and this time they say we can't possibly avoid them.
This is all well and good - a pat on the back for making our roads safer places to drive - but do we really need to be monitored Big Brother stylie wherever we go?
Apparently so. These new cameras known as Specs3 will appear in clusters of 50 working in a network and will monitor every driver's average speed as they travel.
Similar cameras have been deployed in recent years, mainly on motorways with ongoing road works, however these were easily avoidable by coming off at a junction before the next one caught you - these new and improved versions will be pasted at every entrance and exit meaning, short of ploughing through a corn field, you can't escape.
These cameras can be placed up to 15 miles apart from each other and still automatically read number plates and transmit this data in an instant to a penalty processing centre.
Police have trialled the cameras in London already and say that the results were promising. A second set of trials will conclude in Northern Ireland this week.
Road Safety Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick said this week that , “When the Home Office approves the equipment, I think there will be great interest among the safety-camera partnerships. They will give a more sophisticated edge to cameras than the blunt instrument we have at the moment.”
Speed cameras have been proven to be helpful as the number of casualties on the M1 halved after the original average-speed cameras were introduced on a contraflow between junctions 6a and 10.
However, there are also many convincing arguments against them, such as the fact that you can get stuck behind a very slow driver and get caught for ove rtaking.
The Association of British Drivers, which campaigns against speed cameras also made an interesting point about the Specs3 as they would make, “People put the car in cruise control and the mind in neutral. It’s so boring driving through these sections at a constant slow speed that people are going to drop off.”
Specs3 will cost typically £300,000 per network and are likely to be deployed first on long rural A roads, while some local authorities have plans to use Specs3 to enforce 20mph limits on networks of residential roads - yippee we hear you cry.
The Home Office is expected to approve this technology by the beginning of next year, the first fines issued by the time we motor off on our summer holidays - watch out for them as they will be appearing in their hundreds.
By Emma Hughes
New UK speed cameras unavoidable - The INQUIRER
British motorists will be monitored by a wave of new digital average speed cameras from next year, after successful trials in London.
Current average speed cameras work using cables, meaning that speed is simply measured between two cameras. The new digital technology can link up to 50 cameras, allowing them to monitor areas up to 15 miles apart using the number plate recognition technology already in use. It is expected to approved by the Home Office in January 2009, with installation beginning in the summer.
Transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick said, “The latest cameras will give a more sophisticated edge to cameras than the blunt instrument we have at the moment. Wherever there are average speed cameras, traffic moves at a uniform speed and crashes are reduced.”
Digital technology is also effective as it allows an unlimited number of photos to be stored. The new system will typically cost around £300,000 per network.
Autocar - Average speed cameras go digital
SPEED CAMERAS, no one really likes them, but here we are again facing another litter of cameras - and this time they say we can't possibly avoid them.
This is all well and good - a pat on the back for making our roads safer places to drive - but do we really need to be monitored Big Brother stylie wherever we go?
Apparently so. These new cameras known as Specs3 will appear in clusters of 50 working in a network and will monitor every driver's average speed as they travel.
Similar cameras have been deployed in recent years, mainly on motorways with ongoing road works, however these were easily avoidable by coming off at a junction before the next one caught you - these new and improved versions will be pasted at every entrance and exit meaning, short of ploughing through a corn field, you can't escape.
These cameras can be placed up to 15 miles apart from each other and still automatically read number plates and transmit this data in an instant to a penalty processing centre.
Police have trialled the cameras in London already and say that the results were promising. A second set of trials will conclude in Northern Ireland this week.
Road Safety Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick said this week that , “When the Home Office approves the equipment, I think there will be great interest among the safety-camera partnerships. They will give a more sophisticated edge to cameras than the blunt instrument we have at the moment.”
Speed cameras have been proven to be helpful as the number of casualties on the M1 halved after the original average-speed cameras were introduced on a contraflow between junctions 6a and 10.
However, there are also many convincing arguments against them, such as the fact that you can get stuck behind a very slow driver and get caught for ove rtaking.
The Association of British Drivers, which campaigns against speed cameras also made an interesting point about the Specs3 as they would make, “People put the car in cruise control and the mind in neutral. It’s so boring driving through these sections at a constant slow speed that people are going to drop off.”
Specs3 will cost typically £300,000 per network and are likely to be deployed first on long rural A roads, while some local authorities have plans to use Specs3 to enforce 20mph limits on networks of residential roads - yippee we hear you cry.
The Home Office is expected to approve this technology by the beginning of next year, the first fines issued by the time we motor off on our summer holidays - watch out for them as they will be appearing in their hundreds.
By Emma Hughes
New UK speed cameras unavoidable - The INQUIRER
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