Speed camera myths busted as AA sets the record straight on 'dangerous' tactics
Drivers are being warned to ignore the many myths over modern speed cameras which are now too smart to be caught out.
The AA has said that many of the tricks that some motorists use in the belief that they can evade being caught are dangerous and that people should avoid them as they risk receiving bans or fines.
"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," said the motoring association.
One of the common myths the AA identified was the belief drivers can fool the speed calculations on an average speed camera network by changing lanes. "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," it said.
And while the Department for Transport has revealed all speed cameras are set to be painted yellow to improve visibility, the AA debunked another common belief that speed cameras need 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," it said.
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What speed cameras are used on the roads?
The first camera type is still used today and is named the Gatso after Dutch rally-driving inventor Maurice Gatsonides. The Gatso is a type of fixed speed camera which means that it records the speed at which a car passes at a particular spot, reported the Liverpool Echo.
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 a driver slows down to preserve people's safety - such as near a school crossing.
Another style is the average speed camera - which records the speed that drivers are travelling at on different points over a length of road. This means drivers are unable to just slow down as they approach the camera 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.
And further type is a speed and traffic camera - which uses radar to capture how fast a driver is going. If a 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 the speed limit was broken by - or if the person is a repeat offender.
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