Well theres been a few questions lately. Thought it might be of use to have a thread so people know whats looking at them! Theres always the arguement that the police and/or government are fleecing us, but its always worth remembering that on the roads in the built up areas, its a reminder that theres a speed limit for a reason.

Gatso Meter Speed Cameras
The Gatso speed camera uses radar technology (radar type 24), the equipment can be used in a stationary position, in a car, in a trailer on a tripod or from a moving vehicle. Fixed installation post (F.I.P) Gatso speed cameras are rear facing as they use a 'flash' to capture the image required for prosecution, which would distract a driver if forward facing.

Traffic Light Cameras
The RLC system is triggered by sensors or ground loops that are cut into road surface as a vehicle passes over them, while a red light is shown.

The Red Light Camera was originally used to measure red light offences. Nowadays the RLC can also be used in combination with speed measurement, similar to that of a Gatso Meter rear facing speed camera (radar type 24 technology) and can therefore also record the speed of the offending motorist as well. So you could end with a speeding offence as well as a traffic light offence, if you go through a red light camera!

Truvelo Speed Cameras
The forward facing Truvelo camera system is designed to take photographs of the front of a passing vehicle. This allows the picture taken to show the driver of the vehicle as well. In countries such as Switzerland, Germany and the Scandinavian countries driver recognition is a required factor to enable a successful prosecution of a speed or red light offence.

A single front photograph, taken just after the vehicle has crossed the piezo sensors used for speed measurement, includes all the secondary check information required.

To avoid the 'flash' which is given out by a rear facing Gatso camera the Truvelo system uses an infra red flash which produces no visible 'flash' to the approaching driver.

Pictured above; a forward facing Truvelo speed camera, sometimes referred to as a 'pink eye'.



Rubber strips in the road calculate your speed as you pass over them via the small telltale grey post which sits along side. The DS2 system requires a mobile camera usually in a van to plug into this grey post inorder to photograph you. They cant calculate your speed without the van plugging the camera in the post so watch for it nearby. Difficult to spot if you are not using a GPS Speed Camera Warning System. Cant capture your speed unless the van with camera is plugged into the grey post. Sometimes the strips in the road are only on one side of the road.


PEEK Traffic Speed Cameras
Peek Traffic B.V., founded in 1990 and based in the Netherlands. Manufacture a range of speed detecting cameras, using either loops within the roads surface or radar. The most popular in the UK is similar in design to a rear facing Gasto using a normal double-flash. PEEK Traffic cameras within the United Kingdom are in minority use compared with the Gasto Meter. Counties currently using PEEK Traffic cameras include; Leicestershire, Greater London and Berkshire.

SPECS System
Speed Violation Detection Deterrent, SVDD is the digital brain which the SPECS system is based upon, it uses state of the art video system with Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) digital technology. Consisting of two video cameras each fitted with infra red illuminators, giving the ability to work 24hrs 7days a week.

SPECS are fitted either at the roadside or central reservation a set distance apart to create a speed controlled zone, or where appropriate, groups of cameras can be linked to create a speed controlled network. Mounted to a single or doubled armed distinctive blue SPECS column, they are linked together via computer.

As vehicles pass between the entry and exit camera points their number plates are digitally recorded, whether speeding or not. Then, by ANPR recognition, the images on the video of matching number plates are paired up, and because each image carries a date and time stamp, the computer can then work out your average speed between the cameras, and then will make a decision if the preset speed threshold is triggered. This data is then digitally stored on a central computer, so that there is no need for film to be collected and changed at the cameras site



Mobile & Handheld Devices
Police Constabularies across the country use a variety of mobile and hand devices to catch speeding motorists. These systems include; Mini-Gatso, TSS system (see above) and Teletraffic (laser guns). Mini-Gatso, the technology used in a Mini-Gatso unit is very similar to that used within a fixed position Gatso speed camera, using radar type 24 (see above). Teletraffic, police camera teams use this as a vehicle based system which can be set up to detect speeding traffic from a distance of 1000 metres using laser technology. The device is aimed on a vehicle number plate and which is then recorded on video film with the associated speed. This system is generally best for tackling lengths of road, and may be used outside of signed locations.


Traffic Master
Often mistaken for a form of speed camera, the Traffic Master system takes the form of blue camera like devices normally either situated on a blue pole by the road side or fixed to a bridge across all lanes of traffic.

The purpose of the Traffic Master system is to feed traffic information back to the control centre to highlight slow moving traffic (i.e. traffic jams), and then to relay this information to its customers via various multimedia products. visit http://www.trafficmaster.co.uk/ for more information.


theres also locations here http://www.speedcamerasuk.com/database/EMD/index.htm