Attack of the 16ft speed cameras
Published: 8th April 2006
Category: New Traps
Reader's Rage: [26votes]

A new generation of digital speed cameras are being rolled out at various locations across the UK. At 16 feet tall the cameras are out of vandals' reach and because they instantly deliver digital photos to a control centre they will never run out of film as the current Gatso cameras do.

Each camera costs ?50,000, but running 24 hours a day, 365 days a week, a single camera need only snap 1 speeding driver every 10 hours to pay for itself over the course of a year.

Unlike current Gatso cameras that use radar to detect vehicles the new cameras use sensors under the road which is apparently more accurate. One of the biggest concerns regarding radar technology is that radar can bounce off other vehicles and obstructions such as barriers and bridges.

Redspeed, the British manufacturer based in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, are in talks with camera partnerships all over the UK in an attempt to replace and/or increase the camera population. Transport for London is installing 66 of the cameras and plans to order more, while Avon & Somerset police has 30 or so in operation. 70 further devices can be found in Manchester, Nottingham, Leicester, Cumbria and the Isle of Man.

Our comment: Authorities continue to obsess and spend a fortune on camera technology but it does nothing to help prevent the 96% of accidents where exceeding the speed limit isn't the primary cause. Therefore the overwhelming majority of accidents will continue.

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