'UK mulls use of innovative speed cameras to deter speeding'

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【Summary】The UK is considering implementing "Anti-Braking" speed cameras to catch drivers who try to avoid penalties for speeding. These cameras, which have been successful in Spain, detect drivers who abruptly brake before speed cameras and then rapidly accelerate afterward. Road safety experts believe that this technology could be effective in the UK. The introduction of average speed cameras and cascading technology has already been used to discourage speeding.

FutureCar Staff Sep 26, 2023 6:15 AM PT

'UK mulls use of innovative speed cameras to deter speeding'

Road safety authorities in the UK are considering the introduction of new anti-braking speed cameras to deter drivers from avoiding penalties for speeding. The success of these devices in Spain has led experts to advocate for their implementation in the UK. The technology targets drivers who brake abruptly before speed cameras and then accelerate rapidly once they have passed.

In early 2020, the anti-braking devices were officially rolled out in the Navarra region of North-East Spain following a successful pilot scheme. These devices proved effective in detecting and catching motorists attempting to evade fines for speeding, prompting experts to believe that similar technology could be applied in the UK.

Many drivers have been known to forcefully brake just before a speed camera to temporarily comply with the speed limit, only to accelerate immediately afterward. This practice allows them to avoid penalties such as fines, licence points, and other driving penalties. However, advancements in technology, including laser systems and 'doppler effect technology,' have made it harder for drivers to evade punishment by accurately recording a vehicle's speed.

The introduction of average speed cameras across the UK has also aimed to discourage speeding. In Spain, the government has taken additional precautions by implementing anti-braking radars and cascading technology. Cascading involves placing a mobile radar unit at a significant distance after a fixed speed camera to detect drivers who speed up again after passing the initial camera, assuming they have escaped detection. Those who fall into this trap will be caught by the second mobile speed camera and may face substantial fines and licence points.

On the other hand, anti-braking systems utilize a mobile device positioned before the fixed speed camera to identify drivers who forcefully brake upon seeing the signposted camera. This means that motorists who brake harshly immediately upon spotting the speed camera have already been detected by the preceding mobile device.

Gary Digva, founder of Road Angel, has warned UK drivers that these new anti-braking systems could be implemented nationwide to control speeding. He emphasized the importance of reducing speeding to improve road safety, citing statistics that one in four fatal collisions in the UK is caused by speeding, resulting in over 2,500 serious injuries every year. Digva believes that introducing this new technology will help keep UK roads safer by penalizing more motorists who exceed the legal speed limit.