Speed Camera Accuracy

There is a lot of disparity in the UK in relation to the different types of speed cameras police forces use to detect speeding offences. Each speed camera or gatso has varying limitations of accuracy when putting together a speed camera defence case. The type of speed camera may have implications to your speeding offence.

VASCAR/Police Pilot, Speedometers or PROVIDA Speed Camera Devices

These speed camera devices are used by the police in pursuing a target vehicle and you will always have been stopped by the police if they operate any of the above speed cameras. They are based upon a time distance mechanism whereby the police pursue a Defendant over a certain distance for a certain period of time.

A Prosecutor will only succeed if the operator of the speed camera can prove that he operated the particular device in accordance with the ACPO Code of Practice which lays stringent ground rules that a police officer must follow.

At Cunninghams all of our legal team and solicitors have many years of experience representing clients on a nationwide basis cross-examining police officers to ensure that they have operated such speed camera devices correctly. If there is any doubt then the Magistrates’ must acquit a Defendant as it is for the Prosecution to prove the case beyond any reasonable doubt.

Gatso Speed Cameras

The police use fixed and mobile Gatso speed cameras to detect motorists. The fixed Gatso cameras are the big grey or yellow boxes that are seen on many roads across the UK. They work by photographing vehicles from the rear and when a vehicle passes over a series of fixed distance marks in the road. Two photographs are taken and the speed is calculated by working out the distance travelled from the first fixed point to the second fixed point and the time taken to travel between the fixed distances. Often the driver cannot be seen or identified due to the fact that Gatso photographs are taken from the rear.

Mobile Laser Speed Camera Guns or Mobile Radar Guns

It is imperative that a police officer can prove that he has operated the speed camera device in accordance with the ACPO Code of Practice. This involves demonstrating that the appropriate distance and alignment checks have been carried out at the beginning and end of tour of duty by the police officer. The police officer must aim the speed camera gun at a fixed point on your car to ensure an accurate reading to avoid the ‘slippage’ effect. If the speed camera gun is accidentally moved away from the fixed point then the reading may become inaccurate as the length of the car will be added on to the distance travelled which will distort the speed reading.

At Cunninghams we have 20 years of experience in defending clients of speeding offences on a nationwide basis. We will carefully examine the evidence against you and advise you whether you have a speed camera defence. There are various hurdles that the operator of a speed camera must overcome to prove that he has used a device according to the ACPO Code of Practice and the manufacturer’s guidelines and we have complete knowledge of the procedures that a police officer must follow. Again, if there is any doubt, then the Magistrates must acquit a Defendant as it is a matter for the Prosecution to prove the case against you beyond any reasonable doubt.

SPECS – System Speed Cameras

These speed cameras operate by calculating the average speed it takes to travel between two fixed points which can be up to one mile apart. There are a number of cameras using registration plate recognition. As the calculation is based upon an average speed over the fixed distance you cannot simply slow down as you approach a speed camera. These cameras are commonly used on motorways when temporary speed limits are in place as a result of construction work.

Truvelo Speed Cameras

Truvelo speed cameras are now being used with increasing frequency as they take photographs from the front of your vehicle. The difference between these speed cameras and Gatso cameras are that they do not flash as they use infrared lights. However Truvelo speed cameras do not detect the speed of motorbikes without front licence plates as a result of detecting the front of a vehicle.

Contact Cunninghams Driving Offence Solicitors FREE on 0800 32 888 46 to discuss your possible speed camera defence today.