Speed cameras are playing a growing role in traffic enforcement in the UK. By capitalising on the advantages of automation, police forces have been able to free up resources and ensure drivers move at safe speeds in high risk areas. However, there is also concern about how effective these devices really are, and whether or not we should trust an automated system with a responsibility as serious as road safety.

It is important for anyone who operates a vehicle to understand how speed cameras work, and the resultant penalties - including speeding tickets and fines. Even the safest drivers are at risk from a malfunctioning camera or may be accused of an offence that was committed in their vehicle when they weren’t driving. Here, the expert motoring law team at JMW Solicitors explains how speed cameras work, how they are used, and what to do if you are caught or accused of committing a speeding offence.

How do speed cameras work?

There are three types of speed cameras primarily used in the UK. Each uses different technology and is used for a specific purpose, so it is important to understand how they work and where you might see them used.

Mobile speed cameras

A mobile speed camera is operated by a police officer, usually from inside a police car. Most mobile speed cameras in the UK work by firing a very fine laser at a vehicle, which is able to detect the speed at which the vehicle is moving.

Often, the police will park in areas where the vehicle cannot be seen by passing traffic, and where there is a high risk of drivers committing speeding offences. However, the technology that powers these cameras can even work when a police vehicle is in motion, and has a range of up to one mile. If you are speeding, it can be difficult to slow down in time or to know whether or not you have been caught, unless the police pull you over.

Fixed speed cameras

Fixed speed cameras take two photographs of your vehicle in quick succession, and by measuring the difference in position along with the time between the two images, they calculate the speed at which the vehicle was moving. For many years, this was the most common type of speed camera on British roads.

While these cameras now capture images digitally, rather than on film, they still typically use flash photography to ensure they are able to capture clear images at all times of day or night. You may recognise that you have been caught by a fixed speed camera if you see this flash.

This type of camera is often used as a deterrent - they are placed at accident hotspots and their bright yellow appearance makes them very visible, meaning that drivers who see them are encouraged to keep to the speed limit. However, in research by the RAC, 83% of the British public agreed that drivers only slow down when they drive past the camera, and then speed up again. For this reason, there is debate over whether or not this type of device is effective.

Average speed cameras

Average speed cameras are placed at intervals and are connected together in a network of two or more. They use infrared camera technology to read licence plate information, which provides high-resolution results even at night or in poor weather conditions. Because the cameras are placed at set distances apart and operate as part of a network, they can calculate the average speed at which a vehicle travels between them each time the same licence plate is registered.

These cameras are often used in areas of motorways with variable speed limits, but they may also be placed at the beginning and end of a road with a lower speed limit than those around it. This ensures that drivers cannot simply slow down when they pass the camera - they must drive at or below the speed limit along the entire stretch of road to avoid incurring a penalty.

How do speeding tickets work?

If you are caught speeding or registered by a speed camera in the UK, the police must send you a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) in the post within 14 days of the alleged offence to the registered keeper. This does not necessarily mean that the police intend to prosecute, but it enables them to do so if they decide to.

The NIP is sent to the address at which the vehicle is registered, meaning that the driver who allegedly committed the offence will not necessarily receive the NIP. At this stage, the vehicle’s registered owner must identify who was driving at the time of the offence by returning the accompanying Section 172 notice within 28 days. If you do not know who was driving, you must endeavour to find out - otherwise, you can be charged with failing to provide information, which can result in a fine of up to £1,000 and six penalty points on your driving licence.

If the police proceed with their prosecution and have identified you as the driver of the vehicle, you may receive a Fixed Penalty Notice or a court summons. A Fixed Penalty Notice is usually what is meant in the UK by the phrase “speeding ticket”. The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three penalty points on your licence - although, for your first offence, you may be given the option to attend a speed awareness course and avoid the penalty points.

If you receive points on your licence as a result of a Fixed Penalty Notice, you may incur serious consequences - for example, if you only passed your driving test within the last two years or you have accumulated six penalty points on your driving licence, this would result in you having to redo your theory and practical test.

If the police pull you over for speeding, they can issue a Fixed Penalty Notice on the spot, in which case you will not receive a NIP in the post. They may also give you a verbal warning for your first offence.

If you are summoned to court, this usually indicates that you are suspected of committing a more serious offence. You will also need to attend a court hearing if you plead not guilty when you receive your Fixed Penalty Notice. You should contact a lawyer in such cases, as representation in court is vital to your defence. If you are charged with failing to provide information, or falsely accused of speeding, you can also speak to a solicitor about your options. There is often the possibility of challenging this type of prosecution, preserving your driving licence and avoiding the most serious outcomes.

How do speeding fines work?

As we have said above, the minimum speeding fine is £100, along with penalty points on your licence. If this is your first offence, you will usually receive a Fixed Penalty Notice along these lines; however, for more serious offences - or if you plead not guilty - you may need to attend a court hearing. If you plead not guilty but are found guilty in court, you can receive a fine of up to £1,000, or up to £2,500 if you were driving on a motorway.

These fines are based on the speed limit, the speed at which you were driving, and your income.

The National Police Chiefs' Council recommends that drivers be given leeway of 10% of the speed limit plus two mph. However, this recommendation is not binding, and it is up to the discretion of the relevant authority as to whether or not to prosecute you. Exceeding the speed limit by even one mph is enough to have broken the law and be prosecuted.

What should you do if you are caught?

If you are caught speeding or accused of committing a speeding offence, speak to an expert motoring solicitor for advice. Losing your driving licence can be a serious inconvenience and affect your work, home and social lives, but in some cases it can be avoided.

It is always best to avoid speeding by following the speed limit at all times. Keep an eye out for any signs that indicate a change in the limit or that warn you to slow down, especially in unfamiliar areas, and make sure to plan plenty of time for your journey so that you are not tempted to speed up.

For legal support in response to a speeding ticket or a court summons, contact the expert motoring solicitors from JMW today. Call us on 0345 872 6666, or fill in our online enquiry form to arrange a call back at your convenience.