Speed Camera Detection Devices

What are Speed Camera Detection Devices?
Across the UK there are several different types of vehicle detection methods that are used in conjunction with road enforcement systems. This is how the police know when someone has been speeding and can issue them with the appropriate penalty.

Following is a brief description of the three main types of speed detection device that can be located and identified by using speed camera detection devices in the UK - laser detection radar detection and GPS (which stands for Global Positioning Satellite). Speed camera detection devices can use one or any combination of these technologies.

Dopplar Radar
The Dopplar radar directs a radio signal at a piece of road. The frequency changes that occur when a vehicle drives along the stretch of road will indicate its presence, and how fast the said vehicle is moving.

Laser
Laser Detectors use laser pulses to measure where a vehicle is and from the measurements taken can also work out the speed at which the vehicle is travelling.

Systems using GPS (Global Navigation Satellite System)
GPS is a system that uses 24 satellites orbiting the earth which continuously transmit precise microwave signals. A GPS Receiver uses signals from the satellites to calculate its location.

So how do the Detection Devices work against this technology?
In the case of laser and radar technology, there are two major ways in which they allow a speeding motorist to remain undetected, and therefore escape prosecution:

Jamming Signals: There are devices on the market known as ‘jammers’, which scramble the signals sent to the speed cameras so that the camera cannot process or ‘read’ the information.

Passive Detectors: These simply warn the motorist when they are in the vicinity of a speed camera or detection device and alert the driver to their presence.

GPS systems rely on an up to date database of all camera positions and will warn the driver when a camera or detection device is nearby. This is also available on many Satellite Navigation systems via a subscription service which is updated regularly with new camera positions.

Is it legal to use these devices?
As of summer 2007, the use of speed camera detectors is still completely legal thanks to legislation that came into force in January 1998. The legislation ruled that it was not illegal to use such devices, which until then had been something of a grey area under the Wireless and telegraphy Act 1949.

There has, however, been a lot of debate on whether or not speed camera detectors should be legal or not: In December 2004 the government issued a press release that proposed changes to the Road Safety Bill which would see radar and laser detectors deemed illegal. However this was dropped in 2005, but it is an issue that is constantly coming up for review again and again. At the time of writing the Road Safety Bill is under another such review, with the government looking at the technology involved in using speed camera detectors, and the devices themselves, with a view to banning 'jammers and detectors'.

In anticipation of changes in the law, many providers of such devices are withdrawing laser and radar detection devices from their shelves. If you’re looking for a such a system, a GPS based detection system is likely to be the best choice as you can buy one that includes a radar and laser detection module that you can simply disable should such restrictions be introduced, and still use the GPS based speed camera database which will remain legal.

Please remember that Speed Camera Detection Devices should not be used as an instrument to assist 'safe speeding'. It's not always that easy to figure out what the speed limit is when you are driving, especially in areas such as dual carriageways and country roads where the speed can alter dramatically - sometimes going from the national speed limit along country lanes, right down to 30mph when you enter a village or residential area. Speed Camera Detectors give you advance warning which can help you realise that you need to slow down to ensure that you are driving within the set speed limit, which has been set to ensure the safety of pedestrians and road users alike.

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