Novus Systems
Example of some of the Safety Camera systems in use on UK roads.
GATSO | TruVelo | TraffiPhot | SPECS | Watchman | DS2 | Mobile Systems | Speedcurb | Red Light Cameras
GATSO – Fixed Roadside, Central Reservation, Mobile Trailer Mounted and Gantry Mounted
Uses K band Radar to measure vehicle speed. Gatso Cameras take two photographs of the rear of the offending vehicle. The white lines painted after the camera on the road are used as secondary check to ensure that the correct speed was measured. Depending on vehicle speed depends on how many white lines have been passed and a comparison is made between the two photographs. Gatso Cameras can only be used to photograph from the rear and can only enforce in one direction, unless the camera is sited in the middle of the road, which means the camera housing can be turned round. Some police forces paint lines on both sides of the road to give the impression that it can be used for enforcement on the opposite carriageway.
TruVelo – Fixed Roadside
Uses 4 Piezo sensors installed in the road surface. As you drive over the sensors the electrical signal generated by the brass strip changes and that’s how the system knows a vehicle tyre is present. The distance between the sensors is known and two speed measurements are taken to ensure accuracy. The three white lines after the sensors are the secondary check.
TruVelo have now started to use the system for rear photography which takes two photographs similar to the Gatso system above. It still uses 4 sensors after the camera post and has a series of white lines, again similar to the GATSO system.
TraffiPhot S
Very similar to the TruVelo system as described above. Uses Piezo sensors installed in the road and takes photographs of the vehicle from the rear.
This camera can also be used for Red Light offences
SPECS (or SVVD) – Digital Average Speed Cameras
Fairly new system that measures a vehicles average speed over a set distance between two cameras. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras read your number plate and take a digital picture of the vehicle. Another set of cameras further down the road do exactly the same thing.
A computer then tries to match the images by the number plates The system can then calculate what time you were at each camera location and the exact distance between the two cameras is also known. By calculating how long it took you to travel between the two cameras it is possible to calculate your average speed. If your average speed is over a set threshold you receive a ticket.
SPECS average speed cameras are fitted either at the roadside or in the central reservation a set distance apart to create a speed controlled zone, or where appropriate, groups of cameras can be linked to create a speed controlled network. Whether speeding or not number plates are digitally recorded by ANPR and video
Watchman System
Two cameras can be seen inside the box. One for Images and one for NPR (Number plate recognition). The overview image camera works all the time, recording 2 frames (images) per second, the NPR camera records at 18 frames per sec for 60 frames. The whole system can deal with 10,000 number plate events or 1 month of overview images or a combination of both. The data is recorded on to hard disk and is then transmitted via GSM or HSCSD. Live images can be viewed if needed.
DS2 (TruVelo)
A portable attended or unattended trap using a set of three rubber hoses and at one end are Piezo-electric Sensors. Semi-permanent and hard to spot, or a moveable system which is easier to spot. Look for the three strips 1 metre apart on the tarmac, at the permanent sites look for the small grey pillar about two foot high.
Mobile Safety Camera Vans and Mobile Speed Cameras
Sited at the road side, Mobile Camera sites rely on a car/van/bike or tripod to turn up in random or fixed locations.
These systems include; Mini-Gatso, TSS system and Teletraffic (laser guns). Mini-Gatso, the technology used in a Mini-Gatso unit is very similar to that used within a fixed position Gatso speed camera, using radar. Teletraffic police camera teams use mobile vehicle installed with laser speed traps to detect speeding traffic from a distance of 1000 metres. The police laser gun is aimed at a vehicles' number plate and then recorded on video film to record the vehicle speed. This system is generally best for tackling lengths of road, and may be used outside of signed locations.
Speedcurb Speed Cameras
Sited at the road side, Speedcurb speed cameras use loops in the road to trigger when a speed limit is exceeded.
Speedcurb roadside speed camera are mostly used to monitor light offences as well as speeding. They are a rear facing system and are used in fixed permanent speed camera locations. The speedcurb system used sensors in the road to calculate the speed of the vehicle passing through the zone. The system has a built in flash module for night use.
RED Light Cameras
Sited at the road side, Traffic Light cameras although mainly used to enforce red lights, these systems can also be used in the same way as a Gatso speed camera.
Traffic light cameras are triggered either by using ground loops that are cut into road surface or radar technology. When using loops, as the traffic lights turn red the system becomes active, any vehicle passing over the sensor in the road after this time is then photographed. Radar based traffic light cameras work in the same manner as fixed Gatso speed cameras.
GATSO | TruVelo | TraffiPhot | SPECS | Watchman | DS2 | Mobile Systems | Speedcurb | Red Light Cameras
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