Don’t get caught out by new high-tech speed cameras

Let’s be honest, there’s no love lost between the British public and speed cameras. Most people regard them at best as a necessary evil. And as an enforcement measure, there’s no question that they’re highly effective. Of course, it’s rather tricky to see the upside of them when you get that very irritating letter through the letterbox – but it’s worth remembering that the UK has some of the safest roads in the world, and speed cameras play a major part in that.

It seems that’s not lost on top execs running British transport infrastructure, which is why a new range of high-tech speed cameras are now being rolled out. Plan is for it to be a national rollout. At the moment they’re on 25 routes in the North of England, having already seen successful trials in Greater Manchester, Devon, Cornwall and Wales. So if you’re planning to hire a car or hire a van anytime soon, here’s what’s worth bearing in mind.

Why are the new speed cameras different to previous ones?

Referred to as Vector SR cameras, they’re two-way infrared cameras that can see across three lanes or more, even in the dark. So right off the bat, that’s a number of improvements on the older camera models – even if some of those weaknesses are actually myths. (For example, it’s generally not true that existing speed cameras can be fooled by speeding drivers changing lanes just as they zip by. That may have been true for the very earliest systems, but cameras haven’t been vulnerable to tricks like that in a very long time.)

Another major change from the old box yellow cameras – the new Vectors are slimmer, which makes them a lot harder to spot. They also draw on artificial intelligence to help identify rulebreakers on the road, and don’t need road markings or a flash to do their job either. Which means that if a driver is caught by one, the first thing they may know about it is when that PCN drops through their letterbox.

This change is already well underway – there are about 7000 cameras all across the UK, and authorities are focused on ultimately replacing all of them. Recent figures show that in locations where these cameras have already been installed, convictions of drivers using a handheld device (like a mobile phone) nearly doubled. Officials think that up to 400,000 more drivers could now be caught and hit with a potential range of sanctions, from points on their driving licence to fines of up to £1000 – and potentially even bans on driving entirely.

How can I avoid getting penalised?

Honestly, the easiest way is just to ensure you’re driving properly. It might not be the answer that most people want, but it’s the truth! The new Vectors can’t be easily tricked, and there are no “hacks” which will help drivers get past them. So that means no speeding, not using mobile phones unless parked up, and generally not doing anything else that could potentially be a distraction. (Not many people know that eating behind the wheel counts too – because when you’re holding something in one hand, you’re effectively taking the edge off your ability to control the car.)

To be honest, we know that’s not advice that you’ll particularly need, especially if you’re an existing customer – our cars, vans and minibuses are almost universally driven sensibly, which is something we’re always very happy about here at Intack!
 And of course, if you’re looking at van, car hire or minibus hire in the near future, you’re in exactly the right place. Our extensive fleet comprises of more than 450 vehicles, including cars, vans, and minibuses. We offer both Flexi hire and daily hire options, so you can rent the vehicle for as long or as little as you need! Feel free to contact us at 01254 57811, and we would be more than happy to help you in any way we can!