New intelligent speed camera gets the go ahead

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS THE UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

when i read this i thought it was april 1st
all these are for is making money NOT road safety

roadangellive.com/2012/09/new-in … -go-ahead/

New intelligent speed camera gets the go ahead
Since the introduction of the first fixed speed camera 20 years ago, these ‘road safety’ systems have developed from glorified Kodak cameras on a pole, to sophisticated multi-camera systems that monitor average speeds over many miles, using infrared night-time vision. And just when we thought we had seen it all, along comes the SafeZoneâ„¢ system from Siemens.

SafeZone Speed Camera
Also known as the SICORE average speed camera, these next generation road monitoring systems have sparked controversy amongst UK motorists wondering if they are aiding road safety, or simply a more sophisticated way to make money. What is certain is that they have been approved for use by the UK government, and are currently on trial in several places around the country.

For those that are less familiar with the SafeZoneâ„¢ system, they operate in much the same way as existing average SPECS cameras — they monitor average speeds over a wide area, using multiple cameras all linked together. Fines are automatically issued and sent to motorists who creep over the limit.

This however is perhaps where the similarities end. SafeZoneâ„¢ uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology, meaning that they could catch un-insured and un-roadworthy vehicles. They can also monitor foreign drivers, due to improved data access. What’s more, the system is not restricted to linear monitoring — it can monitor drivers within a wide area ‘zone’, such as a city centre or district.

Unlike its predecessors, SafeZoneâ„¢ can operate over multiple lanes of traffic, in multiple directions, and also monitor speeds of up to 200 miles an hour. The minimum distance between each ‘camera’ has also been approved to just 75 meters — meaning that they can be used as an alternative to fixed analogue speed camera sites. And as they are smaller, easier to install, operate and integrate, they make a more convincing business case for local authorities.

On top of this, SafeZoneâ„¢ utilises the SIEMENS Comet UTMC traffic management system, which monitors multiple aspects of traffic and road conditions from congestion, to incident management, traffic flow and even vehicle counting. SafeZoneâ„¢ effectively surveys traffic data and provides real-time reporting, greatly aiding in motorway and road management.

Funding for these systems will partly come from revenue made through driver awareness courses, and finance provided by Siemens Financial Services (SFS)[1].

The SafeZoneâ„¢ system seems to tick all the boxes for local authorities wanting to better manage their roads and road users. With its arsenal of monitoring capabilities, unobtrusive nature, sophisticated data integration, and flexible funding options, surely it’s only a matter of time before we see these popping up all over the country…?

2

So they can catch people without a license and insurance etc? Think its a great idea personally.

3

Saaamon:
So they can catch people without a license and insurance etc? Think its a great idea personally.

it wont lower insurance premiums getting these idiots off the road tho

4

So you drive along with your eyes on the speedo rather than the road, will definitely improve road safety.

“Why did you run into the back of the vehicle in front?, I was looking at the speedo all the time as I didn’t want to get done for speeding”.

5

Saaamon:
So they can catch people without a license and insurance etc? Think its a great idea personally.

How■■? No licence, no insurance…so will they have the car registered in their name?

6

Saaamon:
So they can catch people without a license and insurance etc? Think its a great idea personally.

how is a camera going to stop the car■■? don’t kid yourself that these cameras are anything but a money making exercise

7

I couldn’t give a ■■■■ what they put up on the side of the road. I dont speed and i pay tax, insurance and M.O.T my car.

8

selby newcomer:

Saaamon:
So they can catch people without a license and insurance etc? Think its a great idea personally.

how is a camera going to stop the car■■? don’t kid yourself that these cameras are anything but a money making exercise

If you keep within the speed limits, they won’t make any money !!

I don’t see the problem personally. it’s not hard to stick to the speed limit and with the amount of traffic now days it’s often quite hard to even achieve it !

9

chris_g:
With its arsenal of monitoring capabilities, unobtrusive nature,

In English that means “hidden”

10

Same rule applies to all speed camera partnerships, , they are self financing arent they ■■? so if nobody speeds for a year or so, they should all go bust… result or what ■■

11

But it only works up to 200 miles an hour so they won’t catch me in my RS turbo :slight_smile:

12

Well I am quite happy to see them installed and even better now that they can target these people who dont tax or insure their vehicles. Eddie.

13

FarnboroughBoy11:
But it only works up to 200 miles an hour so they won’t catch me in my RS turbo :slight_smile:

Only time an RS Turbo will do 200mph, is off a cliff.

Ken.

14

Saaamon:
So they can catch people without a license and insurance etc? Think its a great idea personally.

Ok, so, a scum bag with no licence nicks my car, it’s fully road legal so camera thinks it’s ok.

Or a drunk driver on his way home from the pub.

Cameras are a BAD idea, always said it and will always say it. Police are what is required. Good, old school police though, not hobby bobbys with targets.

100mph is perfectly safe at certain times and certain places, 20mph can be dangerous at the wrong time and in the wrong place.

A pro rally driver will be safer at higher speeds than someone who just does the school run.

etc
etc

15

erfguy:
Well I am quite happy to see them installed and even better now that they can target these people who dont tax or insure their vehicles. Eddie.

The people who are persistent offenders when it comes to No Tax, No Insurance, No MOT and No Licence are also the one who probably haven’t bothered registering the vehicle.
Or worse they’ve cloned the number plate, and it maybe yours. This might not be such a problem if they’ve picked a completely different make of vehicle and are operating in a different part of the Country, but if they’ve got the same make, model, colour and it’s in your area, you going to have to work hard to persuade the Police it wasn’t you.

Many years ago I had a Silver Kawasaki motorbike and somebody decided to put the same number plate on their Silver Kawasaki motorbike. The first I knew was when the police called me to tell me they’d recovered my motorbike, But my bike was outside. The bike was found because the rider was stopped by the police, if he hadn’t been stopped and gone through a few cameras I would have been trying to explain my way out of it.

16

erfguy:
Well I am quite happy to see them installed and even better now that they can target these people who dont tax or insure their vehicles. Eddie.

You are quite entitled to your opinion of course Eddie, however there already exists a system to catch untaxed/ uninsured motorists; it’s called traffic police! Unfortunately cameras don’t photograph the drunk driver weaving from lane to lane at just under the speed limit. They don’t photograph the repmobile carving across from lane 3 to the slip road leaving carnage in his wake. I fear that every camera that’s installed equals one less traffic cop on duty.

IIRC we are the most photographed and surveilled (?) nation on Earth, but that’s ok if you’ve nothing to hide! How long before they make it compulsory to give a DNA sample for the database? But of course it’s ok if you’ve nothing to hide!

I would say that these “stealth” cameras are the thin end of the wedge, but I fear we passed the thin end a decade or two ago.

Stalin had to murder over 6 million of his own countrymen to get anywhere near this level of intrusiveness, successive Governments here have done it with much less bloodshed through the back door all in the name “of your safety and security”

Of course that’s all irrelevant if “you have nothing to hide” :imp: :imp:

17

chris_g:
On top of this, SafeZoneâ„¢ utilises the SIEMENS Comet UTMC traffic management system, which monitors multiple aspects of traffic and road conditions from congestion, to incident management, traffic flow and even vehicle counting. SafeZoneâ„¢ effectively surveys traffic data and provides real-time reporting, greatly aiding in motorway and road management.

And before we had motorway and road management things used to run a lot smoother on the motorways and roads :bulb:

I cannot for the life of me understand the obsession they have with speed, in other countries the drivers are far more disciplined because they have to drive properly all the time, for fear of a ticket from a living breathing Policeman, in Britain almost everyone drives like a ■■■■ everywhere they go, they just drive like a ■■■■ a bit slower when there’s a camera around :unamused:

18

If it isnt camera’s its those bleedin speed humps ! about a foot high that make short work of your exhaust…suspension etc , either way they make you pay…speeding or damage your car…bring back the horse and cart… :laughing: .

19

Can the specs camera diferentiate between artics and cars by reading the number plate?

20

vigilantes will be roaming the streets with cans of spray paint. the burning tyre thing is just so 90’s.