How will I know if I've been caught by the average speed camera? We answer this and some of the other most commonly asked questions.

Average speed cameras are one of the most talked-about issues among Glasgow drivers these days. Our resident road traffic expert, Richard Freeman, debunks the myths and legends and separates the facts from fiction surrounding these controversial methods of controlling our speed. My firm receives calls every week from concerned motorists worried about being caught by the cameras.

Here are some of the most common questions I’m asked:

If I change lanes between the cameras, can the cameras measure my speed?
Yes, they can. There used to be a popular belief that the cameras were only able to track vehicles if they remained in the same lane they were in when they entered and exited the cameras, but that's wrong. The cameras can catch your speed no matter which lane you're in, so even if you enter the speed zone in lane one and leave in lane two the cameras still work. They can monitor up to 4 lanes.

If I realise I'm speeding and slow down as I approach the camera can I avoid a speeding ticket?
The answer is that it very much depends on how fast you've been going and how much you slow down before you drive past the exit camera. The camera cannot monitor a snapshot of speed like a GATSO device at the side of the road or police operating a laser speed gun. It needs to work out an average speed over a pre-set measured distance. To avoid a ticket you need to bring down your average speed. This means travelling below the speed limit for a long enough period to bring the average speed down below the limit. It’s usually too difficult to calculate the speed and time precisely and there is a risk the erratic nature of your driving could amount to careless or even dangerous driving.

If I have driven on a road like the A9 through many sets of average speed cameras how many times can I get done for speeding?
We acted for a client who was charged with four speeding offences in one journey from Glasgow to Inverness. It was particularly unusual because he thought he was complying with the speed limit. He had been driving a small van which was of a class of vehicle that meant he could only drive 60mph on dual carriageway instead of 70mph. He received four speeding fixed penalties. As each ticket carried three points and £100 fine this would have resulted in the loss of his licence. We were able to persuade the Fiscal to drop three of the charges if he pled guilty to one. He was very lucky.

Do the average speed cameras work at night where the roads aren't lit?
Yes they have infra-red illumination which is sufficient to light up the number plate of vehicles passing through them.

How can you tell the difference between the entry and exit cameras?
If your average speed exceeds the speed limit by the set threshold a picture will be taken at the entry and exit cameras. It’s impossible to tell which is which. Where there are a series of more than one pair of cameras you cannot tell how they have been set up to measure speed. The configuration of the cameras over the same stretch of road can frequently change. There is no limit to the number of cameras that can be combined in a sequence. There is therefore no limit to the total distance that they can cover. The A9 scheme between Dunblane and Inverness is 99 miles long, with multiple networks of cameras which cover the whole distance.

How will I know if I've been caught by the average speed camera?
There is no flash to warn a driver that he or she may have been caught. The advice we give our clients is to wait 14 days to see if the registered keeper of the vehicle receives a notice of intention to prosecute (NIP) through the door. This is an essential step in the process. Without it the motorist cannot be prosecuted. If you are the registered keeper but were not driving the car at the time of the alleged offence, you are legally bound to confirm the driver’s identity. There are many pitfalls to avoid involving average speed cameras and if you are unsure about your legal rights it is vital you speak to a road traffic specialist.

Click HERE if you wish to view the Article on the GlasgowLive.co.uk website.

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