Speed Camera Myths - Everything You Need To Know To Avoid Getting Caught Speeding

Average Speed Cameras, Speed Cameras, Speeding, Speeding Fine

Flash goes the speed camera, immediately followed by that sinking feeling that you’ll be awaiting a dreaded letter in the post. A fine, points or even a court date, depending upon how severely you’ve exceeded the limit.

It’s safe to say that getting flashed by a speed camera is up there as one of the worst feelings you can experience as a motorist.

We all know why speed cameras exist – to help improve road safety by driving down the speed of road users. That said when it comes to how you can get caught speeding there’s a lot of misconceptions and general confusion.

Road safety charity Brake has put together a top 10 list of common areas of speed camera confusion with the aim of helping educate drivers and do a bit of myth-busting.

Here’s everything you need to be clued up on speed cameras and help you avoid getting caught.

1)    You can avoid getting caught speeding by driving really fast past a camera - FALSE

If you believe this to be true you might be a bit beyond help! Driving Back To The Future style past a camera won’t prevent the flash going off, it’ll just result in a ticket.

2)    In order to get caught speeding you must be exceeding the speed limit by 10% + 2mph - FALSE

To the letter of the law you can be caught speeding simply by exceeding the given limit by 1mph. That said, guidance provided by the NPCC (National Police Chiefs Council) suggests that officers don’t seek a prosecution unless the driver has exceeded the speed limit by 10% plus 2mph.

3)    Not every speed camera is on - TRUE

According to Brake, some UK speed cameras have been confirmed as non-operational in response to Freedom of Information requests.

4)    Average speed cameras don’t work - FALSE

It’s astonishing the number of people that you see tearing past you on a dual carriageway or motorway exceeding the speed limit. Often, you’re left pondering ‘do they know something I don’t?’. The reality is that the driver tearing past you is on a one way ticket to a fine.

Average speed camera usage has become prevalent, especially within the last 5 years with roads up and down the country having them fitted.

They work by enforcing limits over a longer period, as opposed to the shorter distances that a Gatso or mobile camera can catch you speeding.

5)    Speed cameras have to be painted yellow to be legal - FALSE

This simply isn’t true. In-spite of the Government declaring its desire to have all cameras across the UK painted yellow, other colours do exist and getting caught by one of these will result in the same consequences.

6)    If you are caught speeding, you must be notified within a certain time period - TRUE

Every intended speed camera prosecution must be notified by a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) sent to the address of the registered vehicle keeper within 14 days for it to be valid. This doesn’t apply if you’ve been caught speeding by a police officer.

7)    You can opt for a speed awareness course - FALSE

It is not the choice of the speeding driver as to whether/or not they would like a speed awareness course. It is the discretion of the police and is only an option if offered.

8)    You can take a speed awareness course more than once - TRUE

It is possible to take a second speed awareness course, and this option all depends upon the severity of the offence.

However, you can only take one speed awareness course every three years. If you’re caught again within three years of taking a speed awareness course, you will be prosecuted by other means.

9)    You don’t have to declare a speed awareness course for insurance purposes - FALSE

Many motorists fail to notify their insurance company that they have been on a speed awareness course. Failing to report this will result in your insurance premium being invalid.

Brake added: “Information on whether a driver has taken a speed awareness course is held by local police forces.”

10)  You can be caught speeding riding a bicycle or on a horse - FALSE

Way back in my childhood one of my friends sought to get the speed camera to flash them on their mountain bike with no success. Time after time pedalling down a big hill like a demon for the camera to do nothing. The speedo said he was doing way over 30mph but it just wouldn’t flash. If only we knew then what we know now we wouldn’t have wasted our time!

It isn’t possible for you to receive a speeding ticket on a bicycle or riding a horse, as only motor vehicles are covered by road speed limits.

Now you’re all clued up on speed cameras, there’s no excuse for getting a ticket. After all, the only sure-fire way to avoid a ticket is to stick within the speed limits.

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