Safe Speed Forums

Ban proposed on speed camera detectors
By Paul Marston
(Filed: 17/01/2005)

More than half a million drivers will have to throw away speed camera warning devices or face a fine if a Government ban goes ahead.

Demand for in-car detectors had soared in the past two years as the number of speed cameras has risen to more than 5,000. The annual number of automatic £60 fines doubled to three million over the same period.

Speed camera detector
Detectors provide early warning of speed cameras and traps

The Road Safety Bill, which is going through the Commons, includes a provision to outlaw radar and laser-based camera alerts, although equipment using global positioning technology will still be allowed.

Motoring organisations say the Government should compensate owners of the radar or laser detectors, which usually cost between £100 and £200. The satellite-linked systems often cost twice as much.

Users claim that the radar and laser equipment is more effective in detecting mobile speed cameras and identifying whether fixed "Gatso" sites are operational or not. Some manufacturers are threatening legal action if the ban goes ahead. But the Department for Transport says the devices sometimes interfere with camera equipment and are used by "extreme speeders" to evade traps set up by police at locations known for racing. Satellite systems are not used in such ways and are therefore acceptable, an official said.

The RAC said it was a mistake to assume that buyers of detectors were "irresponsible speed addicts".

Edmund King, the executive director, said: "These alerts have clear road safety benefits. They provide drivers with a legitimate reminder that they should slow down, and prevent the need to keep taking their eyes off the road to check the speedometer.

"An awful lot of high-mileage drivers have bought these things in the past few months, or been given them as Christmas presents, because they do not want to risk losing their licence, and possibly their livelihood, over minor speeding infringements. If a ban is implemented, it will raise the question of compensation."

In a poll commissioned by the Drivers Technology Association, 60 per cent of those who used camera detectors said they thought they had become safer drivers as a result.

Three quarters said they had become more aware of speed limits.

Cyclops, one of the larger makers of global positioning alerts, said a ban would cause tens of thousands of drivers to switch systems.

"We predict that sales of GPS driver aides will soar during the second half of the year," said a spokesman.

"The certainty that this type of equipment is legal will also unlock considerable new demand, as people accept that speed cameras are here to stay."

One of the most popular radar detectors, the Quintezz XT7000-Plus detector, at £199, plugs into the cigar lighter socket and provides visual and audible alerts for fixed and mobile cameras and laser speed traps.

The Cyclops GPS detector emits audible and visual warnings as the vehicle comes within 800 metres of a camera site recorded on the central Cyclops database, which is updated daily. It costs £369.

OK then, we don't call them "camera detectors" anymore, we just rename them "accident blackspot detecters"!

Seeing as the detection devices are illegal to use in France, perhaps the Government is looking for a bit of EU harmonisation!

I cannot see much point of using a detector in France, they do not have any static cameras, not that i have seen anyway.

They do now. They installed at least 1,000 in 2004.

perhaps the Government is looking for a bit of EU harmonisation!

Presumably the activities of the companies operating the databases will be outlawed, thus rendering GPS based kit useless.

They do now. They installed at least 1,000 in 2004.