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Radar
Detectors
Driver safety and information systems
The
proposed 2005 Road Safety Bill from the Department for Transport (DfT)
intends to prohibit devices that detect ‘speed assessment equipment’.
GPS devices will not be affected by the legislation and the DfT currently
has no plans to propose a ban on GPS-based speed camera location products.
In a statement published in February 2005 the DfT wrote as follows:
“The Government will not be prohibiting those devices that rely
on Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to warn drivers of published
camera sites or posted speed limits, as these compliment the Government's
policy to ensure that camera sites are visible and conspicuous to drivers,
and so help deter excessive and inappropriate speeds on the roads.”
Laser
Laser does not emit a signal until the laser gun is triggered, the signal
then takes a split second to bounce back to the gun from your number plate
so there is no way of giving an "early" warning for laser.
Radar
This is similar to laser but is a beam of microwaves like a beam
from a torch but invisible to the eye. Like a light beam is easily scattered
as it passes through dust and moisture in the air. It is this scatter
and reflection that a radar detector will pick up and therefore alert
you to a radar device being close by. These sites are the large yellow
and grey cameras on the roadside. A radar detector and or a GPS system
will alert you to these sites.
Digital
These systems do not give a signal and are based on time/distance statistics
eg SPECS will take a picture at two points and calculate your average
speed between the two points. Even if you passed the cameras at the correct
speed if your average speed is over the limit you will be prosecuted.
You need a GPS system to warn you of these sites
Laser Diffusers
These are designed for use only as a garage door or gate opener, it may
also be used to activate other electrical devices such as exterior security
lights etc. However we are aware that it may interfere with other devices
that use the same wavelength of infra red light. For this reason they
will only be activated for 5 seconds at a time. Please be aware that to
use it to actively interfere with Police laser guns may be deemed an offence
of Perverting the Course of Justice which can carry a criminal record
and a custodial sentence.
What do you need
Radar detectors
These will only pick up radar signals and cannot give any warning about
any other speed camera locations. It will only pick up live cameras.
GPS based systems
Using satellites the GPS systems are constantly monitoring your position
and speed and comparing it to the stored database of alerts to give you
an audible and visual warning when approaching a potentially hazardous
stretch of road or danger spot (speed camera!). Some can also be programmed
to show school locations (Danger/accident hotspots). TheseThese systems
cannot tell you if the cameras are live or not and also need regular downloading
in order to have the most up to date information.