New \'yellow vulture\' speed camera on way

Tag : computer camera

A new generation of speed cameras tracking every inch of carjourneys is to be introduced on Scottish roads.
Ministers intend to introduce a more sophisticated form of theso-called “yellow vultures” — average-speedcameras, which have been tested on the A77 between Glasgow andStranraer over the past three years.
Average-speed cameras, which calculate the time taken to travelbetween camera locations, have cut accidents by 20% on the roadfrom Glasgow to Portpatrick since 16 sets were installed threeyears ago.
However, serious flaws in the technology allow many dangerousdrivers to avoid being fined or losing their licence. Because thecurrent technology only allows cameras to measure the speed of carsin one lane, motorists travelling well above the limit can switchlanes to avoid being caught.
In addition, each set of average-speed cameras can only communicatewith one other set of cameras along a road at any time. This meansa driver speeding between the first and second set of cameras maynot be detected because the first may be configured to shareinformation with just the 10th set of cameras.
In future, cameras will monitor all lanes simultaneously and beable to send data using satellite or mobile phone technology to acentral computer, ensuring that anyone whose average speed isillegal between any set of cameras would be caught.
Among the routes expected to use the new systems are the A99between Wick and Latheron, the A82 from Tarbet to Tyndrum, the A72from Peebles to Galashiels, the A85 from Perth to Oban, the A84from Stirling to Lochearnhead, the A86 from Kingussie to SpeanBridge, and the A816 from Lochgilphead to Oban.
Stewart Stevenson, the transport minister, said: “The two-year accident figures for the A77 are encouraging and show thataverage-speed cameras can be effective in reducing fatal accidentsand casualties.
"Later this year, we will be beginning a more detailedassessment of the system to look at how its success could bereplicated on more roads where there are arduous circumstances.
"We must continue to look at more innovative ways ofimproving road safety and further reducing the number of fatalitieson our roads.
“New average-speed camera equipment is being developed and isexpected to come onto the market over the next few years. If we canuse this new technology to deter drivers from risking their ownlives and the lives of others, then I believe that is the rightapproach."
The new technology is expected to be licensed by the Home Officeshortly.
A spokesman for systems engineering company Serco, which is holdingtalks with the Scottish government and Home Office on introducingthe system in Britain, said: “It will be far more difficultto get round the new system.
"You don’t want drivers who are determined to speed tothink they can get away with it by driving erratically. The more wecan show them there is no point in trying to be clever, thebetter."
However, the self-styled “Captain Gatso” (named afteranother variety of speed camera) of Motorists Against Detection,the anti-speed camera group, said it would be “an appallingwaste of money" to install such devices.
"It will do very little to improve road safety. Instead ofwaging a war on the motorist with the latest cameras and furtheralienating the voting motoring public, they would be betterspending money on traditional traffic police patrols on the roadslooking for drunk drivers and people driving while they’re ontheir mobile phones."