The British motorist is no stranger to the speed camera, with over 6000 installations currently installed across the UK. The most profitable camera installations were believed to be located along the M42 motorway that surrounds Birmingham. In the autumn of 2004, 12 speed camera locations that lined a 7 mile 50 mph stretch of the motorway caught 1700 motorists totaling over ÂŁ100,000 in fines.
The obvious way to avoid getting caught by these speed traps is to obey the local speed limits at all times. In some circumstances however, this can be a lot easier said than done. With many speed camera locations hidden behind bends, mobile speed capture vans waiting for you at the bottom of a hill, and police officers armed with speed guns, avoiding "getting caught" can prove to be very difficult.
The following shortlist contains a few tips that can help you keep on alert at all times.
Know your speed limit - Before speed checking devices were introduced, many people were unaware of the different speeds that applied to certain areas around town, including urban areas where speeds can range from 30 mph to 60 mph. Furthermore, some speed limits can even change without proper notice beforehand. Be aware of your speed and look out for the limit at all times.
Be prepared for changes in the speed limit - You may have noticed that the majority of speed camera locations exist on roads where the speed limit drastically changes from a higher figure to a lower figure without sufficient warning. These speed capture devices are designed to catch motorists who aren't quite paying full attention to the road. You can pretty much guarantee that a GATSO speed trap will be installed along a road where the speed changes from 60 mph to 30 mph.
Large Lorries hide the truth - Perhaps a little exaggerated, but it's important to keep yourself aware of large transit vehicles when driving along the motorway and multiple lane carriageways. You'll find that some vehicles are large enough to hide smaller speed trap installations, catching you out when you least suspect it.
Buy yourself another set of eyes - Not actual eyes of course, more like artificial intelligence for your car. Having another set of "eyes" watching out for speed cameras especially if you drive a lot for work can be vital to keeping your speed in check. There are several devices available on the market that can be installed in your car, giving pre-warning to any speed cameras locations in the area. Be warned - devices that rely on laser detection may be illegal by next year. Devices that utilize GPS technology however will still be OK to use.
Get yourself insured - If you don't trust yourself to keep a watchful eye out for hidden speed camera locations, perhaps you can look into specialist insurance. Not many people know that you can actually insure yourself against the possibility of losing your license through minor speeding offences. That means that any travelling costs you incur whilst not having your license should be covered, such as public transport and taxis. Insurance companies won't cover you if you lose your license from criminal driving charges such as drunk driving for obvious reasons.
Go back to digital - Although digital speedometers were popular in the early 80's, it seems that car companies such as Citroen and Renault are quickly reintroducing them into a lot of new car models. A digital speedometer keeps you aware of your exact speed, making it a lot easier to keep to the speed limit. Getting caught out by unfairly hidden speed camera locations could be a thing of a past!
