Truvelo

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Truvelo speed camera

Truvelo is generally used to refer to a speed camera manufactured by the South African company Truvelo Manufacturers (Pty) Ltd.

The Truvelo camera is usually a forward facing camera (it can also be rear facing) taking pictures using a flash gun fitted with a magenta filter [1] (the driver is less likely to be dazzled by the flash light). The reflected light provides the film with the correct exposure resulting in a clear picture of the driver committing the offence (considered as incriminating evidence).

Piezo-electric road strips, a known distance apart, are set into the road in front of the camera, and the time between compressions is measured to give the resulting speed of the vehicle. The system takes a single photograph along with four readings on a two axle vehicle and uses the average time for compressions to calculate the resulting speed. The photograph of the offending vehicle will show its front tyres on the three narrowly spaced white lines across the carriageway (known as a Secondary Speed Check)[2] which are present at all Truvelo installations^{[citation needed]}. This is to identify the offending vehicle when it is travelling alongside a non-offending one.

[edit] Trivia

The single incriminating photograph will not be sent unless the car owner asks for it - a Home Office ruling aimed at avoiding embarrassing situations if a driver is photographed with someone they would prefer not to be seen with.

Not all partnerships will disclose picture evidence. Some will only issue copies of the original photos once a summons for court has been issued, and there there is a need to comply with disclosure rules.

There are in fact two sets of loops in the road for Truvelo cameras, both taking independent readings, if the two do not match (±1mph) the offence is discarded. [3]