SPECS (speed camera)

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SPECS cameras over motorway

SPECS is a speed camera system manufactured by the British company Speed Check Services Limited, from whom it takes its name (Speed Check Services).

1 About SPECS cameras
2 Similar systems in other countries
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] About SPECS cameras

The cameras operate as two or more sets along a route. They work by recording a vehicles number plate at each fixed camera site, using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology. As the distance is known between these sites, the average speed can be calculated by dividing this by the time taken to travel between two points. The cameras use Infrared photography and so can operate around the clock.

The Home Office has approved the SPECS system for single-lane use only.^{[citation needed]} Technically therefore a motorist may switch lanes and claim non-approval to avoid prosecution for speeding. However, this would only work if the motorist knew which cameras were working, because switching for a non-active camera, then switching back would mean being back in the correct lane for the next active camera site.[1]

The cameras are often painted yellow and been given the nickname "yellow vultures". In February 2007 a letter bomb exploded at the accountants of Speed Check Services Limited in what was believed to be an attack on organisations related to DNA testing and road transport. [2]

[edit] Similar systems in other countries

Similar systems are being used in other countries:

Trajectcontrole (The Netherlands, First country to use "fixed average speed check")
Abschnittskontrolle (Austria)
Tutor (Italy)
Safe-T-Cam (Australia)