How do they work?
A SPECS system must consist of two or more cameras working together. As a vehicle drives past the first, the infrared sensors either side of the camera take a reading of the number plate.

Now the vehicle drives past the second camera and the information is stored again, and so on to the end of the SPECS zone. From the information received it can calculate exactly how long it has taken that vehicle to travel from point A to B.

By calculating distance travelled over time taken it can work out your average speed within the SPECS zone. The information can then be relayed by transmitting to a central office via fibre optic cables or recorded on discs stored in cabinets at the roadside. Which can be collected and changed, by police or speed check staff.

Linked to DVLA or PNC computers, these can provide driver details which can be used to track down offenders.

Accuracy
SPECS is the only system currently able to offer automatic digital safety cameras to Home Office Approval. This allows SPECS to be used as evidence of speeding offences in UK courts.

How do they help road safety?
Quoting from the manufacturer's own information : “SPECS has been installed for a number of years as part of the Nottingham Safety Camera Partnership. SPECS is used to target what were previously the worst two roads for killed or seriously injured (KSI) in Nottingham. During 2000-2002, the deployment of SPECS has produced significant results:

• Elimination of fatalities
• 40% reduction in serious injuries
• 30% reduction in slight casualties

SPECS systems operating around the UK reflect these results proving that SPECS is an exceptionally powerful way to target inappropriate speeds along routes to help save lives.”

Read our News Stories for information and statistics on the impact speed cameras have on road safety.

They (the manufacturers) Say:
“SPECS cameras have won a Royal Award for its contribution to road safety … a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for Technology in 2002 … SPECS has dramatically reduced casualties in the areas where it has been installed and has improved compliance with speed limits.”

We Say:
SPECS cameras help maintain speeds below the limit, as it is not possible to just slow down for the camera. They do not give off a signal but it is possible to get alerts to them with the GPS devices, which will have the sites on their databases. As the cameras work in pairs alerts will continue through the camera zone.