UK considers implementation of ‘Anti-Braking’ speed cameras to catch speeding in lead up to camera
Road safety authorities have warned that the UK may soon introduce new anti-braking speed cameras to discourage drivers from attempting to avoid penalties for speeding.
The success of these devices in Spain has prompted road safety experts, such as Road Angel, to advocate for their implementation in the UK. The technology aims to penalise drivers who brake abruptly before speed cameras and then rapidly accelerate once they have passed.
After a successful pilot scheme, the anti-braking devices were officially rolled out in the Navarra region of North-East Spain in early 2020. These devices proved effective in detecting and catching motorists trying to evade fines for speeding. This prompted experts to believe that similar technology could be applied in the UK to address the issue.
Many drivers have been known to forcefully brake just before a speed camera to temporarily comply with the speed limit, only to accelerate again immediately afterwards. This practice allows them to avoid fines, licence points, and other driving penalties. However, modern technology, including laser systems and 'doppler effect technology', has been developed to make it harder for drivers to evade punishment by accurately recording a vehicle's speed.
The introduction of average speed cameras across the UK has also aimed to discourage speeding, with two devices calculating the average speed of a vehicle between them. In Spain, the Government has taken further precautions by implementing anti-braking radars and cascading technology. Cascading involves placing a mobile radar unit at a significant distance after a fixed speed camera to detect drivers who speed up again after passing the initial camera, assuming they have escaped detection. Those who fall into this trap will be caught by the second mobile speed camera and may face substantial fines and licence points.
Anti-braking systems, on the other hand, utilise a mobile device positioned before the fixed speed camera to identify drivers who forcefully brake upon seeing the signposted camera. This means that motorists who brake harshly immediately upon spotting the speed camera have already been detected by the preceding mobile device.
Gary Digva, Founder of Road Angel, has warned all UK drivers that these new anti-braking systems could be used across the nation to control speeding.
He said: “If introduced, these devices will catch and penalise more speeding motorists, encouraging more drivers to stick to legal limits and improve road safety.
“It comes after the news that one in four fatal collisions occur due to speeding on UK roads. This means that over 2,500 people are seriously injured every year due to excessive speeds.
“These shocking statistics alone should encourage motorists to think twice before speeding, yet it’s safe to say that the new technology will penalise even more motorists who are driving in excess of the legal limit, therefore helping to keep UK roads safer for all users.
“By capturing drivers who slam on the brakes before passing the fixed speed camera, as well as using technology to apprehend motorists who speed up again after the camera, the new radar devices will be able to penalise many more motorists than current systems.
“Although the fight goes on to reduce incidences of speeding on UK roads and accidents resulting from excess speed we believe introducing this new technology to the UK will help keep roads safer.”
