If you’ve ever driven in the U.K., you’ll know that there are different types of speeding cameras that are part of the scenery. Wherever you are, on a motorway, a city street, or a quiet village road, there’s a good chance you’ll witness one. The cameras are intended to deter speeding and improve road safety.
But are you aware there’s more than one sort of speed camera? The UK’s array is a combination of different types, each with a different design and how they operate. In this guide we take a look at the most prevalent types of speed cameras you are most likely to encounter on British roads, how they operate and why they’re there.
Why Do We Have Speed Cameras?
According to the Department for Transport’s latest figures for 2024, there were around 1,633 reported road deaths in the UK . Speed remains one of the biggest reasons for serious crashes.
Speed cameras aim to lower this risk. Recent studies show these cameras help reduce average speeds and cut accident rates. They aren’t just there to issue fines—they’re meant to remind drivers to slow down in places where going too fast can be deadly.
Types of Speeding Cameras In The UK
Gatso Cameras
Gatso cameras are among the oldest and most recognised in the UK. They’re those big grey or yellow boxes you see by the roadside.
How they work:
- They use radar to measure speed.
- If you’re speeding, they take a photo of the back of your car.
- White lines on the road help confirm your speed.
Gatso cameras are almost always rear-facing. That means they snap the back of the car, avoiding arguments about who was driving.
Truvelo Cameras
Truvelo cameras look similar to Gatso but have some differences.
Key features:
- Front-facing design to capture the driver’s face.
- Use sensors in the road to measure speed.
- Infrared flash that doesn’t blind drivers at night.
Truvelo cameras help police confirm who was behind the wheel, which can be helpful if there’s any dispute.
Average Speed Cameras
You’ve likely seen these on long roadwork stretches or motorways. Instead of catching you at one point, they monitor your speed over distance.
How they work:
- Pairs (or more) of cameras record your number plate at different points.
- The system calculates the time you took to travel between them.
- If your average speed is over the limit, you get a ticket.
Fact: A 2019 Highways England report found average speed cameras led to 50% fewer collisions in roadworks zones.
Mobile Speed Cameras
Not all cameras are fixed. Police forces use mobile units in vans or handheld devices.
What to know:
- They can be parked anywhere with permission.
- Police officers use laser or radar guns.
- They’re often in places with many complaints about speeding.
Mobile cameras keep drivers alert, since you can’t predict where they’ll pop up.
SPECS Cameras
SPECS is a brand of average speed camera, but they deserve their own mention.
Features:
- Common on motorways and A-roads.
- Use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).
- Can cover long distances with multiple sets of cameras.
SPECS cameras are effective because drivers can’t just slow down at one camera and speed off—they have to maintain a safe average speed the whole way.
Red Light And Speed Cameras
These do double duty. You’ll see them at busy junctions and traffic lights.
How they work:
- Trigger if you go through a red light.
- Also monitor your speed even if lights are green.
They’re there to stop dangerous junction behaviour, which is a big cause of urban crashes.
VECTOR Cameras
VECTOR cameras are newer and more discreet. They’re slim, pole-mounted, and used for both speed and other offences.
Features:
- ANPR technology for speed and bus lane enforcement.
- Can be part of Clean Air Zone monitoring.
- Used in city centres and busy suburban roads.
These cameras can issue multiple types of fines, not just for speeding.
How Many Speed Cameras Are There?
While there isn’t an exact public count, estimates suggest the UK has above 8000 speed cameras in use. This doesn’t include the many mobile units operated by local police.
Are Speed Cameras Effective?
The answer from most studies is yes — speed cameras really do make streets safer. Fixed cameras are shown to reduce the speed of drivers by four to seven miles per hour in areas where they are installed, according to the RAC Foundation. When drivers are moving at slower speeds, they have more time to react and to try to avoid the crash.
Fatal accidents reduce by about 20-40% in the vicinity of speed cameras, and that’s a big difference when you think about lives saved and injuries prevented.
To some people, cameras exist only to generate revenue from fines. But the police and road safety groups say they’re important tools that are there to give drivers a reminder to stay within the limit and make sure we all get home safely.
What Happens If You’re Caught Speeding?
If you’re caught by a speed camera in the UK, then you will receive, in the mail at home, a type of document called a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) within 14 days. This letter informs you that the police will take action for the offence.
- Fines usually begin at £100, and you’ll have 3 points added to your licence. Points remain on your record for several years and can drive up your car insurance rates.
- Speeding more seriously — like far over the limit, or if you were driving dangerously — comes with harsher penalties. You may get larger fines, more points, or even a trip to court.
- Some drivers are given the option of attending a Speed Awareness Course in lieu of points, and it means you can become more aware of safe driving and ensure you walk away without any points on your licence. This is typically allowed for first offences or low-level offences and is designed to teach you how to make better choices in the future.
Final Thoughts
Speed cameras are facts of life on the roads in the UK. From the large yellow Gatso boxes you’ll see on the side of the road to the city snooper VECTOR systems, they all have one thing in common: to make roads safer.
Drivers can help keep themselves mindful of their use—and within those limits—by understanding how they work. After all, the penalties are there for a reason. They’re about ensuring that everyone gets home safely.