Is this new speed camera coming to Britain? Spain’s ‘anti-braking’ devices detect if drivers slow down before or speed up after a fixed camera location

New technology has been introduced to Spanish roads that detects if motorists are slowing down moments before a speed camera – and then accelerating once they’ve driven passed it.

Authorities have started using secondary radar devices either before or after a fixed camera site to measure if drivers are only briefly lowering their speed to avoid detection and the fines that would come as a result of being caught over the limit.

The new ‘anti-braking’ speed cameras have been implemented in the North East region of Navarra following a successful pilot scheme in 2020. 

And experts have warned that the technology – if found to be effective – could be deployed on British roads in the future.

Secondary radars before or after a fixed speed camera in Spain means authorities can detect – and punish – drivers found to be braking hard before reaching the signposted camera, or accelerating hard shortly after passing it

The cascading system involves using a secondary mobile radar device just before or after a fixed speed camera site, sometimes up to one kilometre away from the conventional camera.

The radar is then used to detect if a motorist has either braked excessively to avoid triggering a signposted fixed camera, or if they’ve significant sped up after passing its location.

The groundbreaking tech has been given the green light by the Spanish Government’s transport department – the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT).

The aim is to identify motorists who try to evade fines by only momentarily reducing their speed to evade detection. 

This setup has already proven to discourage speeding in the region, with motorists risking fines of up to €200 (£175) if caught by the secondary radars.

This anti-braking tech was piloted during Holy Week 2020 by the Chartered Police of Navarra and has recently been rolled out across the medieval Basque region, including its capital and largest city, Pamplona, famed for its annual running of the bulls.

Given that Spanish speed cameras – which are grey and often situated lower down at the roadside than UK equivalents – are already more difficult to spot, the addition of secondary enforcement measures could make this one of the most prolific speed traps on roads anywhere in Europe. 

Pictured: A speed camera in Barcelona. Unlike in the UK where speed cameras are painted yellow, devices in Spain are grey and notoriously more difficult to spot 

Manufacturer of dashcams and speed camera detection devices, Road Angel, says its a more advanced version of tech deployed in Britain.

And as such, the boss of the company told The Express that he believes Spain’s anti-braking cameras could come to our roads as early as next year. 

They would be a next step from average speed cameras that have been used in Britain since 1999.

While early examples of this tech could only calculate the average speed of a driver between two designated cameras, the latest average speed cameras can use a network of up to 1,000 separate devices to take various measurements over a stretch of carriageway.

Road Angel founder, Gary Digva, says the new Spanish tech could be incredibly effective if brought to the UK, where motorists commonly brake hard before approaching a fixed speed camera to avoid detection, and then speed up straight after. 

‘If introduced [in the UK], these devices will catch and penalise more speeding motorists, encouraging more drivers to stick to legal limits and improve road safety,’ he explained.

‘One in four fatal collisions occur due to speeding on UK roads, [meaning] 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.’

It was revealed this month that Greater Manchester Police has installed over 100 of these hi-tech, two-way, ‘ultra’ speed cameras in the city which can not only enforce speeding offences but also drivers illegally not wearing a seatbelt or handling a phone at the wheel

Mr Digva has previously warned that future AI developments could see speed camera technology become more advanced in the future – and warned that police could even use drones to monitor the speed drivers are travelling from above.

Reports of the anti-braking speed detection devices potentially making their way to our roads comes in the wake of new two-way ‘ultra’ cameras being used across the country.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed this month it has installed 100 of the VECTOR-SR cameras to catch motorists speeding in the city.

These cameras do not flash and use the latest in infra-red technology that means white lines don’t have to be painted on the roads they are monitoring.

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk