• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Speed camera officer busts most common speeding fine myths 'drivers always get wrong'

Home> News> UK News

Published 17:32 2 Feb 2025 GMT

Speed camera officer busts most common speeding fine myths 'drivers always get wrong'

Turns out you're probably not being as clever as you think

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Driving, UK News, Crime

Poppy Bilderbeck
Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Motorists be warned, it turns out some of the reassurances you've been telling yourself about speed camera may not be quite true.

An ex-police officer has broken down some of the biggest myths for speeding fines that motorists wrongly believe alongside some common driving habits that could actually see you land a fine.

Do speed camera have to be visible by law?

Former police officer Gareth Thomas revealed there's actually no laws around visibility when it comes to catching someone speeding.

“Legally, we don’t have to be visible. I could camouflage myself if I want to, but it’s all about being fair, education and preventing an accident," he told North Wales Live.

Advert

He added that being noticeable can be beneficial as it can help put people off wanting to speed.

Are speed cameras just a way for the police to make money?

People often get things wrong about speed cameras (Getty Stock Image)
People often get things wrong about speed cameras (Getty Stock Image)

Any money made from speeding fines is passed on to the Treasury, rather than remaining with forces and safety partners.

What can you be fined for?

It’s also best to avoid eating while behind the wheel until you’re out of the car as it’s actually against the law to eat while driving, he warned.

Advert

That’s because, if you get distracted, you can be pulled up for careless driving, Gareth said.

There are many other reasons you can get fined by speed van officers.

Some are more obvious such as not wearing a seatbelt or using your mobile phone. But there are some other factors that many may not be aware of.

Do speed camera vans only catch you if you're driving towards the camera?

Don't get caught out (Getty Stock Image)
Don't get caught out (Getty Stock Image)

Advert

Gareth said: “If you’re exceeding the speed limit – whether you’re driving in the same or opposite direction to the van – you can expect a speeding ticket.”

And if you think you’re being helpful in warning other road users of a speeding van by flashing your lights, you could also be in breach of the law.

That’s because it’s classed as an offence under the Police Act to wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty.

Although Gareth added that this isn’t something he is particularly bothered about and said: “I just want to educate people and the van to act as a speed deterrent.”

  • Speed camera officer busts most common speeding fine myths 'drivers always get wrong'
  • AA explains if you can slow down before a speed camera to avoid fine and points
  • Drivers urged to do 20p car hack that could stop a £10,000 fine
  • More than one million Brits at risk of £1,000 fine for ignoring simple drivers licence rule

Choose your content:

14 mins ago
an hour ago
2 hours ago
  • Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
    14 mins ago

    News anchor speaks out and resigns after being suspended for Charlie Kirk tribute she aired

    Beni Rae Harmony claims she was suspended by the TV channel and has since resigned

    News
  • Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Huge update on 'Son of Concorde' that will fly from London to New York in 3.5 hours

    This is NASA's version of a new supersonic plane

    News
  • PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
    an hour ago

    Security expert reveals 'biggest threat' at Charlie Kirk's funeral

    Kirk was shot dead as he hosted an event at Utah Valley University (UVU) last week

    News
  • Anthony Devlin/Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Ricky Hatton’s ex-girlfriend Claire Sweeney pays tribute following his death aged 46

    Claire Sweeney and Ricky Hatton dated for several months last year

    News