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Some Police Forces Have Revealed Speed Camera Tolerances

Some Police Forces Have Revealed Speed Camera Tolerances

Research has confirmed that some cameras have a 'buffer zone' but taking advantage might land you with a fine

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

We've all experienced the dread of driving down a road and then looking in our rear view mirror only to see a big yellow box behind us. Our eyes immediately go to the speedometer.

But what if you're slightly over the limit? How accurate is a speed camera? Is it even turned on? Is there any leeway?

PA

Most police forces have a tolerance of 10 percent plus 2 miles per hour (mph) above the limit before a speed camera 'flashes'. So on a 30 mph road, a camera wouldn't normally activate unless a car drove past at 35 mph or faster.

On a 70 mph stretch of motorway, the threshold would go up to 79 mph.

This 'buffer zone' exists in order to improve driver safety. It means that drivers don't have their eyes fixed on their speedometer instead of the road.

PA

Auto Express contacted 45 UK police forces. Of the 33 that responded, 25 shared information about when their speed cameras activate if a driver is going above the speed limit.

Here's a list to show what the 33 forces that replied revealed:

  • Avon and Somerset 10% + 2 mph
  • Bedfordshire - Wouldn't reveal threshold
  • Cambridgeshire - Wouldn't reveal threshold
  • Cheshire 10% + 2 mph
  • Cleveland 10% + 2 mph
  • Derbyshire 10% + 2 mph
  • Devon and Cornwall 10% + 2 mph
  • Durham 10% + 2 mph
  • Essex - Don't use a standard threshold
  • Greater Manchester - Wouldn't reveal threshold
  • Gwent 10% + 2 mph
  • Hampshire 10% + 2 mph
  • Hertfordshire - Wouldn't reveal threshold
  • Kent 10% + 2 mph
  • Lancashire 10% + 3 mph
  • Leicestershire 10% + 2 mph
  • Merseyside 10% + 2 mph
  • Metropolitan Police / TfL 10% + 3 mph
  • Norfolk 10% + 2 mph
  • Northumbria 10% + 2 mph
  • Nottinghamshire - Wouldn't confirm if threshold exists
  • North Wales 10% + 2 mph
  • Northern Ireland 10% + 2 mph
  • Scotland - Wouldn't confirm if threshold exists
  • South Wales 10% + 2 mph
  • South Yorkshire 10% + 2 mph
  • Staffordshire - Wouldn't reveal threshold
  • Suffolk 10% + 2 mph
  • Thames Valley 10% + 2 mph
  • Warwickshire 10% + 2 mph
  • West Mercia 10% + 2 mph
  • West Midlands - Wouldn't reveal threshold
  • West Yorkshire 10% + 2 mph
PA

So what happens if you do get caught speeding? Well, if the offence is minor, you might be asked to go on a speed awareness course rather than take the fine and points.

For more serious offences, though, that option isn't on the table and you face a fine, points on your licence and a possible ban.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: News, Driving, Speeding, UK