Warning over ‘no flash’ speed cameras so high tech you won’t even know it’s caught you

New 'ultra' speed cameras have hit the roads and they're so advanced drivers won't even realise they've been caught. These high-tech devices don't flash when triggered and operate in any weather condition, day or night, without needing to flash.

Instead, they utilise infra-red light to read number plates, even in low light conditions. This means there's no need for road markings, leaving drivers unaware when they're within the camera's 'catchment area'.

They also function on both sides of the road simultaneously. Their inconspicuous nature makes them harder to spot, increasing the chances of drivers being caught for speeding and other offences such as not wearing seatbelts or using a mobile phone while driving.

READ: Stalker posted dirty sanitary pads through ex's letterbox during harassment campaign Carmen Davies, 56, was handed a compassionate sentence at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court^[1]

READ: Knifeman brawls with armed clubber as violence erupts on streets of Hanley Richard Reid, 33, was jailed at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court^[2]

To add to the woes, these cameras are significantly smaller than the traditional yellow boxes, making them even more difficult to identify.

These cameras aren't just limited to detecting speeding - they can also check if you've run a red light or if you're using your phone while driving. The cameras employ AI technology to scan cars for increased accuracy.

The AI is a video system which identifies potential infringements like using a phone at the wheel, and then forwards it to a human for review, similar to VAR.

AI cameras were initially tested by National Highways in Stoke-on-Trent after Staffordshire Police ^[3] was among 10 forces chosen to use the technology.

They have been set up on busy roads such as the M6, A50, A500, A34 and the A53 and are being expanded to other areas. However, Staffordshire Police have declined to confirm whether the ones being used here flash or not.

However, one such camera in Cornwall issued an astonishing 3,280 tickets in its first week of operation, equating to 234 fines per day, reports Birmingham Live ^[4].

Of course, there's one foolproof way to avoid being caught by these cameras: adhere to the speed limits and don't speed.

References

^{^} Stalker posted dirty sanitary pads through ex's letterbox during harassment campaign (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Knifeman brawls with armed clubber as violence erupts on streets of Hanley (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Staffordshire Police (www.stokesentinel.co.uk)
^{^} Birmingham Live (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
^{^} Sign up to our main daily newsletter here and get all the latest news straight to your inbox for FREE (data.reachplc.com)