New Gatso threat looms

Police could soon have a new tool to target riders – a digital speed camera system that takes pictures of the rear of vehicles.

The new cameras are being tested by speed camera maker Gatso in the Netherlands and could be seen in the UK by 2006.

The system works in a similar way to the SPECS system that has been used in small numbers in the UK since 2000, and uses two digital cameras to measure your speed between two points on the road.

As a bike passes the first camera its picture is taken and a timer is started. When the same bike passes the second camera the timer is stopped and the speed is calculated.

This means that even if you slow down to the legal limit as you pass each camera you will still get caught if you speed in between the two points.

The current SPECS system uses a front facing design so can’t see the registration of bikes but the new system faces the back of the bike so can easily grab the numberplate. It is also fully automatic so fines can be issued almost immediately.

The camera has been designed to cover wide sections of road so can catch a bike even if it changes lanes between the two points.

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