Traffic cameras have been used in England for the past 30 years, with Scotland and Wales accessing a different system. With over 4,000 cameras owned by the Highways Agency, what should drivers know about them?
Traffic cameras
Traffic cameras are usually disguised CCTV camera systems, discreetly placed along the roadside. There are also ANPR cameras used at 500 strategic locations, which are used to monitor traffic levels. Officers man the cameras to identify areas of congestion, allowing them to change alerts, issue warnings, and notify the local media and news where necessary. They can also alert emergency services if they spot an incident of concern.
Traffic cameras cannot be used as evidence to prosecute you for a speeding offence. They are not speed cameras and are used for a different purpose; however, they can be used to issue fines if there is a traffic camera installed for the purposes of monitoring yellow box junctions and bus lanes.
Anyone can access footage from traffic cameras, with live images sometimes used by news agencies so they can alert the public to local traffic buildup and congestion.
To request traffic camera footage after an incident, the request must be made within five days. The request must include the date, time, location, direction of travel, and the details of the vehicles involved.
CCTV installation
CCTV allows an additional pair of eyes to monitor people, places, or property. For this reason, it is one of the most popular forms of home security systems. CCTV is useful for deterring intruders, increasing the safety of family members and personal possessions whilst providing recorded evidence should the need arise.
A professional installer, such as apmfireandsecurity.com will be able to provide you with the best advice on the system that will be best suited to your home or business premises. They can also provide a comprehensive service ranging from advice and supply to CCTV installation Cheltenham and the surrounding area and aftercare.
A specialist installer will also be able to advise on using a CCTV system in accordance with GDPR legislation.
How CCTV became a crime-fighting tool
Cameras have been used to record security incidents since the 1950s. Early systems were bulky, easy to spot and intrusive, but it soon became clear they would be a major asset in fighting crime.
One advantage was that cameras reduced the need for regular patrols, which criminals could predict and avoid if they followed a set timetable. A camera keeps constant watch over more places at once, so officers or guards can be sent to the right spot as soon as something happens.
Recorded footage can also be used as evidence in court, provided it can be shown that the suspect is the person in the images, and this has helped secure a number of high profile convictions. Cameras deter crime too. Many offences are opportunistic and rely on speed, so the sight of a camera makes people think twice, and that hesitation can stop an attempt before it starts.