In the UK, police officers do not necessarily need proof of speeding in order to issue a speeding ticket. There are a few different ways that police can establish that a driver was speeding without necessarily having proof such as a radar gun reading.
Visual Estimation
One of the most common ways police officers establish speeding is through visual estimation. A police officer who is trained in visually estimating speeds can determine if a vehicle is going over the speed limit based on observing the vehicle in motion. Visual estimation involves comparing the speed of a vehicle to the speeds of other vehicles on the road. Officers may use landmarks like lamp posts as reference points. If an officer visually estimates that a vehicle is exceeding the speed limit, that can be sufficient evidence to issue a speeding ticket without having proof from a device like a radar gun.
Pace Clocks
Some police departments have patrol cars equipped with pace clocks. A pace clock measures the patrol car’s speed very precisely using a GPS device. An officer can visually identify a speeding vehicle, match the vehicle’s speed with the patrol car’s speed as clocked by the pace clock, and then issue a citation based on the speed measured by the pace clock.
VASCAR/Time-Distance Calculations
VASCAR (Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder) is a tool used by some police officers to calculate a vehicle’s speed without radar or laser guns. It works by an officer measuring the time it takes for a vehicle to travel between two visible reference points of a known distance. The officer can then use the time and distance to mathematically calculate the vehicle’s speed. The evidence generated by VASCAR can be sufficient to issue a speeding ticket.
Officer Testimony
In some cases, an officer’s testimony alone that a vehicle was speeding can be enough to sustain a speeding conviction. If an officer testifies under oath that they observed the vehicle traveling at a speed above the limit, the officer’s testimony can constitute evidence for a speeding ticket. However, testimony alone tends to not be as strong evidence as testimony coupled with a measurement method like radar or VASCAR.
Speed Cameras
Speed cameras, either fixed position cameras or mobile cameras in vans, can provide proof of speeding by capturing images of the vehicle along with a readout of the vehicle’s speed from the camera’s internal sensors. The images and speed data supplied by speed cameras generally provide conclusive proof that can sustain a speeding ticket.
Factors That Weaken Visual Estimation
While visual estimation is a valid technique police can use to determine speeding, there are some factors that can weaken the reliability of visual estimation in court. These include:
- Poor weather conditions like rain or fog that limit visibility
- Nighttime darkness making it harder to see vehicles clearly
- Obstructed views like curved roads or hills
- Heavy traffic making it harder to focus on one vehicle
- A very brief observation period
If any of these factors are present, it may raise reasonable doubt over the accuracy of an officer’s visual estimation. The prosecution may need supporting evidence like radar or pace clock readings to get a conviction.
Defending Against Visual Estimation
Since visual estimation does not involve definite proof like a radar reading, there are some strategies drivers can use to challenge speeding tickets based solely on an officer’s visual estimate:
- Question the officer’s training and skill in making visual estimates
- Bring up conditions like weather, visibility, or traffic that could impair the officer’s judgment
- Ask if any confirmatory measurements were made with speed measurement tools
- Present evidence of your vehicle’s top speed capabilities to show it could not achieve the alleged speed
- Question the specific details of the officer’s observations – angle, distance, duration of observation, and more
The Importance of Officer Testimony
Because visual estimation does not involve definitive proof, the officer’s testimony, credibility, and ability to articulate their observations is crucial. Key things the officer must provide persuasive testimony on include:
- Their vantage point and unobstructed line of sight to the vehicle
- The specific section of road the vehicle was observed on
- Their degree of attention focused on the vehicle
- Comparison vehicles they used as speed reference points
- The details of the vehicle’s movement that indicated speeding
Without detailed, credible testimony on these points, visual estimation evidence can often be successfully challenged in court.
When Radar/Laser Readings Are Not Needed
While visual estimation is not as solid as measured speeds, officer testimony on visual speed estimates is generally accepted in lower speed limit areas. For example, on residential roads with limits of 20 to 30 mph, virtually all passenger vehicles can readily exceed those speeds. Visual observations that a vehicle was traveling significantly faster than the very low limit are typically all that is needed for those citations.
Estimation may also suffice in school or construction zones where the visual difference between normal speeds and doubled fines limits is very obvious.
When Radar/Laser is Recommended
On higher speed roads, like motorways/highways over 50 mph, radar or laser speed measurement devices are strongly recommended to provide solid proof against challenges to visual estimates. At those higher speeds vehicles travel closer together, making visual separation difficult, and speed differentials are less obvious. Solid speed measurement data is much more critical for enforcement.
How Radar/Laser Works
Police radar/laser works by directing an radio or light wave at a vehicle, measuring the Doppler frequency shift of the wave reflecting off the vehicle, and using that measurement to precisely calculate speed. This provides an exact, objective speed reading that is very difficult to challenge in court. Radar is most accurate when a vehicle is approaching the radar source, making it ideal for head-on enforcement. Laser is extremely accurate at wider angles as well, allowing flexibility in using it from the side of the road or around curves.
Strengths of Radar/Laser Evidence
Radar and laser speed measurements provide the strongest available evidence to prove speeding for a number of reasons:
- High accuracy – Radar is accurate to around 1 mph and laser is accurate to fractions of 1 mph
- Objective electronic measurement unaffected by officer judgment or vision
- Can measure speeds of vehicles at long distances with no need to pace or follow vehicle
- Works effectively in all weather and visibility conditions
- Gives precise speed reading that is beyond reasonable doubt if device is properly calibrated and used
Radar/laser evidence can generally only be challenged on the grounds of issues with the particular device’s calibration or malfunction. If the device is demonstrated to be properly working, the speed data will stand.
Speed Detection Devices Used in the UK
The main radar and laser speed detection devices used by UK police include:
- Gatso speed cameras – Fixed position speed cameras that use radar to measure speed.
- Truvelo speed cameras – Fixed cameras using piezo sensors or laser.
- SPECS average speed cameras – Networked cameras that calculate average speed between different points.
- Mobile speed camera vans – Vans parked at the roadside with rear facing radar/laser cameras.
- Handheld radar guns – Small radar devices aimed by hand to measure approaching vehicle speeds.
- LIDAR laser guns – Handheld laser devices also aimed at vehicles to get speed readings.
Officers may visually estimate speeds to initially identify speeders, but will generally follow up with confirmation from radar or laser devices to provide solid proof for enforcement.
Defending Against Radar/Laser Readings
Because radar and laser provide such objective, definitive speed measurements, it can be difficult to successfully defend against a ticket when radar/laser evidence is presented. Some potential defenses include:
- Questioning if the officer properly identified your vehicle vs other traffic
- Challenging if the device was used improperly
- Disputing if the device was calibrated and maintained according to manufacturer guidelines
- Noting obstructions, weather, or other factors that could have interfered with operation
Technical deficiencies in the equipment or its operation have to be demonstrated – you cannot simply assert the device was faulty or inaccurate without evidence supporting that claim.
Speeding Defences Unlikely to Succeed
Some common speeding excuses are very unlikely to succeed in beating the ticket:
- “I didn’t realize I was going that fast”
- “I was just keeping pace with traffic”
- “It was a downhill slope”
- “I had cruise control set”
Ignorance of your speed is not a defence. The onus is on the driver to monitor their speed. Cruise control errors and downhill momentum are also not considered valid excuses.
Penalties for Speeding
The penalties for speeding depend on how much over the limit you were driving and can include:
- 3 penalty points on your license and a ₤100 fine for exceeding limits by less than 10 mph.
- 4 to 6 penalty points and fines up to ₤2500 for more serious speeding.
- Court summons for excessive speeds of more than 30 mph over the limit that qualify as extremely dangerous driving.
- Driving bans for repeat, serious speeders.
Avoiding Speeding Penalties
The most sure fire way to avoid speeding penalties is to maintain awareness of your vehicle’s speed and simply not exceed posted limits. Driver aids like cruise control and speed limiters can help prevent unintentional acceleration. Allowing extra drive time and avoiding urgency can help reduce the temptation to creep over the limits as well.
Conclusion
In summary, police in the UK do not necessarily need definitive proof like radar readings to issue speeding tickets. Visual estimates by trained officers can be sufficient. However, to secure convictions on contested tickets, police ideally need corroborating evidence from speed measurement devices that provide objective, accurate readings that are difficult to dispute in court. Maintaining safe driving speeds is the best way for motorists to avoid speeding citations altogether.
