Traffiphot 3G Red Light Camera
The Traffiphot 3G Red Light measuring equipment is designed to obtain photographic documentation of vehicles illegally crossing, an intersection whilst the traffic lights are on red. Traffiphot 3G is a Type Approved device for enforcement use authorised by the Secretary of State in connection with The Road Traffic Offenders (Prescribed Devices) Order 1992.
To obtain Type Approval from the Home Office, the equipment needs to be independently tested by an accredited test house to extremely stringent standards to measure the accuracy of the device. In addition, an annual (or more frequent) calibration check is conducted by the manufacturer and a new calibration certificate issued. The device is also tested to check that it meets high standards in environmental factors such as extreme heat/cold and waterproofing. Site conformity checks are also carried out by the manufacturer in conjunction with the police, the safety camera partnership and the local authority.
The Traffiphot is connected to the traffic lights in such a way that it is ready to take photographs when the red phase starts, taking into account a delay time that has been preset. The camera is completely independent of the Traffic Light Signals and has no control over the phasing of the lights or duration of red or green time. The camera is activated from the bulb of the red light on the primary signal which means it cannot take a photograph whilst on amber but only when the red stop light is actually lit. During the red phase, the camera unit is triggered by one or two pairs of inductive loops laid beneath the road surface. When a vehicle crosses the loop during the red phase and after the preset time has elapsed, the first image is taken. In order to prove that the vehicle has continued moving a second image is taken automatically, at the end of a preset time interval
Should any problem occur within the system the camera will not operate. It will not operate any more until such time as the operator clears the system down by solving the problem (i.e. fuse replacement/end of film etc.) Immediately after solving any problem the system and loop detectors are checked again by the enforcement officer.
If a problem were to persist then the film would be rejected and the camera returned to the manufacturer for attention/repair as necessary.
A useful publication has been produced by the Home Office and is entitled “The Traffic Light Camera Handbook (Second Edition) Provisional. (A guide to Type Approval Procedures for Traffic Light Cameras used for Road Traffic Law Enforcement in Great Britain) Publication No 56/04 which may be found at the following link: