The SPECS3 average speed system is manufactured by Jenoptik. All SPECS3 cameras used by the SEU are supplied by Jenoptik who also performs the installation, calibration testing, any required maintenance and back office system operator training.
The SPECS3 average speed camera system has Home Office Type Approval (HOTA) for use in detecting and recording evidence of speeding offences. A copy of this approval can be viewed here: SPECS3 HOTA
The SPECS3 camera system is designed to accurately measure the average speed of vehicles over a measured distance. It uses pairs of video cameras that are installed at the roadside a measured distance apart. The cameras constantly monitor passing traffic. When a vehicle passes the entry camera the system captures an image from the video and uses Automatic Number Plate Reading (ANPR) software to read the licence number from the registration plate. It also records the time that the vehicle passed the camera. When the same vehicle passes the exit camera it again captures an image, reads the licence number and records the time. The system can then pair the images of the vehicle together using the licence number. As it knows the exact distance between the entry and exit cameras and the times that the vehicle passed them it can calculate the vehicle's average speed. If the vehicle is exceeding the set speed threshold the offence details are kept. If the vehicle is not exceeding the threshold all the recorded information is discarded.
SPECS3 cameras are set-up at the roadside and operate 24 hours a day monitoring passing traffic, recording details of vehicles that exceed the speed limit threshold and automatically transmitting the offence data to the SEU office via a secure link for processing. Every offence is then checked by a trained member of Police staff before a Notice is issued to the vehicle's registered keeper.
Each time the SPECS3 cameras are installed at a new location they are tested by Jenoptik who issue a Calibration Certificate to confirm that the camera system is working correctly. Any further calibration testing is also carried out by them. Note that the SPECS3 system has Home Office approval to only be calibrated once every two years.
The SPECS3 system automatically performs a secondary check for every offence and will discard the offence data if the secondary check results are not within the HOTA required tolerance of +/-10% of the primary speed reading.