Gatso

Gatso is a brand of speed camera invented by Maurice Gatsonides and manufactured by the Dutch company Gatsometer BV.

The Gatso emits radar beams to measure the speed of the vehicle. If it is travelling above the preset trigger speed, photographs are taken, using a powerful flash, to show the rear of the vehicle, its registration plate, and the calibration lines on the road. Gatso installations are characterised by a series of white lines painted on the road. The camera takes two photographs with a known time interval between them (typically 0.5 seconds). The vehicle's position, relative to the white road markings in the two photographs, can be used to calculate the vehicle speed and is, in the UK, the only evidence admissible in court. The speed indicated by the radar unit is too unreliable to be used as the sole means of evidence as it is prone to error due to multiple reflections etc. Further, it does not distinguish between multiple vehicles in shot.

UK deployment

Gatso cameras in the UK previously had deployment requirements, in common with all fixed speed camera types operated in the UK by Safety Camera Partnerships (SCPs) under the National Safety Camera Programme (NSCP). They had to be marked, made visible, located in places with a history of serious accidents, and where there was evidence of a speeding problem, or where was a local community concern [cite web
title=Handbook of Rules and Guidance for the National Safety Camera Programme for England and Wales for 2006/07
url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/speedmanagement/nscp/handbookofrulesandguidancefo4582
publisher=UK Department for Transport] . Since April 2007 however, such requirements have been removed. It is still recommended that cameras be made visible and roads with fixed ones, clearly signed, but they can now be placed at any location, regardless of its crash history. Cameras operated solely by the Police, outside of the NSCP schemes, do not need to comply with visibility requirements [cite web
title=DfT Circular 01/2007: Use of speed and red-light cameras for traffic enforcement: Guidance on deployment, visibility and signing.
url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/speedmanagement/pdfdftcirc0107
publisher=UK Department for Transport
date=31 January 2007] .

The funding arrangements for SCPs also changed in April 2007. SCPs no longer keep the funds from speeding fines, instead an annual 'road safety grant' is given to local authorities directly, who can choose whether or not to invest it in these partnerships.

References

ee also

* Safety Camera Partnership
* Truvelo

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.gatsometer.com Official site]
* [http://www.speedcam.co.uk/gatso2.htm Cameras destroyed by arson]
* [http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/index.htm The UK Speedtrap Guide]