I’m an ex-cop – here are 5 speed camera myths that all drivers need to know to stay safe while behind the wheel
SPEED camera officer has debunked speeding myths to help Brits stay safe while behind the wheel.
Ex-cop Gareth Thomas says some motorists might think they have a clue about how they can get pinged by a cheeky camera – but often they have no idea.
There’s a wide-ranging list of assumptions drivers have made about how road laws really work – here Gareth sheds light on three of the most common.
The 10 per cent rule
Although police are recommended to give drivers leeway, it isn’t guaranteed that you’ll get away with speeding 10 percent above the limit.
There is no specific amount of mph that you can go over by as drivers are meant to firmly stick to the restrictions – meaning you can be fined for going even just 1mph over.
Cameras are just a way for making money for cops
Another popular myth is that safety cameras are an easy way of making money for the police.
But all fine revenue is passed to the Treasury – so forces and safety partners don’t make a profit
Gareth added that operators are “just here to catch people who are speeding”.
GoSafe place speed and red light cameras where people have been killed or injured, where excessive speeds have been recorded or at a community concern site.
Speed camera officers only look for speed
Gareth says this is not true.
They also look out to make sure you are wearing a seatbelt and are not using your phone at the wheel.
Yes. Officers are there to make sure you are wearing a seatbelt and are not using your mobile phones behind the wheel. Anyone caught breaking these laws will be prosecuted.
It’s illegal to eat behind the wheel
This is another myth which is not true.
However, you can be prosecuted for careless driving if you get distracted behind the wheel.
Gareth, said: “It is endorsable. I had one lady in view once and she was looking in the mirror and putting lipstick on.
“She was riding on the cats eyes in the centre of the road and veering. I recommended that she was prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.”
It’s ok to warn other drivers of speed camera with your headlights
Once again, this is not true.
As part of the Highway Code, drivers are instructed to use their headlights “only to let other road users know that you are there,” and not to attempt “to convey any other message”.
Flashing your headlights to warn other drivers of a speed trap on the road ahead could attract fines of up to £1,000 if caught by police.
However, Gareth says it is very difficult to prove. He said: “It doesn’t bother me that people flash to warn them of the speed van – I just want to educate people and the van to act as a speed deterrent.”