SPECS (speed camera)

The term refers to a section control system for monitoring of speed limits on the road, in which not the speed is measured at a certain point, but the average speed over a longer distance. Especially in Austria also the Scheinanglizismus section control is being used.

This is done by means of two overhead control points are equipped with cameras. The vehicle is photographed, both the first as well as the second control point. The identification of the vehicles will be based on the license plate using automatic number plate recognition. Due to the time needed between the two control points, an average speed is determined. Is this over the speed limit, an automatic forwarding of the data obtained to the executive.

Since all lanes are monitored, including the hard shoulder, lane changes are irrelevant. The system distinguishes between cars, trucks and cars with trailers and can thus account for different maximum speeds allowed.

Austria

History

Since 1 September 2003, such a system on the Austrian Danube embankment motorway ( A 22) in Vienna in use. In February 2005, the Courier reported that the section controls have already been funded in this area through the traffic fines self. 2012 saw the operator of the section controls ASFINAG, confirmed the success that since installing the system, the number of accidents and injuries by 50 or 60 percent has decreased, and no more fatal accident has happened in this area.

On the stretch in the exchange section of the Southern Motorway (A2 ) is true in rain and snow towards Vienna a top speed of 80 km / h and there the installed system can also monitor the weather conditions and automatically respond to it.

In February 2005 ( A1) between Haid and Sattledt in an 18 -km-long construction site section was first temporarily installed a mobile control section on the western highway, which has since been used in other projects.

On October 10, 2011, a section control was installed at Plabutschtunnel in Graz at the Phyrn motorway A9, which are recorded when using front Photos and foreign drivers.

Since the end of June 2012 will be first used on a country road, the section control, namely in the area of Mount Gföhler the Kremser Straße (B 37).

Problems

Initially, there were legal problems with the ads between ASFINAG and police, since the exact position of the arranged tempo change were not well documented, and it therefore came to objections. However, these were delivered after clarification and were quite effective.

Confusion reigned at first with many motorists, because they thought the toll portals of the truck toll for measuring points of the section control. Both systems differ only by the software used and by the partial lack of camera surveillance.

Constitutional Court decision

After a complaint from a Viennese citizen because of concerns for data protection reasons the Constitutional Court, the High Court made on 15 June 2007 after finding the inadmissibility of the monitoring carried out to date fixed. The Constitutional Court evaluated the electronic speed measurement, even those drivers who are not going too fast, as illegal since it is not a sufficient basis for by regulations or laws. This has since been corrected by appropriate regulations of the Federal Minister for Transport, Innovation and Technology ( Federal Law Gazette II No. 168/2007, 169/2007 and 176 /2007), the section controls have since been reinstated.

Locations

A list of locations is found in the list of motorways and expressways in Austria.

Germany

In Germany the issue of section control was first discussed at the end of January 2009 Road Safety Day in Goslar. In Stuttgart, a pilot experiment should be started under the red-green state government.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, the first section control was taken in January 2011 on the A2 in Arisdorftunnel in the canton of Basel-Country in operation.

Great Britain

In the UK, many velocity measurements via a control section, there called SPECS accomplished. Unlike other countries, however, pointed to the velocity measurement by normal road signs.

The SPECS cameras are nearly all known to be also called on official websites and shown exactly on maps. Most of the cameras are in the middle of the road on traffic islands and are held by a blue painted mast above the respective lanes. The cameras themselves are painted yellow and have the right and the left infrared emitter. Only very rarely, the cameras are not painted yellow.

Italy

The system used in Italy is called " tutor" and is very similar in function to the Austrian system. Signs indicate the monitored sections.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, a kind of section control is operated, the Trajectcontrole ( distance control). They photographed each vehicle with an infrared flash from the rear. Attached are the photo units on the back -lit displays speed limit.

More Trajectcontroles are on the A12 near Arnhem ( between Velperbroek and cross Waterberg, both directions, 100 km / h), on the A12 near Utrecht (both directions, 100 km / h side roads 80 km / h ), on the A12 direction Utrecht the Hague (120 km / h only direction Den Haag / Rotterdam), on the A4 between Hoofddorp and Nieuw Vennep (130km / h), on the A4 both directions between Zoeterwoude and Leidschendam (130km / h 19:00 to 0600, 100km / h 06:00 to 19:00 ) and the A10 at West ring Amsterdam (100 km / h), on the A20 between Rotterdam Terbregseplein and small polder plein (80-100 km / h ) on the N919 at Veenhuizen ( 80 km / h ) and the Zeelandbrug (80 km / h).

Poland

In Poland is still no system of section control on motorways or other roads use. However, there are ideas to introduce this system permanently on routes with a high traffic density and accident rates. The system should also come in urban areas used where it is intended to replace Blitzer.

For this purpose, in June 2011 a Regulation amending the Law on Road Traffic, which was passed on July 1, presented to the Ministry of Infrastructure. The Regulation allows the setting up of two overhead control points that are equipped with cameras and take pictures of the vehicle, and the measurement of average speed. The location of these checkpoints is to be decided by a previous analysis of the safety on this section. In addition, the characteristics of the road, the average traffic volume, visibility on the road and the presence will be considered by public institutions such as schools and places of worship. Addition, it was determined that the section of road to be controlled must have a length from 10 km up to 20 km inside and outside urban areas. Vehicles are not automatically registered when the limits of up to 10 km / h is exceeded.

From 22 to 30 June, the system control section was first tested on the A1 on the 16 km long section between junctions Swarożyn and Pelplin. This section has achieved an increased accident rate. The corresponding spots with overhead control points were marked with signs. A total of 28 drivers were registered, which are run at a top speed of over 200 km / hr.