Brit motorists sent prosecution warning over speeding through 'smiley face' camera trap
Drivers across the UK may face legal proceedings if they are detected exceeding the speed limits by Smiley Activated Message (SAM) cameras.
British motorists have been warned they could fall foul of a "smiley face" camera trap and be prosecuted if they speed through them.
Smiley Activated Message (SAM) cameras, which display either a frowning or smiling face to drivers as they detect the speed of vehicles passing by them, can be spotted across the UK since the early 2000s in an effort to reduce speeding violations.
Established by local councils, these SAM cameras display the driver's detected speed along with a smiley face if it respects the speed limit, or a frowning one if the vehicle is travelling over it.
According to Graham Conway, managing director of vehicle lease firm Select Car Leasing, the information they capture can be relayed to local law enforcement- leading to potential legal proceedings for the driver.
"The idea is that a driver will see a frowning face, realise they’re breaking the speed limit, and then slow down," Conway explains.
"Sadly, many motorists will simply ignore a frowning face and continue to speed, seemingly safe in the knowledge that no cameras are recording their illegal deed and that they won’t end up with points on their licence. But it’s not quite as simple as that."
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According to Conway, the speeds these SAM cameras pick up are analysed by operators, who may choose to relay that information to police.
He added: "If the operators notice particularly excessive speeds, or large numbers of motorists exceeding the limit at a given point in time, it may well prompt the council to inform the local police to set up a very real speed trap.
"And if your actions have led to that outcome, you’ve only got yourself to blame if you ultimately end up with points on your licence and a fine, particularly if you use that route regularly."
The cameras have also implemented an ‘anti-race’ technology to deter drivers from speeding purposefully and have the system display the highest speed they can.
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Some SAM systems now only display speeds for drivers exceeding the speed limit by no more than 20 miles per hour, discouraging reckless competition.
"Again, if a smiley face camera operator sees driver speeds way in excess of the local limit, they’re well within their rights to inform the police, who could take action to snare such flagrant offenders," Conway says.
The first SAM cameras were first introduced in the early 2000s by the Oxfordshire County Council. This effort to reduce spending was a joint effort with Thames Valley Police.
"These devices will be a valuable contribution to our efforts in reducing the general speed of traffic within the community", officials said at the time.
"Our partnership approach is to educate as well as enforce speed limits and our ultimate aim is to make our roads a safer place for all."
