Unmarked police vans to patrol parts of UK to catch speeding drivers
Speeding drivers could be caught out in a major crackdown with unmarked police cars set to hit popular UK routes.
Unmarked police vans equipped with 360-degree cameras and long-range detection technology are set to hit UK roads this week.
The enforcement vans will patrol around the Avon and Somerset region as officers attempt to crackdown on motorists speeding and breaking other driving laws.
The force warns that the technology equipped inside the vehicle is so powerful that a range of motoring offences can be detected.
Motorists failing to wear a seatbelt or drivers using a handheld mobile phone while behind the wheel can all be picked up.
Avon and Somerset police have confirmed that vans are installed with infrared tech and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.
It means motorists are at risk of being caught out and issued penalties such as fines both day and night.
The move comes after evidence from community reports and collision data suggested a series of areas where speed is understood to be a recurring problem.
Chief Inspector Robert Cheeseman, Head of Roads Policing and Road Safety, said the move is a “significant step forward”.
He explained: “The use of unmarked speed detection vans is not about catching people out; it’s about protecting lives. Speeding is one of the leading causes of fatal and serious injury collisions, and we are committed to using every tool at our disposal to address this.
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“The introduction of unmarked road safety enforcement vans represents a significant step forward in our commitment to reducing road fatalities and serious injuries.
“We urge all motorists to adhere to speed limits and recognise that road safety is a collective responsibility.”
Avon and Somerset Police said that unmarked vans were necessary to encourage “safe driving consistently”.
They warned road users would slow down when they see marked speed camera vans but would continue speeding once passed them.
The minimum penalty for speeding in the UK is a £100 fine and three penalty points on their driving licence.
However, officials confirmed that the introduction of unmarked vans was not a money-making scheme.
They added: “All cost recovery from speed enforcement is reinvested into road safety initiatives and educational programmes. The primary objective of unmarked vans is to reduce speeding and prevent collisions, not to generate revenue.”
