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Anon
By AA | Moderator | 844 Posts | 21 January 2011 at 9:23am

I'm sure speed cameras are not allowed to be hidden, but can they stay out of sight from the driver until the last second?

Is there a minimum distance the speed camera must be visible to oncoming drivers?

Clayton

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 3 September, 2010

jbiddle
By jbiddle | Community Member | 1657 Posts | 21 January 2011 at 10:00am

Police internal procedures state that speed camera vans must be visible from the roadside (not hidden) and parked on a straight section of road so they only capture vehicles travelling on a straight section of road.

They must also not be deployed within 250m of the end of a passing lane, and not closer than 250m from a change in the posted speed limit. In theory a camera van could appear to be obscured by a row of trees or shrubs in the middle distance and not visible to distant oncoming traffic until they are in close proximity but the rules require the camera to have sufficient clear sight distance.

Note this only relates to fixed camera’s and mobile speed camera vans.

Hand-held radar/laser guns are not covered by the procedures above and can be (and often are) hidden.

The AA believes all road policing should be visible so that motorists are aware of the presence of police enforcement as that will improve compliance.