How Fast Can You Drive Through Speed Cameras Without Getting Caught?

Tue 23rd Apr 2019

A new investigation has revealed the different speed camera tolerances used by police forces across the UK.

Whilst it is a well known fact that speed cameras won’t flash you for driving just one mile over the limit, there are many urban myths as to what the actual threshold is, and there were wild rumours at the start of the year that motorway speed cameras had been set with no tolerance.

Following a Freedom of Information request to 45 different UK police forces, Auto Express has found the speed camera tolerances for forces in different parts of the country.

The majority of police forces stick to the guidelines issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers which suggests that cameras should only activate when a driver is breaking the speed limit by 10 per cent plus 2mph.

This ruling allows for a top speed of 79mph on motorways and 35mph in 30mph zones and in applies to both fixed and average speed cameras. There are a couple of police forces who allow for extra leniancy, with the Metropolitan Police and Lancashire Police using 1o per cent plus 3mph. There were some forces who refused to divulge the information claiming that it would encourage speeding.

 

Speed camera thresholds across the UK

Police force

Number of cameras

Camera activation threshold

Avon and Somerset

41

10% + 2mph

Bedfordshire

38

Would not reveal threshold

Cambridgeshire

32

Would not reveal threshold

Cheshire

15

10% + 2mph

Cleveland

4

10% + 2mph

Derbyshire

18

10% + 2mph

Devon and Cornwall

98

10% + 2mph

Durham

0 fixed

10% + 2mph

Essex

63

Don't use a standard threshold

Greater Manchester

235

Would not reveal threshold

Gwent

21

10% + 2mph

Hampshire

36

10% + 2mph

Hertfordshire

53

Would not reveal threshold

Kent

109

10% + 2mph

Lancashire

34

10% + 3mph

Leicestershire

30

10% + 2mph

Merseyside

18

10% + 2mph

Metropolitan Police/TfL

805

10% + 3mph

Norfolk

26

10% + 2mph

North Wales

28

10% + 2mph

Northumbria

55

10% + 2mph

Nottinghamshire

48

Refused to confirm if threshold exists

Police Service of Northern Ireland

12

10% + 2mph

Scotland

173

Refused to confirm if threshold exists

South Wales

137

10% + 2mph

South Yorkshire

25

10% + 2mph

Staffordshire

286

Would not reveal threshold

Suffolk

4

10% + 2mph

Thames Valley

294

10% + 2mph

Warwickshire

28

10% + 2mph

West Mercia

23

10% + 2mph

West Midlands

33

Would not reveal threshold

West Yorkshire

402

10% + 2mph


Speaking about the findings, AA President Edmund King said: “Auto Express's testing is a valid reminder to drivers not to gamble on their speedo perhaps providing some leeway.”