Drivers won't realise they've been caught by new two-way speed cameras coming to the UK

Getting flashed by a speed camera is never fun, but UK drivers need to start gearing up for a whole new form of road surveillance.

After taking a speed awareness course not so long ago, it's important to remember that speed limits should be treated as an absolute maximum – it’s not always safe to drive at this speed in all conditions.

The minimum penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and 3 penalty points, which are added to your licence.

And if you clock up 12 or more penalty points within three years, you could be disqualified from driving entirely.

Drivers are now being warned of new, two-way speed cameras coming to the UK.

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Tech company Jenoptik are responsible for developing the VECTOR-SR cameras.

The cameras will painted yellow and in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, like most already are.

However, they will work slightly differently to old speed cameras.

The new ‘spot cameras’ use infra-red low-light technology, and no longer ‘flash’ when triggered.

This basically means that drivers won’t know if they’ve been fined.

Unlike traditional cameras, the two-way feature can also capture vehicles on both sides of the road.

It features both speed and red-light enforcement.

Geoff Collins, Jenoptik Traffic Solutions UK’s deputy managing director, said: "This is the product our customers have been waiting for – a modern, digital and non-invasive red light enforcement system.

"We can now offer fair and accurate red light, spot speed and average speed solutions using a common core of known, reliable components, providing responsible drivers a safer journey.

"Supported by infra-red illumination, lightweight enough to mount on a passively safe pole or existing street furniture and with no need for in-road sensors or signal head connections, VECTOR-SR represents a step forward in red light enforcement technology."

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The cameras are being rolled out across the UK, with some already installed in the likes of Devon, Cornwall and parts of Wales.

Reports suggest that Transport Scotland has signed a half a million pound contract to install them in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Greater Manchester Police also confirmed this week that more than 100 of the speed cameras have been installed in the city.

Superintendent Gareth Parkin said: "The new and upgraded speed cameras across the city-region will ensure that drivers adhere to road speeds and do not engage in reckless or anti-social driving.

"Speed limits are put in place to ensure our roads are safe. Excessive speeds increase the chances of driver error, increase the time it takes for a vehicle to stop and can also increase fatalities in the event of a collision.

"Nationally there were 1,711 fatalities last year and nearly 19,000 since 2012, which is more harm than knife crime. Regionally [in Manchester] 73% of collisions involve human error, individual responsibility is key if we are going to make a difference hence our approach targeting speeding drivers."