Number plate recognition and satellite technology with a global positioning satellite receiver are combined in new speed cameras to capture the positions of cars and then calculate an average speed over a distance. At two sites, one in Southwark, London, and the other A374 between Antony and Torpoint in Cornwall, the Home Office is testing the cameras. PIPS Technology Ltd, an American-owned company develops the ‘SpeedSpike’ system to calculate average speed between any two points in the network with a base in Hampshire. US firm PIPS Technology’s SpikeSpike devices, are amongst the latest instances of average speed cameras. After capturing an image of its license plate at two locations, they work on how fast a vehicle goes.

“It believed the new system could cover a network of streets as opposed to a straight line, and was probably geared up to zones in residential areas,” said by AA. In a House of Commons report, details of the trials are contained.

For expanding state surveillance, development of speed cameras has raised. “It was unable to comment on the trials because of “commercial confidentiality,” said by Home Office. “It would watch the system “carefully” but it did not believe there was anything sinister,” said by AA. A spokesman said, “It is a natural evolution of the technology that is out there”. So far, average speed cameras have been used on single stretches of main roads in the UK.

“The SpeedSpike devices could be placed on motorways, a roads, rat-runs and in areas surrounding schools,” according to PIPS Technology. Tennessee-based firm is headquartered in Eastleigh, Hampshire, created the Spike Automatic Number Plate Recognition camera, which is used in London’s congestion charging zone. “The average speed data calculated by its cameras always errs “on the side of the driver”, with precise clock timings set by using the Global Positioning System (GPS),” according to PIPS Technology in its product description.