Yet despite their widespread use, many motorists still don’t fully understand how they work, and what actually triggers a fine.

From the long-standing “10% plus 2mph” rule to confusion over average speed checks, myths about enforcement thresholds continue to circulate.

But with penalties ranging from £100 fines and points on your licence to court action in more serious cases, getting it wrong can be costly.

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What Speed Actually Triggers a Camera?

Contrary to common belief, there’s no universal “10% + 2mph” rule baked into law.

Experts from BigWantsYourCar.com explained: ““The idea that you’re safe doing 35mph in a 30 zone is one of the biggest myths we hear.

“Technically, you’re liable for a fine the moment you go even 1mph over the limit.”

While the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) does recommend a “10% plus 2” margin to allow for officer discretion, this is not a legal threshold and can vary depending on the enforcement area or the officer reviewing the case.

RAC advice adds: “The law states that you are liable for a speeding fine as soon as you exceed the limit, so if you’re doing 31mph in a 30 limit or 71mph on a motorway, you’re breaking the law and could receive a fine.

“It is well worth remembering this is totally dependent on the officer who catches the speeder, and it is up to that officer whether to fine the offender or not.

“The best advice is to not speed full stop.”

How do speed cameras work?

Speed cameras work using radar or road markings to monitor a vehicle’s speed and capture evidence of any offence.

While older cameras used film, most modern devices are fully digital and can even track your average speed over many miles.

These digital systems record:

• Vehicle speed
• Time and location of the offence
• Vehicle registration
• Road speed limit

In some cases, they even capture a clear image of the driver and passenger.

Common speed camera myths

Here are some other common speed camera myths :

Is it true that speed vans have to be visible at all times?

No. There are no laws about visibility, so nothing is stopping an officer from operating in the dark. But they don’t often choose to do this and maintain that being visible acts as a deterrent in its own right.

Go Safe Casualty Reduction Officer, Gareth Thomas said: “Legally, we don’t have to be visible. I could camouflage myself if I wanted to – but it’s all about being fair, education and preventing an accident. Even if I parked my van and went for a walk somewhere, it would deter people from speeding right away.”

Is it illegal to flash your headlights to alert motorists of a GoSafe speed van?

If drivers choose to flash to warn others about a speed van, they could be in breach of the law. Under section 89 of the Police Act 1997 it is an offence to “wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his/her duty”.

However, Gareth says while it is an offence, it is very difficult to prove. He said: “It doesn’t bother me that people flash to warn them of the speed van – I just want to educate people and the van to act as a speed deterrent.”

What happens if I am caught speeding?

It all comes down to the circumstances within which you were caught speeding, and how much you were more than the limit. The minimum penalty for being caught speeding on the UK’s roads is a £100 fine.

But Gareth explained in some circumstances, police can offer the option of attending a speed awareness course – an alternative to a fine and penalty points. Gareth, said: “An accredited course is far more likely to improve driver behaviour and consequently make our roads safer.

“Courses are available to drivers who respond quickly to the ‘notices’ and who were driving at no more than 10 per cent, plus 9 mph above the posted speed limit.”

So for example, anyone travelling over 86mph on a motorway would not be offered the awareness course. Those who don’t have a clean licence at the time of the office, or if you have been on the course in the last three years, it is unlikely you will be offered the awareness course as an option.

Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, were stabbed in Golders Green in an attack which is being treated as suspected terrorism.

Essa Suleiman, 45, has appeared in court accused of trying to kill the men during a knife rampage through the streets of the north London suburb on Wednesday, April 29.

He is also accused of attempting to murder a man he had known for around 20 years, Ishmail Hussein, at his home in Southwark in the hours before the street attack and has been remanded to custody.

The Oxfordshire Faith and Civic Leaders Group shared the following message:

It said: “On behalf of the faith and civic leaders of Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley we wholeheartedly condemn the violent attacks against two Jewish people in Golders Green on Wednesday.

“We stand in solidarity with our Jewish friends and neighbours and condemn all forms of antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia and racial hatred. 

“We are pledged together to build a strong and cohesive society marked by tolerance and mutual respect and to stand against a rising tide of hate and violence.”

The statement was signed by co-chairs Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford and Imam Monawar Hussein, The Oxford Foundation.

Names from across the faith and political spectrums were put to the letter.

The Bishop of Oxford Rt Rev Dr Steven Croft (Image: Oxford Mail)

Including those of Jon Dunston and Louise Gordon of the Oxford Jewish Congregation, Dr Reuven Ziegler of the Jewish Community, Mark Bhagwandan on behalf of the Oxford Hindu Community, and Rebecca Vickers of the Bahai Community and Oxford Council of Faiths.

The Oxford Mail has heard an outpouring of support and “horror” after the double stabbing, and Thames Valley Police confirmed it will be using armed response units to protect Jewish communities.

The force said: “As a result of what has happened, we will be increasing our patrols to provide reassurance and support to our Jewish communities within the Thames Valley.

“Our Jewish communities and the wider public can expect to see an enhanced policing presence around key locations, including places of worship. This will include armed response vehicles and is standard practice in response to terrorist incidents such as this one.”

Oxford City Council Leader Susan Brown said: “My thoughts are particularly with Oxford’s Jewish population and I stand with them. I am aware of the effect that attacks like this will inevitably have on many Jewish people and their perceptions of their own and their families’ safety.”

The former chat show host and her partner Portia De Rossi have submitted plans to build the arena as their horses often can’t use the site in the winter, due to flooding from a river that runs through the property.

The pair had revealed their intention to stay ‘long-term’ at Kitesbridge Farm near Burford, having bought the site for £15 million in 2024 and done it up for a reported further £7.5 million.

Ellen DeGeneres has submitted plans for horse stables to stay ‘long term’ at her flood-hit Cotswolds home (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

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But they moved out after less than a month, in the hope of finding something more suitable to accommodate Portia’s passion for horse riding.

The 43 acre home was listed last July, but failed to attract a buyer and was plagued by flooding from the River Windrush.

Planning documents submitted last month for new stables suggest they now have ambitions to stay in the Cotswolds longer term, if their planning bids are successful – a big ‘if’, as battles are ongoing over Roman remains.

Ellen DeGeneres has submitted plans for horse stables to stay ‘long term’ at her flood-hit Cotswolds home (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

Now, a new application has been made to build an all-weather arena outside of the Windrush flood zone so that they can keep their horses on site.

Both applications are still under consideration with West Oxfordshire District Council.

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Ms DeGeneres’ representatives said of the arena plan: “The applicant’s horses are on site in temporary accommodation formed in the garaging in an existing barn pending the determination of (the stables application).

“In order to provide a suitable flat all-weather arena for exercising the horses this application has been made.

Ellen DeGeneres has submitted plans for horse stables to stay ‘long term’ at her flood-hit Cotswolds home (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

“The surrounding land does have some flat areas where the horses can be exercised in summer months – but it is also adjacent to the River Windrush, so for the winter and other wet times the opportunities for exercise are more limited.

“The choices then are daily movements to and from the site to exercise elsewhere – or to provide a modest facility on site.

Ellen DeGeneres has submitted plans for horse stables to stay ‘long term’ at her flood-hit Cotswolds home (Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)

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“The chosen location would be immediately adjacent to the stables building to the rear of the property where it would be seen in the context of the existing undulating topography and the backdrop of the existing buildings – in the fullness of time the proposed new stable building.”

Her representatives said the surrounding land is used to graze horses or farmed by others and there was no need for their own agricultural building for storage.

The application was also accompanied by flooding photographs taken from April 2023 that they said “show how the lower-lying fields in the vicinity of the site do not provide suitable opportunities for exercising horses at certain times of the year.