After a trial period the Jenoptik average speed camera system recently installed in the Medway Tunnel is fully operational.  The mobile enforcement site at the Medway Tunnel between St Mary’s Island and the Medway City Estate has been replaced and upgraded to a new digital average speed camera system covering both directions.

Average speed camera systems like this one work using automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) software to record each vehicle as it enters the enforcement area, and then again as it leaves.  The system knows how far apart the cameras are, and using the time it took to get between the two it can calculate the average speed for each vehicle.  When a vehicle arrives at the second camera faster than expected for the speed limit to have been obeyed the system advises Kent Police that an offence has been recorded and sends images of the vehicle concerned to be considered for prosecution wirelessly.

Average speed cameras reduce the “bubble of compliance” effect that is sometimes seen at static spot speed camera sites, where vehicles brake to ensure they are below the legal limit as they pass the camera and then immediately pick up speed again afterwards, as passing the cameras slowly but travelling above the legal limit in between will still register an offence. 

 A Medway Council spokesman said “This upgrade will help reduce casualties and congestion as well as help the Council manage incidents as safely as possible”.

 Kent & Medway Safety Camera Partnership Manager, Anne-Marie Penny, said “The best way to avoid being caught by any speed camera is to stay within the legal speed limit.  Average speed camera systems have proved very effective at both casualty reduction and traffic regulation, with vehicles spreading out and travelling at consistent speeds, making everyone’s journey safer, smoother, and more reliable.”