Speed measurement systems

Introduction
It is now universally accepted that speed, inappropriately used, is responsible for a high number of deaths worldwide every year. Recently released statistics highlighting the greatly increased chance of survival following a pedestrian collision for only a small reduction in speed is testament to the slogan ‘Speed Kills’.

Despite this knowledge we are all captivated by the desire for speed and faster vehicles. The development of new technologies to replace the internal combustion engine has done nothing to quell the thirst for speed. The two prime considerations when discussing alternative fuel vehicles appears to be – What is its range? And how fast will it go?

The dichotomy will remain – speed or safety.

Technology has produced Radar, Laser and sophisticated camera systems for the detection and enforcement of speed violation. This has had a benefit only in part.
The challenge going forward is to create effective ways to communicate and educate motorists as to the consequences and possible outcomes of driving at inappropriate speed.

With the expansion of the European Union eastwards there will be a resulting development of the infrastructure in the newer member states. This is nowhere more evident than in Poland at this time where extensive road development is taking place. This emphasis on infrastructure development is borne out by the growing prominence of the Autostrada Exhibition that recently took place at Kielce in May. However, improved roads will provide the facility to drive at greater speeds and so the problem is perpetuated.

Who are we?
Speedar Limited (formerly Ottery Electronics) is a designer and manufacturer of speed measurement systems for Evaluation, Education and Enforcement in traffic applications. Its core business has historically been in the field of hand held radar units but has broadened its portfolio with radar camera units and in car video systems.

Although Speedar is a small company it has a flexible approach to the differing needs of customers. It has achieved some notable firsts viz.

• first to use direction sensing Doppler radar
• first cordless hand held radar
• first U.K. designer of the VASCAR system

Speedar products have been exported to over twenty five (25) countries and have been sold to in excess of twenty (20) police, and twenty five (25) local, authorities in the United Kingdom.

It is now not uncommon for countries to generate their own specification rather than that of a standard product available from a manufacturer.

Speedar Limited are involved in discussions in several countries for the incorporation of their radar technology and camera systems into locally designed and manufactured systems. Also the licensing of the manufacture of Speedar designed products locally.

Speedlog…inbuilt memory…ability to name sites…and data download eliminated errors…were winning attributes

Case Study 1

Neath Port Talbot Borough Council had historically used radar guns attached to 12V portable battery packs via a coiled umbilical lead for speed measurement. This equipment was cumbersome to use and transport between survey sites. The need to manually record all readings and input the data into a computer was time consuming and led to errors in recording, reading and data entry.

After discussion with Speedar Ltd. and subsequent trials they have selected Speedlog as their preferred means of monitoring speed and collecting data. The inbuilt memory and the ability to name and record several sites were winning attributes for NPTBC and data download via an RS232 terminal eliminated errors previously experienced. The facility of interchangeable 6V batteries that could be changed without loss of stored data was an added bonus.

Case Study 2

The Indian Police force was seeking a mobile/portable radar speed system equipped with a camera for the production of photographic evidence of speed violation. Working through our agents/distributors in India, Turbo Consultancy PVT, we were able to offer our Speedvision system for evaluation.

The Speedvision was selected for the quality of output from the Sony video camera together with its ability to be connected to an additional viewing screen and video recorder or video printer. Its ability to be set up and then re-deployed quickly and easily was a valued feature in monitoring different locations. In excess of 250 Speedvision have been supplied to the Indian Police.

SpeedVision…high quality Sony
camera…able to be connected to additional screen…video recorder or video printer

Case Study 3

An overseas client (name has been retained for security reasons) was seeking a system for recording speed violations and the movement of vehicles. The ability to be highly portable with rapid set-up and re-deployment was essential. The client also wished to record violations for later processing but did not wish to waste time viewing hours of video. The client chose the Speedvision and DVR because the DVR

SPEEDAR HAND HELD RADAR
The Speedar is a hand held Doppler radar unit that can be used with confidence on roads with opposing traffic flows. The unit is microcomputer controlled with built in time and date facility. The large backlit LCD screen can display the speed, time and date of the event, direction of the targeted vehicle and the speed limit of the location. The Speedar can be supplied to read in Mph, Kmh or Knots and can be equipped with RS232 link to output speed, date and time readings. Output can be directed to:
• A portable printer for the production of  ‘on-the-spot’ tickets.
Text on the ticket can be customised to the client’s requirements.
• Portable display sign
• Laptop computer for collection of data              

SPEEDLOG
The Speedlog is based on the established Speedar technology with the addition of in-built memory. It allows traffic engineers to record speeds and times of traffic flow without having to record them manually. This removes any risk of human error in the recording, reading and inputting of the data and on completion of the exercise the data can be downloaded to a computer, via an RS232 connection, thus saving considerable time. Average speed and 85%ile are both shown together with vehicle count and direction of travel.
 
It was the first, and only, company in the world to adapt its enforcement technology for the use of traffic consultants and engineers. The development of the Speedlog gave a valuable instrument that could be used in the measurement of traffic flow, time and speeds.
Only when the problem has been evaluated and understood can the appropriate measures be taken.

SPEEDVISION
The Speedvision is a tripod mounted, speed measuring Doppler unit combined with a high quality Sony camera and viewing screen. The unit is equipped with photographic or video facilities to record speed violations and is capable of outputting a video signal with speed, direction, time and date information superimposed on the frame. The output can be sent to a video printer for immediate printing or to a video recorder for later analysis and action.
Speedvision can also be supplied with a Sony IR camera and covert IR illuminator for round the clock use.                   

DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDER
The Speedvision Digital Video Recorder is designed as a completely portable solution to the requirement for video evidence of speeding offences.

With its large battery capacity and ample hard disk size it can be used continuously for long periods before requiring recharging. With the facility to mark events and view these separately from the bulk recording it becomes simple to find the desired video of
a particular event.

The inbuilt search facility allows the operator to easily find recordings made on a particular day and at a particular time and the event menus allow the operator to set the pre-record time and the length of event that will be recorded after the event trigger.

The provision of a CF card socket allows the transfer of event recordings to a memory card so that they can be viewed on a computer elsewhere. An audio channel is available allowing additional information to be recorded during events or at any other time.

The video output socket allows either real time video or the recorded video to be connected to a video printer so that instant prints of offences may be made or it may be fed to an ANPR system for the immediate detection of wanted vehicles or to allow the many database functions of the ANPR system to be carried out. The ability to re-locate position and be operational in minutes makes this an invaluable tool in stolen vehicle searches, terrorist and drug dealer tracking.

VEHICLE ACTIVATED SIGNS
Vehicle activated signs are an invaluable means of educating drivers that are exceeding the designated speed limit. Displays are available with 2 or 3 digits with either remote, attached or integral radar speed measurement heads. They can also incorporate data collection facilities or a camera. Speedar Vehicle Activated signs may be either post, vehicle/trailer mounted or stand alone portable units.                 

VASCAR
Speedar Limited  were the original UK designers of the Distance / Time measuring system known as Vascar. This system has been widely used in police vehicles as a means of computing the average speed of a vehicle over a pre-determined distance.
Speedar has now developed a new hand held version – Vascar 21. In its standard format, text information is displayed on the screen in the hand held control unit. Police vehicle speed is received via inputs from the vehicle. This system is designed for easy retrofit into existing vehicles.

When coupled with an in-car video system the information is overlaid onto the video recording. The Vascar 21 is capable of being integrated with any in-car video system and Speedar are already integrating the Vascar 21 with video systems of two UK manufacturers. Interest has also been received from outside the UK.

Some clever design features ensure that this unit meets the stringent requirements of the UK Home Office HOSDB specification.