Speed Cameras

Waze Community Wazeopedia United Kingdom Wazeopedia
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This page forms part of UK Editing Best Practice. Editors are encouraged to follow these guidelines.

Waze Camera Types

The UK maps the following enforcement cameras:

  • Speed Cameras (Fixed and Average Speed Cameras only)
  • Red Light Cameras
  • Seat Belt Cameras
  • Mobile Phone Cameras
  • Noise Cameras
  • Bus Lane Cameras

It is possible to add up to 5 different types of enforcement to each camera.

At this time, the UK does not map Stop Sign Cameras, Safe Distance Cameras, Carpool Lane Cameras and HOV Lane Camera

We do not map any of the following:

  • ANPR Cameras
  • CCTV cameras
  • Camera Warning Signs
  • Driver Feedback Signs
  • Junction Box Enforcement Cameras
  • Level Crossing Cameras
  • Mobile Speed Cameras
  • Trafficmaster Sensors
  • Weather Stations

Adding To The Map

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To add and edit Enforcement Cameras, editors need to be rank 2 or above, and the segment for the camera must also be in your editing level and area.

To add an Enforcement Camera, ensure the Cameras layer is enabled (Map Layers > Hazards > Cameras), then select + > Hazard > Cameras > select from the list the desired camera (the type of camera can be edited once on the map). If the option is not enabled for you to select, hover over the i info balloon for the reason.

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Once added, ensure the right enforcement types have been selected, and ensure the right driving direction is selected. The camera will default to both ways.

Note: One Way segments will not show the Driving direction panel.

Camera Display

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Cameras will display on the WME Editor with a small icon representing the type. When there are two or more types, they will display the a box with 2+ in it, unless it is just Speed + Red Light, which then displays it’s own unique 2-type icon.

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Speed Cameras

Speed cameras should be placed at the location of the camera. The camera position will “snap” to the road at that location. The speed limit shown the users device will match the speed limit of the road segment.

If the camera is bi-directional, keep the direction as both ways, otherwise set the direction as appropriate to the camera enforcement direction.

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When mapping a camera, you should examine clues on the map and aerial photography to assist in moving the camera to the correct position. You should be aware that aerial photography (including road markings) and services such as Street View are often outdated, so do not rely on them exclusively.

Note: Mobile speed cameras (e.g. camera vans) should not be mapped in Waze. Instead, they should be reported in the app using Report > Police > Mobile Camera.

Red Light Cameras

Red Light Cameras should be placed at the traffic light’s stop line regardless of the actual camera placement.

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Due to the limitation in the app with respects to two (or more) alerts in a very short space suppressing some alerts, UK policy is to never map red light cameras near Level Crossings. If you identify a Red Light Camera has been mapped at a Level Crossing, please remove it, or request support to have it removed.

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Speed + Red Light Camera

Often called “Speed On Green”, these new cameras are capable of enforcing both red lights, and speeding through the lights - even if the lights are on green.

Again, as for just red light cameras, these speed on green cameras should be mapped on the traffic light stop line, rather than the camera location.

If there’s no road markings for measuring speed you should assume there’s no speed cameras function (unless evidence can be proved otherwise)

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Dummy Cameras

Dummy cameras are mapped only in the rarest of circumstances, and is reserved for cameras that can seem to be a camera to a driver driving at typical speeds, but are not in service. Some examples are:

  • Cameras with Yellow “Camera Not In Use” signs
  • Camera bagged over
  • Camera is not fully complete - for example, just the flash stand
  • Camera housing is empty
  • Convincing but fake devices

These are only intended to head off any reports of an unmapped camera, they offer no verbal cue to the driver, and the visual display will be of a dummy camera.

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Cameras that should be mapped

Gatso Speed Cameras

Gatso speed cameras are the most common type in the UK and are rear facing; when triggered, they will flash. They may be mounted on their post (which may be reversible) or on an overhead gantry (these are being phased out in favour of HADECS3 side mounted cameras).

These cameras use radar to measure the speed of a vehicle and typically a series of road markings are placed on the road in front of the camera, often on both lanes to catch drivers overtaking or driving on the wrong side of the road. These markings may also be behind the camera. This is a good indication of a reversible camera.

Where aerial photography is of good enough quality, it is possible to see the road markings aiding the placement of the camera.

Gatso “Smart Pole” Speed Cameras

The Gatso Smart Pole is another camera variant being deployed around the UK which uses the same technology as the standard digital Gatso cameras introduced in 2007 with a vandal-resistant pole. As with the standard unit, it is rear facing and will flash when triggered.

Where aerial photography is of good enough quality, it is possible to see the road markings aiding the placement of the camera.

Take care not to confuse these cameras with Level Crossing Cameras, which appear similarly.

Peek Speed Cameras

Peek speed cameras are similar to Gatso cameras in that they are rear-facing, and when triggered, they will flash.

These cameras can use radar or sensors embedded in the road to measure the speed of a vehicle, and typically, no markings are painted on the road. However, as older cameras are being upgraded to this new type of camera, legacy markings may remain in the road.

Where aerial photography is of good enough quality, it can aid in correct camera placement in Waze Map Editor.

Truvelo Speed Cameras

Truvelo cameras differ from Gatso and Peek cameras in that they are front facing, since they are Infra Red, when triggered you will NOT see any flash. They may also be configured in a rear-facing arrangement, although this is not common. Truvelo have introduced VIA-Cam, aimed at private estates, but do exist on the UK highway, such as Barley, Herfordshire.

These cameras use sensors embedded in the road rather than radar to measure the speed of a vehicle, and typically, the road is marked with three white lines in front of the camera across one or both lanes. These markings may also be behind the camera. This is a good indication of a reversible camera.

Where aerial photography is of good enough quality, it can aid in correct camera placement in Waze Map Editor.

Watchman Speed Cameras

Watchman cameras are unique among UK safety cameras in that they are an integrated system with several sensors comprising a speed warning board and a camera, both with their radar, as shown below. At this time, it is unclear if these cameras are approved by the Home Office (and thus able to be used for prosecution).

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Where aerial photography is of good enough quality, it can aid in correct camera placement in Waze Map Editor.

VECTOR-SR Cameras

These devices can identify speeding drivers travelling in both directions, don’t flash when they snap, and catch motorists not wearing a seatbelt or handling a mobile phone at the wheel.

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They can also act as Red Light Cameras if placed near traffic lights. If so, they should be mapped as a Red Light Camera.

Average Speed Cameras

SPECS (SPEed Check Services) and VECTOR are a system that uses number plate recognition to measure the time taken between two fixed points to monitor a driver’s average speed. There are several camera types in use, as shown in the images. However, only one camera type will be used at a given site.

This is not a standalone system, an average speed zone may consist of two or more cameras at entry point, mid point(s) and exit point of the monitored zone. Due to the passive nature of this system, no road markings are required.

Where aerial photography is of good enough quality, it can aid correct placement of the camera in Waze Map Editor.

 Average Speed Zones should be mapped according to the specific guidance.

Monitron Speed and Red Light Cameras

Monitron speed cameras (sometimes called SpeedCurb) are a new generation of digital cameras configured as a speed and / or a red light camera.

These cameras use sensors embedded in the road rather than radar to measure the speed of a vehicle, and typically, no markings are painted on the road. However, as older cameras are being upgraded to this new type of camera, legacy markings may remain in the road.

Where aerial photography is of good enough quality, it can aid in correct camera placement in Waze Map Editor. If the camera is a red light camera, it should be placed on the stop line in Waze Map Editor.

RedSpeed Speed and Red Light Cameras

These are new types of combined Speed and Red Light Camera.

Gatso Red Light Cameras

Gatso red light cameras differ from their speed detection counterparts and will be triggered when driving through a red light.

These cameras use radar to measure the speed of a vehicle and if they are setup to also capture speed there will be calibration road markings on the road.

When approving a red light camera in Waze Map Editor, it should be placed on the stop line.

Cameras that should not be mapped

  • Level Crossing Cameras

Take care not to confuse these cameras with Gatso “Smart Pole” Cameras, which are similar in appearance. Level Crossing should be mapped with the Level (Railroad) Crossing feature, one on either side of the crossing pointing towards it.