Speed cameras can be grey, blue or orange – does color really make a difference? Let’s find out together what function they have
It must have happened at least once in everyone’s life as motorists to be “caught” by the cursed Speed Cameras. These devices allow law enforcement agencies to remotely detect the speed of cars on a given road section and send fines directly at home in the event of a breach of the limits.
Generally, speed cameras are placed in close proximity to a speed patrol policewhich must appropriately signal their presence with road signs and light signals in case of poor visibility.
In recent years, however, on urban and extra-urban roads from all over Italy the so-called have begun to depopulate fixed speed camerasdevices installed directly on the roadside, and sometimes even in the center in the case of dual carriageways, which perform the same function without the help of the police.
You will certainly have noticed that the “boxes” containing the speed cameras can sometimes differ in colour, between grey, orange and blue. Simple coincidence or is there an underlying reason? Let’s find out together.
Gray speed cameras: do they always detect speed? Here’s how they work
Focusing specifically on the gray speed cameras no, they have no different function than blue or orange colored devices. We are talking about a common fixed speed camera that is permanently installed on the roadway, usually on the right side of the road.
But be careful because speed cameras of this kind are often able to detect the speed in both directions of travel: in that case, the warning sign must be placed in both lanes, even if the device is then on the other side of the road.
The correct positioning of road signs is a fundamental prerequisite for the fine to be valid and not passable easy appeal by the motorist through a justice of the peace or the police station itself. In addition, on some roads it is necessary that there is also luminous signage in order to avoid misunderstandings in the event of poor visibility.
The question many people ask is: Is there always something inside the speed cameras? In fact, it is not uncommon for some boxes to be simply empty and act as a deterrent for passing motorists to slow down at certain points on the road.
This doesn’t mean they are empty forever, because they are set up so that a patrol can install the mobile detection system inside and thus make that box actually active.
A speech that applies to orange speed cameras, occasionally to blue ones, while generally gray speed cameras always come with a device designed for speed detection.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be on all the time, so it can happen that you walk past a gray box, notice the instrumentation inside, and then discover that it had been deactivated for one reason or another.
In any case, the usual speech applies: yesand the speed camera is active it must always be promptly reported regardless of the “color” of its box. On the contrary, however, you will have the full right to appeal and practically certain probabilities of winning it.
