The SafeZone is an average speed camera system that uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to measure a vehicle's average speed between two or more camera points. Unlike the prominent yellow box cameras that most UK drivers are familiar with, SafeZone uses compact Sicore ANPR camera units that are small and discreet - making them considerably harder to spot at the roadside or on overhead infrastructure. Siemens sold its intelligent traffic systems division in 2021, and the system is now manufactured and supported by Yunex Traffic (formerly Siemens Mobility).
SafeZone is a Home Office Type Approved average speed enforcement system. It is approved for 24-hour, 7-day speed enforcement at speeds between 20 mph and 140 mph, making it suitable for use on urban roads, residential streets, rural A-roads and motorways. The system is not solely a speed enforcement tool - it is also used to assist in managing traffic congestion by monitoring vehicle flows through defined zones. Cities, towns, villages and school zones are all common deployment environments for SafeZone cameras.
SafeZone ANPR cameras can be installed on dual carriageways, cantilever poles and gantries over multi-lane roads. Because the camera units are compact and can be mounted on existing street furniture - including lamp columns, bridges and sign structures - they require no dedicated new poles or gantries in many installations. This makes SafeZone particularly suited to urban environments where space and aesthetics are a consideration. The system enforces speed limits on single or bidirectional carriageways across up to two lanes per installation.
How does SafeZone work?
SafeZone is an average speed camera system - which means it does not measure your speed at a single point on the road, but calculates the average speed at which you travel across an entire section. This is the same principle used by SPECS and VECTOR average speed cameras. SafeZone has a dedicated support team operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to maintain the camera network and ensure continuous operation.
The individual camera units within a SafeZone installation are the Sicore ANPR cameras - a compact, purpose-built number plate reading device. Because these are small and can be mounted unobtrusively on existing infrastructure, SafeZone can be installed in residential areas and school zones without appearing as intrusive as traditional large roadside camera housings. The system is designed to achieve high levels of driver compliance across the full length of the zone rather than just at the camera points themselves.
Enforcement zones range from as short as 75 metres to many kilometres in length. As your vehicle passes the first SafeZone camera, the system reads your number plate using ANPR and records the precise date and time. When your vehicle passes the next camera in the zone, the same information is captured again. The system then calculates the time taken to travel between the two positions and uses it to determine your average speed across the full distance of the zone.
If your average speed exceeds the posted speed limit, the system automatically records the offence. All evidence data - including your number plate, time, date and recorded speed - is encrypted within the camera and transmitted via a 3G wireless data connection to a central computer for decryption and review. Tamper detection technology is built into the camera units to prevent any interference with the system's operation. A potential Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) is then issued by the local police force where the evidence meets the prosecution threshold.
The time and date stamp recorded by each camera provides additional corroborating evidence of the offence, alongside the ANPR read data.
Can SafeZone catch you if you slow down before the camera?
Yes - and this is one of the most important things to understand about any average speed camera system. Because SafeZone measures your speed across the entire distance between cameras, briefly slowing down as you pass a camera makes very little practical difference if you have been travelling above the limit between the two points. The average is calculated over the full zone, not just at the camera positions. This is why average speed camera systems consistently achieve better ongoing speed compliance than fixed point cameras - drivers cannot simply brake at the camera and accelerate away.
Does a SafeZone camera flash?
No. SafeZone cameras do not produce a visible flash. The Sicore ANPR camera units capture number plate images without any visible light output to drivers. This means there is no flash, no audible indication, and no signal to alert a driver that they have been recorded. The system operates entirely silently. The first notification a driver who has been caught will typically receive is the NIP arriving in the post.
SafeZone vs SPECS and VECTOR: what is the difference?
SafeZone, SPECS and VECTOR all use ANPR technology to calculate average speed between two or more fixed points, and all operate without a visible flash. The key differences are manufacturer, camera size, zone range and deployment environment.
| Feature | SafeZone | SPECS | VECTOR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Yunex Traffic (formerly Siemens) | Jenoptik | Jenoptik |
| Minimum zone | 75 metres | Typically 200+ metres | Typically 200+ metres |
| Camera size | Compact Sicore units - 241mm x 125mm x 350mm | Larger - typically gantry-mounted | Compact - pole or gantry-mounted |
| Typical deployment | Urban, residential, schools, motorways | Motorways, A-roads, roadworks | Urban and multi-use enforcement |
| Speed range | 20mph to 140mph | 20mph to 100mph+ | 20mph to 100mph+ |
| Flash | No - infrared only | No - infrared only | No - infrared only |
| Radar detectable | No | No | No |
Dimensions of a SafeZone speed camera
The compact size of SafeZone's Sicore ANPR units is one of their defining characteristics. Typical dimensions are:
- Pole-mounted camera unit: 241 mm wide × 125 mm deep × 350 mm high
- Ground-mounted outstation cabinet: 400 mm wide × 300 mm deep × 1,100 mm high
By comparison, a traditional Gatso camera housing is significantly larger - and must be mounted on a dedicated pole rather than existing street furniture. The smaller footprint of SafeZone makes it far less visually intrusive, which is particularly important in residential and school zone environments.
No film: always active
SafeZone cameras do not use film. All evidence of speeding offences is recorded digitally and encrypted within the camera unit before being transmitted wirelessly to a central computer for processing. There is therefore no limit to the number of speeding vehicles a SafeZone installation can record, and no requirement for regular visits by technicians to collect or develop film. The system is continuously active across its entire approved operating range.
Where is SafeZone used?
Transport for London awarded a contract as part of a Safety Camera Replacement Project to deploy over 100 SafeZone ANPR cameras across four main routes across London. The contract also covers ongoing service and maintenance of the installed cameras. The system was chosen in part because the compact and discreet Sicore camera units are well-suited to London's urban environment, where space constraints and visual impact are important considerations.
SafeZone cameras have proven highly effective at achieving sustained driver compliance with speed limits across the full length of the zones in which they are deployed, rather than producing the familiar pattern of braking at the camera and accelerating away that fixed-point cameras can encourage.
Outside London, SafeZone installations have been confirmed in Northamptonshire, West Sussex, Norfolk and East Sussex. Because SafeZone cameras are compact and can be installed on existing street furniture, new deployments may not always be widely publicised. If you know of a SafeZone installation not yet in our database, you can submit the location for review.
Penalties for SafeZone speed camera offences
Being caught by a SafeZone camera carries the same penalties as any other speed camera offence in the UK:
- £100 fixed penalty fine
- 3 penalty points added to your driving licence
- An offer to attend a speed awareness course in some cases, as an alternative to points
More serious offences - where the recorded average speed is significantly above the posted limit - may result in a court summons rather than a fixed penalty notice, arriving alongside a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) with the relevant code: SP10, SP20, SP30, SP40 or SP50. This could lead to higher fines or a driving ban depending on the speed limit and how far above it your average speed was recorded. For full details on the penalties and the NIP process read our speeding fines guide. For official guidance visit GOV.UK speeding penalties.
