SpeedSpike is an average speed camera system that uses ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) to measure vehicle speeds over a set distance. It is now marketed by 3M as the 3M Average Speed Camera System but is still widely referred to by its original SpeedSpike name. Like SPECS and VECTOR, SpeedSpike measures average speed between camera points rather than instantaneous speed at a single location. It is Home Office Type Approved (HOTA) and suitable for a wide range of environments including motorways, urban roads, school zones and roadworks.
SpeedSpike was originally trialled on roads in Hampshire and Bedfordshire before a wider rollout that has seen cameras appearing in a growing number of UK locations. A DfT-commissioned four-year evaluation of average speed camera effectiveness found a 70% reduction in speeding at fixed sites, a 6% fall in average speeds and a 42% reduction in people killed and seriously injured.
There are currently 6 SpeedSpike locations in our database, which reflects the camera system's relatively limited recorded deployment in the UK compared to more established types such as Gatso and SPECS. The true number of SpeedSpike cameras installed nationally is higher than our database count suggests. If you have seen a SpeedSpike camera not yet in our database, please submit the location.
How does SpeedSpike work?
SpeedSpike operates on the same fundamental principle as other average speed cameras: every camera in the network reads every passing number plate, time-stamps the read and stores the record. When the same number plate is detected at the next camera in the network, the system calculates the time elapsed between the two points. Using the known distance between the cameras, it determines the vehicle's average speed over that section. If the calculated average speed exceeds the enforcement threshold, a violation is flagged.
The violation record is assembled by the ERCU - the Evidence Retrieval and Control Unit - which retrieves the relevant images and packages them into an encrypted violation file. All violation records are stored on WORM (Write Once Read Many) CD-Rs, a format specifically chosen for evidential integrity: once written, the data cannot be altered. A separate system called the OVDS (Offence Viewing and Decision System) is then used by enforcement operators to review each flagged violation and decide whether to proceed to prosecution.
Networks of up to 1,000 individual SpeedSpike cameras can be linked together via GPRS or ADSL, giving enforcement authorities the flexibility to cover extensive road sections or to link multiple shorter zones into a single managed network. Each camera operates independently, reading and recording every plate that passes regardless of whether that vehicle ultimately triggers a violation. Crucially, the enforcement speed can be set independently for each direction of travel: the A-to-B direction and the B-to-A direction can each have a different enforcement speed, which is particularly useful in roadworks where opposing lanes may have different conditions.
SpeedSpike cameras use infra-red illumination to capture clear images in any lighting conditions, including complete darkness. The cameras operate continuously - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year - without any loss of capability at night or in adverse weather.
SpeedSpike always favours the driver
One of the most distinctive technical features of SpeedSpike is the way it calculates the enforcement distance. Rather than using the precise centre-to-centre distance between camera positions, SpeedSpike uses what the manufacturer describes as the minimum possible enforcement distance - that is, the latest possible departure point at the entry camera to the earliest possible arrival point at the exit camera.
In practice, this means the system effectively shortens the measured distance slightly, so that the calculated average speed is always the minimum that could have been achieved, not the maximum. The actual distance a vehicle travels within the camera zone is ignored in favour of the most conservative possible calculation. This deliberate design choice favours the driver, reduces the risk of borderline prosecutions and limits the scope for legal challenge on the grounds that the distance measurement was generous to the enforcement authority rather than the motorist.
This approach reflects a broader principle in average speed enforcement: the system must be defensible in court, and erring consistently on the side of the driver is the most robust way to achieve that.
SpeedSpike vs Gatso: what is the difference?
SpeedSpike works fundamentally differently from single-point cameras like Gatso. Like SPECS, it measures average speed over a distance rather than capturing speed at a single moment.
| Feature | SpeedSpike | Gatso |
|---|---|---|
| Speed measurement | Average over a distance (ANPR) | Instantaneous (single point) |
| Minimum enforcement distance | 100 metres | Single camera location |
| Detection method | ANPR (number plate recognition) | Radar |
| Flash | Infra-red (no visible flash) | Yes - bright visible flash |
| Typical locations | Urban roads, motorways, school zones, roadworks | Urban and rural roads |
| Detectable by radar detectors | No (no radar emission) | Yes |
Both camera types issue the same standard penalty: a £100 fine and 3 penalty points.
Where is SpeedSpike used?
SpeedSpike is designed to operate across a wide variety of road environments. Because it can function over distances as short as 100 metres, it is one of the few average speed systems practical for school zones and residential streets enforcing 20mph limits - environments where the stretched enforcement sections typical of motorway average speed schemes are not possible. It is equally suitable for motorways, A-roads, urban arterials and temporary roadworks zones.
Camera installation is flexible: SpeedSpike units can be mounted on existing street furniture including street lights, road bridges and motorway gantries, at heights up to 7.25 metres. This reduces infrastructure costs and makes the system suitable for urban environments where purpose-built poles may be impractical or unwanted.
SpeedSpike was first trialled in Hampshire and Bedfordshire before the rollout extended further. Cameras have since been reported in London 20mph zones and other urban areas as local authorities have sought short-section average speed enforcement in built-up areas. The DfT evaluation of average speed cameras found a 42% reduction in people killed and seriously injured at treated sites, a 70% reduction in vehicles exceeding the speed limit, and a 6% overall fall in average speeds - figures that continue to drive interest in ANPR-based average speed enforcement.
Our database currently records 6 confirmed SpeedSpike locations. This is likely a significant undercount of the cameras deployed nationally, as SpeedSpike installations in urban areas may not always be readily identifiable as SpeedSpike specifically. If you know of a SpeedSpike camera that is not yet in our database, please submit the location. You can also read more about all speed camera types and visit our UK speed camera database.
Penalties for SpeedSpike offences
If you are caught speeding by a SpeedSpike camera you may receive:
- £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
Depending on the road's speed limit and your recorded average speed, a court summons may be issued instead of a fixed penalty notice. This would arrive alongside a Notice of Intended Prosecution (NIP) with the relevant code: SP10, SP20, SP30, SP40 or SP50. For more information read our speeding fines guide. For official UK government guidance visit GOV.UK speeding penalties.
