Experts are urging motorists to slow down when driving to avoid fines amid fresh warnings of new vehicle activated speed signs.
The signs are operated by local councils across the UK and flare up when a driver is breaking the designated speed limit in the area.
Through radar detection, if an approaching car is breaking the speed limit, the sign will flash a frowning face and the clocked speed in miles per hour.
If the oncoming car is driving within the speed limit, the motorist will see a smiley face instead.
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Smiley cameras collects and monitors driver speeds
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While the smiley cameras are not operated by police, they could still see drivers fined for exceeding the speed limit.
Motoring expert Graham Conway, from Select Car Leasing, explained that the cameras are installed to provide “real-time” feedback to drivers in the hope that it deters speeding.
The idea is that a driver will see a frowning face, “realise they’re breaking the speed limit, and then slow down”.
Sadly, however, many motorists will “simply ignore” a frowning face and continue to break the law, he said.
Drivers are ignoring the speed signs under the assumption they won’t get prosecuted and end up with points on their licence, although it is not as simple as it seems.
One of the key benefits of a smiley camera is that, while it doesn’t store individual vehicle data, “it collects and monitors driver speeds so that the operators can analyse the results”.
If the operators notice particularly excessive speeds or large numbers of motorists going above the limit, the council could intervene and inform the local police.
Despite the cameras not having the ability to fine drivers, they are helpful in acting as a deterrent.
Most recently, Sunderland City Council added 28 sign-posted cameras across the area to help cut traffic accidents and improve road safety.
All the signs have motion activated smiley or sad faces to represent whether a car is travelling at a safe or unsafe speed.
Councillor Graeme Miller, said: “Research indicates that vehicle activated signs do influence motorists and have a positive impact on speeding, which in turn reduces the number of accidents and injuries.”
Drivers who are caught speeding could face a minimum fine of £100 and three points added to their licence.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Sunderland Council added 28 signed cameras across the area
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Conway commented that if a smiley face camera operator sees drivers speeding in excess of the limit, they are “well within their rights to inform the police, who could take action to snare such flagrant offenders”.