AN AUTOMATIC SPEED TRAP

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34000, 14 November 1975, Page 11

AN AUTOMATIC SPEED TRAP

An automatic speed detector which stays “on duty” 24 hours a day will soon be seen on some British motorways —but it will not be used to prosecute motoring offenders. “Orbis,” as the machine is known, was developed in the United States, and is now used in some states for speed enforcement. The device is triggered by pick-up wires placed across the road, and if a car crosses the wires at more than the speed limit, the machine photographs it. The

photograph shows the car’s number plate, and also shows the date and time of the offence, and the car’s recorded speed. The British machine will be used by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory to record the speed of drivers in fog as part of a research project. Those recorded as having been driving too fast in fog will be sent a questionnaire in an effort to find out why they did not slow down because of the bad visibility. Diesel cars Sales of diesel cars are said to be growing rapidly in Britain as a result of the cost of petrol. Mercedes has said that its diesel car sales in Britain have risen more than 400 per cent this year, and the company expects these figures to increase again next year. Peugeot diesel sales have risen about 10 times, and Vauxhall and Leyland may introduce dieselengined versions of some of their models during the next 12 to 18 months.