You may not have heard of it, as it works differently from our usual speed cameras.
How? They can now look inside vehicles, meaning they can catch you for more than just speeding.
Not only that, but the VECTOR-SR operates without flashing, which means you won’t know if you’ve been detected or not.
Confirmed: A new type of AI speed camera has been installed in Southend, as part of a wider trial across Essex.
Southend City Council agreed to bring in the technology through a scheme led by the Safer Essex Road Partnership and Essex Police. But it’s worth noting, the council… pic.twitter.com/EmtaKiTt9t
— Your Southend (@YourSouthend) April 13, 2026
How do the speed cameras work?
The new two-way camera can catch speeding drivers in both directions and can also capture drivers in up to three lanes.
The camera employs video-based technology and an intelligent virtual grid to assess speeding.
The camera is the latest in ‘spot camera’ technology from German manufacturer Jenoptik Traffic Solutions.
Doubling as a red-light camera, the new technology detects motorists for more than just speeding.
These cameras will snap motorists who aren’t wearing a seatbelt and motorists using a mobile phone at the wheel.
Unlike traditional cameras, it doesn’t require road markings; the cameras operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It uses infrared low-light technology, which allows images to be captured via still photos and video recordings. This eliminates the need for a camera flash, even at night and in bad weather conditions.
Where are they in the UK?
These units have already been deployed in Greater Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cornwall and parts of Wales, with more being rolled out.
Do speed vans have to be visible at all times?
No. There are no laws about visibility, so nothing is stopping an officer from operating in the dark. But they don’t often choose to do this and maintain that being visible acts as a deterrent in its own right.
Go Safe Casualty Reduction Officer Gareth Thomas said: “Legally, we don’t have to be visible. I could camouflage myself if I wanted to – but it’s all about being fair, education and preventing an accident.
“Even if I parked my van and went for a walk somewhere, it would deter people from speeding right away.”
Have you been caught by a speed camera? Let us know in the comments
