A Smarter, Sleeker Speed Camera

Michael A. Greenwood

Speeders beware!

A traffic monitor to better detect British motorists with lead feet has been created.

The recently designed device, dubbed StreetSmart (see Figure), has a sleeker appearance than its predecessors and incorporates a brightly illuminated speed sign along with a built-in camera, which is not readily visible, to monitor passing traffic.

The revamped device was designed by Steve Harris, a graduate of the University of the West of England in Bristol. He originally wanted to make the appearance of the roadside sign more appealing. Harris ended up tackling other design and operational issues as well and created a product that could enhance public safety.

But how commonplace StreetSmart will become remains uncertain. It was field tested for six weeks, and that trial has been extended an additional 12 weeks. The device is in prototype production and undergoing further roadside testing.

StreetSmart was unveiled in April at the international Traffex exhibition in Birmingham, England.