The Government has launched a trial of a camera designed to identify and track drivers who break the law by revving engines and using modified exhausts.
The Department for Transport (DfT) said what it called a ‘new-age’ road camera was being installed in Bradford on Tuesday (18 October) before travelling to South Gloucestershire, Great Yarmouth and Birmingham as part of a trial to clampdown on antisocial driving from ‘boy racers’.
The term ‘new-age’ is generally taken to mean spiritual or non-scientific activities, rather than new technology.
However, the technology being trialled uses a video camera in conjunction with a number of microphones to pinpoint excessively noisy vehicles as they pass by. The camera photographs the vehicle and records the noise level to create a ‘digital package of evidence’ that local police can use to fine drivers.
Transport secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: ‘Rowdy road drivers beware – these new cameras will help the police clampdown on those who break the legal noise limits or use illegal modified exhausts to make excessive noise in our communities.
‘We’ll be working closely with the local authorities and police to share any findings, and I hope that this technology paves the way for quieter, peaceful streets across the country.’
The DfT launched a competition to identify the areas to host the cameras in April and said extensive testing took place at a private test track facility to perfect the technology.
It said the locations for these roadside trials have been decided based on the impact to local residents of illegal noisy vehicles, after MPs across the country applied for the camera to be set up in their local area.
If successful, the cameras could be rolled out nationwide, the DfT said.
In 2019, under the then transport secretary, Chris Grayling, the DfT announced plans to trial new camera technology that it said ‘could work like speed cameras to target law-breaking drivers automatically’.
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