scottish forces are told to stop using vascar
Speed-trap device may be faulty, say police
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Traffic police have been ordered to stop using speed detecting equipment over fears it could be affected by police radio waves, it emerged last night.
Road policing units across Scotland were told to employ alternatives to the VASCAR system to check on motorists until further notice.
It is thought the police radio system – called Airwave – could be triggering faults in the speed detectors.
If such fears proved true, many motorists caught speeding by VASCAR could overturn their convictions, a lawyer warned.
VASCAR – Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder – is a relatively basic speed measuring system operated manually by a police officer.
Two landmarks are selected, such as a lamppost and a sign, the distance between the objects is calculated and the time it takes for a vehicle to travel between the two sites is then measured.
The officer presses a button as the vehicle passes the first landmark, and again as it passes the second to determine its speed.
The system has been in use for around 25 years.
Strathclyde Police confirmed its officers had been asked to use alternative speed detectors while the concerns were investigated.
Chief Inspector Andy Orr, of the force’s road policing department, said: “There is a suggestion that the VASCAR system might be affected by Airwave radio waves and the matter is being investigated by Strathclyde Police.
“Until such time that the matter has been fully investigated, a memo has been sent to officers asking them to use alternative speed detection equipment.”
The force stressed VASCAR was not the main speed detector in use – systems such as fixed and mobile speed cameras and radar guns are more widely used.
The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (Acpos) said all eight of the country’s forces had been asked not to use VASCAR, saying there was a “potential issue” with two other speed detection systems.
Road traffic lawyer Graham Walker told a Glasgow-based newspaper: “Anyone who has been convicted using VASCAR should contact a specialist solicitor and investigate the possibility of an appeal in connection with the case.
“And if their case is pending, then they should tender a not guilty plea and examine the reliability of the device.
“It is really important because people can lose their mortgage and their livelihood and all sorts of things over a speeding conviction.”
Mr Walker, who works with roadtrafficlaw.com, said his firm would examine all VASCAR cases dating back to 2005, when the Airwave radio system was rolled out to police forces across the UK.
An Acpos spokesman said: “Road policing units with all forces in Scotland have been advised of a potential issue with three speed detection systems – VASCAR, Police Pilot and Provida.
“They have been advised not to use them for speed detection until the issue is resolved but to continue employing other speed detection systems.
“Despite this concern, all Scottish forces will be maintaining robust speed detection activities above and beyond those carried out by the Scottish Safety Camera Partnership.
“Inappropriate speed is still a factor in road collisions throughout Scotland and motorists are advised to adhere to the law or they will face the full weight of enforcement and the courts.”
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