New ‘stealth’ speed camera vans out in force on UK roads
While Northamptonshire’s unmarked grey vans paved the way for more discreet enforcement, 2026 has seen the rollout of even more advanced technology.
Automated AI safety cameras — mounted on vans, trailers, and motorway gantries — are now being trialled across 10 UK police forces, including Greater Manchester, Sussex, and Thames Valley.
These systems use high-definition imaging and AI to automatically detect not just speeding, but also mobile phone use and seatbelt offences, significantly increasing the likelihood of being caught without a visible police presence.
It is not a legal requirement for police or local authorities to alert drivers about speed cameras.
It is hoped it will make drivers more aware of their speed at all times, rather than slowing down for a visible police van only to accelerate above the speed limit once passed.
Speeding remains a primary cause of road trauma. According to the latest national data, exceeding the speed limit contributed to 7,377 car accidents in Great Britain in 2024 (42% of all accidents), while travelling too fast for the conditions was a factor in another 3,442 incidents (19%).
The scale of the issue is immense - in early 2025, the Police Service Northern Ireland reported an average of 300 people were caught speeding every single day, highlighting how common and dangerous the habit remains.
Erin Yurday, co-founder and CEO of NimbleFins, said: "Speeding not only puts you and others at risk of accident and injury, but also of being handed penalty points - both of which can make your car insurance premiums rise dramatically.
"Points can stay on your licence for between four and 11 years and there is no way to hide them from an insurance company. If you don't disclose a driving conviction when getting insurance, the insurer will invalidate your policy when they find out.
"The best way to avoid driving licence points and an expensive car insurance premium is to assume there is someone monitoring your speed at all times."
Devon and Cornwall became the first to use drones to record poor driving and this has since been adopted by several other forces, including West Midlands Police, Surrey and Sussex Police, and Thames Valley Police.
The forces have integrated 'high-altitude' drones into their Operation Snap and Vision Zero initiatives.
The kit can track vehicle speeds by using fixed positions on dangerous roads and also film incidents, recording proof of dangerous driving.
MOT, tax and insurance details can also be checked, just like a police officer on the streets would be able to. This will help officers detect stolen vehicles and dangerous drivers and make arrests easier.
Unlike traditional police helicopters, these drones can hover silently at 400 feet for extended periods, using thermal imaging and 4K zoom lenses to spot illegal maneuvers that are invisible to ground-level officers.
The drones were initially used to monitor motorcyclists who, police say, are at the highest risk of being in a crash.
Nationally, learner or inexperienced drivers and riders remain a high-risk group, contributing to 1,787 accidents a year (6% of all accidents).
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