What is the difference between mobile speed measurement and section speed measurement?

[ChristianRose]

Mobile speed measurement involves randomly setting up a point on the road to measure speed, while section speed measurement monitors the entire stretch of road. Below are detailed introductions to mobile speed measurement and section speed measurement: Mobile Speed Measurement: This method is random. Traffic police will set up a speed measurement device at a random point on the highway. This type of speed measurement is characterized by its single-point nature, unpredictability, and mobility, making it difficult to avoid through navigation. Section Speed Measurement: Section speed measurement is more complex in terms of equipment compared to single-point speed measurement. At the starting point of the section speed measurement, there is a set of speed measurement devices, and at the ending point, there is another set. By recording the time a vehicle enters the starting point and the time it leaves the ending point, and dividing the length of the measured section by the time taken, the average speed can be accurately calculated. Section speed measurement is considered more reasonable.

[VanAdriana]

I think the biggest difference between mobile speed cameras and average speed cameras lies in predictability. Mobile speed cameras are like police officers temporarily using speed guns by the roadside or in vehicles to catch speeding, with no fixed location—they might be here today and somewhere else tomorrow, often catching drivers by surprise with sudden fines. Average speed cameras, on the other hand, are much more fixed, measuring the average speed between two points on highways or major urban roads, encouraging drivers to maintain a steady speed throughout and avoid sudden braking or acceleration. With over 20 years of driving experience, I find the shock of mobile speed cameras the most annoying—getting fined when my speed is usually fine feels unfair. Average speed cameras, in contrast, seem fairer, helping to cultivate stable driving habits and reduce rear-end collisions. However, both can be easily alerted by navigation apps, so using a mobile app to avoid them works just fine.

[LeBenjamin]

As a young car enthusiast who loves speeding, what impresses me most are the two types of speed detection and penalty mechanisms. Mobile speed cameras rely on instantaneous speed—if caught by police at a temporary checkpoint, you might get a ticket for exceeding the limit by just a few km/h. Section speed control calculates your average speed over an entire stretch of road; for example, if a 10km section has a 100km/h limit and you complete it in 6 minutes, you're speeding, making sudden braking ineffective. In practice, mobile speed cameras are often set up temporarily on remote roads or during holidays, making it easy to misjudge speed changes. Section speed control is commonly seen on highways and national roads, encouraging more consistent driving. To avoid penalty points, I've developed the habit of using cruise control and GPS alerts.

[Grant]

I think mobile speed traps are crude and harsh, with officers using portable devices for spot checks that are highly random and impose hefty fines; average speed checks are much smarter, using fixed cameras to measure entry and exit times to calculate average speed, preventing speeding at the source. After years of driving, I've encountered many sudden braking incidents caused by mobile speed traps, while average speed zones feel safer.

[JosephRose]

Mobile speed enforcement relies on police manually operating radar guns, capturing one vehicle at a time, which can lead to missed violations or erroneous penalties. Section speed control uses fixed cameras to measure average speed over a stretch, covering all vehicles more accurately. When driving, I feel section control reduces the impulse for sudden braking, while mobile enforcement keeps drivers on edge.