Why does the camera always flash when driving past it?
3 Answers
This is a traffic surveillance camera. The flash is used to check for violations and measure speed. Here is an introduction to traffic cameras: 1. Introduction: Road surveillance cameras are terminals that digitally encode and compress video images before outputting them. The road surveillance camera monitoring system supports authorized user terminals within a local area network (LAN) or even a wide area network (WAN) to access data and image resources and control front-end devices in real time. 2. Function: It enables network users to monitor, switch, and control functions, and provides support for related systems such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS). 3. Features: It integrates advanced optical, circuit, infrared illumination, and temperature control technologies. Within a 100-meter road monitoring range and speeds of up to 120 km/h, it can clearly capture license plates and other fast-moving objects.
Getting flashed by a traffic camera is actually quite common, especially at night. I've talked to a friend who maintains highway surveillance systems, and most of the time the flash is just the fill light doing its job. Currently, there are two main types of speed cameras with different triggering methods: one uses radar detection to trigger a white light, while the other relies on induction loops embedded in the road. Those rapid multiple flashes near toll booths? About 80% chance they're capturing speed violations. But here's the thing – a single flash doesn't necessarily mean you've broken any rules. Two years ago, when I was testing equipment for a logistics company, I deliberately drove at 85 km/h in an 80 km/h zone. Out of ten attempts, about two triggered the bright flash for a snapshot. Later I learned the failure rate for capturing images is quite high during rainy weather or when vehicles are dirty. For new drivers, I'd recommend avoiding lane changes over induction loop areas – those get captured really easily.
There is a security camera with flashing lights installed at the intersection near my home. Last time, when I followed the traffic police team for equipment maintenance, I learned that civilian-grade surveillance cameras generally use dual-mode infrared + visible light fill lighting. During daylight hours, they rarely flash, but at dusk or on cloudy days, the devices activate brief white light fill lighting to capture clear license plate information. This works on the same principle as a camera flash. However, it's important to distinguish between them: ordinary fill lighting is a low-frequency, single cold white flash, while capturing traffic violations involves high-frequency, intense flashes. Once, when I was delivering documents at 3 a.m., I was repeatedly blinded by strong flashes on the road. Later, I checked the records and found it was a security checkpoint performing a self-test on the equipment. My advice is to grip the steering wheel firmly if you encounter intense flashes while driving at night—never slam on the brakes instinctively.
