The Watchman Traffic Calming System is different from conventional speed trap systems as it aims to reduce the speed of traffic over a large area of road network and not just the traditional perceived hot spots.  The system incorporates many unique features, working as a major deterrent to speeding motorists, helping calm traffic movement and creating a long term analysis of traffic movements within its location. The equipment is both technically state-of the-art and operationally reliable.  The ‘Watchman’ units can be used to gather data that will enable speed profiles for a particular site to be calculated.

The Watchman Traffic Calming System consists of three main elements:
A fixed sign indicating that a Traffic Calming in scheme is in operation in this particular area.
A Variable message sign (VMS) set to indicate to motorists if they are exceeding the current speed limit.
The Watchman Camera system providing video images of all vehicles, the road status and number plate images of vehicles exceeding the speed threshold limit. The unit is also set to gather vehicle data including time date and speed of up to 2 million vehicles.

The two electronic elements of the Watchman Traffic Calming System consist of the VMS and the Camera unit.  Each unit has independent Radar capable of pin point accuracy capturing vehicles traveling above the set thresholds. Both units provide very different functions, but set up in the system format become a powerful tool. The units can be connected to by wireless connectivity enabling the operator to view live images and down load data. The user can also upload information to the system enabling adjustment of speed threshold. For maximum effectiveness the system should be repeated over a wide network of roads providing wide area traffic calming.

The Watchman Camera unit is the main part of the system and houses two cameras, one overview camera providing high quality video images 24 hours a day and the number plate recognition camera specifically designed to provide high quality images of a number plate in all conditions. Both cameras are recorded to a high density hard disk recording system capable of storing up to four weeks of overview footage and 50,000 activated number plate images. The unit has its own in built radar unit which can be set to trigger at the user determined speed threshold and also to provide data collection of up 2 million vehicles. Remote connectivity to the unit is provided by DSL or wirelessly by GSM (HSCSD) or 3G (subject to coverage). The connectivity allows users to view live video and all recorded images from any PC through the easy to use front end software.

The Watchman Number Plate Recognition Camera is specifically designed to capture high quality images of vehicles exceeding a threshold. The camera provides images in all conditions and stores the video clip, approximately 80 images to an event file on the hard disk. All images are watermarked and fingerprinted ensuring security. The date and time, camera location and speed of vehicle are all embedded onto the image providing all the required information in any easy to view format.  The cameras database allows a simple GOTO function enabling the user to quickly find the relevant video clip.

The Watchman Overview Camera is specifically designed to capture high quality images 24 hours a day Using the latest in camera technology the unit delivers colour images to a light level of 20 lux changing to monochrome to provide high quality images at in low light conditions. All images are watermarked and fingerprinted ensuring security. The date and time and camera location are embedded onto the image providing the necessary information in any easy to view format.  The systems database allows for up to 1 months continuous recording providing a valuable tool for Traffic management and the Police. Systems have caught many incidents already including attempted abduction, stolen vehicles, drug trafficking and assisting in murder investigations.