I’ve driven around for a few days, hastily seeking out speed cameras – which is quite a surreal experience, which I don’t think I’ll repeat again. I wanted to test how far in advance the alarm triggered prior to reaching the camera, and without getting scientific, the alarm seemed to consistently set off about 200 metres prior (when travelling at 30mph), and approx 400 metres when travelling on the motorway. I love how smart they were, so accounting for different speeds to ensure all drivers are given proportionate time to react and prepare. For all its simplicity, the Saphe Drive Mini works brilliantly and is easy to use. That latter part is vital, as it’s meant to be a tool that you’ll bring with you on every commute. The best experience that I was able to exploit out of the Drive Mini is keeping my phone by my side during the drive. For starters, the app can be used just like a regular satnav. You can thus preview warnings far in front of you. I expected it would display speed limits if not all the time, when I exceed and/or when it alerts to speed cameras... it doesn't. Or at least not for the ghost mobile cameras I have entered to test.

Before driving overseas, you should familiarise yourself with the rules of the road in the country you’re in. This includes the use of speed camera detectors; they’re legal in some countries, but not in others. An added layer of complexity is that it’s legal to have a detector, but the use of one isn’t permitted in some countries. You can also use the Saphe Link to show you your progress, like Google Maps, or show upcoming warnings. Which I don’t really get, as if you buy the Saphe One+, you’ll be alerted, so why do you also need to see the cameras on your phone? Apparently the battery will last around two years, and with the CR2450 being cheap enough to replace, you should have the One+ for several years.

Saphe Drive Pro

As you drive along, you can report incidents so that other drivers could see them. But instead of having to tap clumsily at your phone, Saphe makes this process a whole lot easier. This, I think, is where its USP can be found compared to mapping software or your satnav screen. On the Saphe Drive Mini, you ought to see two buttons flanking its small, yet crisp, display. You can spot the outlines. So, why not add a speed camera detector to your car today and see what benefits it can bring to your daily drives? Come on Saphe, please speed up both this critical update and the time it takes to update other areas of your database (eg. the M4 Slough area average speed road works were removed weeks ago and yet the database is still claiming it’s 50mph when it’s not. Pretty annoying after 20minutes of false alerts... If Saphe could display Waze alerts. Obviously a few commercial and technical options to make happen.

It is a neat little unit that springs to life when the associated Bluetooth phone with companion app is in proximity. This means just by carrying my phone it will alert as a dedicated unit, vs using Waze I have to ensure the audio is set up correctly for the alerts and have my phone on display.Ever been caught by a sneaky speed camera that you were unaware of? Chances are, the majority of us can say yes to that. The likelihood is that you’ll be using your phone for Google Maps or music or simply using your cars in-built sat-nav, so your phone will just be sitting idle. First things first: the best way to avoid getting caught speeding is to not speed in the first place. However, with local authorities frequently changing limits, and the UK’s road sign network seemingly in a poor state of repair, this can be easier said than done – especially when you’re simply following the flow of traffic, or you’re travelling along a road late at night with no other cars around. Buy an air vent mount to avoid getting fined for using your phone handheld. If you need to talk on the phone, have a hands-free solution ready before you leave. You are welcome to use a mounted phone in your car.